The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-03-29

THE NEW NATIONAL.
aIarte rempest in ..rensIope.,

marie tempest In Penelope"
The appearance OF Marie Tempest at
the National Theater last night In w.
Somerset Maugham's brilliant comedy.
Penelope" brought out a large audi
snce. and that both the comedy and the
playing were successful was amply
demonstrated by the continuous nature OF
the merriment and applause.
This late production Of the rising play
wright is quite brilliant In all OF the
essential details that go TO make up
successful comedy. The plot is novel. the
situations are amusing, the lines clever
and epigrammatic. while through the
whole there runs a vein OF subtle satire.
The wife of a young English physician
discovers that her husband, whom she
idolizes. is having an affair with another
woman, a married woman and an old
friend OF the distracted wife. She calls
her family together with the family solicit
tor and avows her purpose Of divorcing
her husband. but her father. who is sup
posed 10 be a scholar and recluse on ac-
professor of mathematics, suddenly dis
plays knowledge of the heart and world
that astonishes his hearers, and by his
advice she undertakes to win her hus-
band back by a reversal OF method.
Heretofore she had lavished every at
tention upon her husband, hanging over
his chair while in the house, following
him to the door when departing, anx-
iously inquiring the hour of his return.
upon which time she met him at the door
and demanded a detailed statement as to
his whereabouts and doings during the
absence.
Now, all this was to be changed. for
her father informs her that such
method is unfailing in its result of pro-
ducing listlessness and desire for novelty
on the part OF the recipient. She must
appear to be Indifferent and await the
time when the inevitable use OF the first
mentioned tactics on the part Of his new
love would effect the same result and
drive him back to her. The young wife
proves 10 be an apt pupil, and she clev-
eFly Engineers the thing through, not,
however, without many misgivings and
much heart aching. and not without pass
ing through. and compelling every one
interested TO pass through. a variety of
experiences full Of humor, which at times
border on the farcical Aside from the
humor OF the situations. there is much
more TO entertain and amuse. There is
satirical allusion 10 society, a certain
phrase OF the modern practice OF nledi-
cine and human nature In general, much
OF which is crystallized into pithy and
epigrammatic utterances, which adds to
the effect. Taken altogether. it is a
highly enjoyable vehicle.
The cast is so equally balanced as to
almost preclude the idea Of individual
commentator, although Miss Tempest,
by virtue of playing the principal char
acteT, attracts the maximum of interest
The plot and almost all of the incidents
revolve around the role. and she takes
every advantage OF the opportunity. She
has charming personality, and always
carries the comedy TO a high pitch by
quiet method, while certain little side
effects, which she so successfully inter-
polates, adds much to her enactment.
She is distinctly a clever woman.
Another piece of work which attracts
interest is that OF Herbert Ross, as Prof.
Golightly. the mathematical parent who
suddenly demonstrates such startling and
accurate knowledge Of the devious ways Of
love; while equally so was Wilfred Dray-
colt as Mr.. Davenport Barlow, a middle
aged uncle. who is supposed to be versed
in the ways Of the world. but in reality
knows very little of the true inwardness
of such things. Miss Mabel Trevor, in
the difficult part Of Mrs. Ferguson. the
second woman in the case. is very ef-
fective while Graham Browne, as Dr.
O'FaTell. the erring husband. works up
the comedy 20 high point, being decid-
eddy entertaining in the final scenes.
Others giving palpable assistance are
Maud Milton. as Mrs Golightly; McIn-
tire Wicksteed. as Mr. Beadsworth: Car
RE Lee Stoyle, as Mrs. Watson; ]. Sc
bastian Smith, as Mr. Anderson, and
Mamie Bennett. as Peyton