The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-10-04
MISS PATSY" HAS
A HUNDRED IDEAS
Gertrude Quinlan Makes
Every One a Laugh In
Farce AT BelaSco.

I'm a godmother now; I'm getting
on" says Miss Gertrude QUinlan in the
title role of Miss Patsy" but anyone
who saw her work at the BelascC last
night Will consider that she is not only
getting on, but has arrived"
Why Chicago and New York were
willing to let this farce-comedy, which,
If tradition be true, would make Jack
Sprat fat. slip from their grasp with
anything less than years run, Is diff
fcult to understand. Nothing so funny
has been seen in Washington this sea-
son.
The scene Of the play is Annapolis,
but after the first glance at the pro
gram, one doesn't mind that; the au-
thor, Sewell Collins, admits that IL is
for want Of a better place. stock
company is playing there for the sum-.
mer, and SuitOrs are thick about Miss
Helen Burrele. the leading lady, In the
person OF Dorothy Tenant.
But between the Suitors and the
actress LADY, stands the watchdog,
Miss p tsy," who has grown up with
two ideaS-that she could act II she
is because she is so much needed 10
look out for Miss Burrelle, and incl
dentally the rest OF the world In Ot0eT
words Patsy has imagination. Il
works overtime. however, and every
time her ina ginatiOn stamps What she
calls an idea" upon the roof of her
cerebrUm, some one gets into trouble
And that is where the laugh comes
About Publicity.
Miss Patsy's" yearnings TO see her
patron great, terminate in her the IL
stinets Of a press agent True TO her
instincts she writes many pieces for the
Annapolis paper about the leading wOm-
an which WOULD be important. Il true.
Friendly publicity places on Miss Bur
relies hands a naval Lieutenant, and
more publicity makes il necessary that
said lieutenant produce play in two
hours. or be slaughtered by an old sea-
dog Of an admiral.
Miss Patsy also offers to be g.
chaperOn TO the admiraIs niece, 10
protect her from young physician she
fancies. Miss Patsy ends by con-
StruCtinE a love romance for them. and
sending them away, engaged.
And when Miss Patsy endeavors TO
guide a love affair Of her own, her
Imagination imagines with even more
disastrous results. Stripped Of the fun
damentaIs of her creed, that she could
act, and that she is a most necessary
parsonage Of the play about her, she
chooses 4 most generous portion OF
MARYLAND, In the person Of Robert
Kelly. Nv heroic efforts OF self-restraint
Miss Patsy succeeds in retaining what
she has won, besides putting everyone
else next" as TO where his own happl-
ness lies
MY 10 NudlnA
Miss Patsy" IS unusual for several
reasons, but chief Of these is Miss Quin-
Ian herself. The lines are bright and
snappy, the situations are ludicrous,
there is plenty Of action and little OF
the slap-stick. but the stage business Of
Miss Quinlan will be longest remember
ed With all else ready, Miss Quinlan
supplies the electric spark which makes
the piece alive; she is the go Of it.
In her combined power Of amusing
and in winning the sympathy Of her
audieuCe-fOT she does win sympathy;
one feels very sad when Miss Pat
sy' drops TO the floor and cries-Miss
Quinlan may be compared best, per
haps. with Miss Marie Dressler in Til
lies Nightmare" seen here last spring.
Miss Dorothy Tenant, clad IN stun
ming gowns, was a striking figure as
the leading woman Of the stock COM
pany. Miss Ruth ChattertOn, who has
been seen here in stock, proved that she
also is getting on by her performance
as the ingenue.
Wallace Worsley, as Lieutenant Craw-
ford who said he knew only nonsense.
was a success in his distinctly farcical
role. Hardee Kirklan, as the irascible
admiral and Robert Kelly, as one Of
the ordinary people," were we'll fitted
to their roles.
Among the unique features Of the PLAY
is the third act, set in the property and
dressing room OF a theater In this set
ting Miss Jennie La Mont, as Mrs
Lynch, the wardrobe mistress, distin-
guished herself