New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-04-01

Sufragctte Plays at
Marine EWOH's Theatre.

Three little plays written by suffragettes
were enacted before n sufragette audience,
I'm Maxine Elliott's Theatre, yesterday sf
tcrnoon The occasion was a benefit for
the funds OF the Equality League Of Self
Supporting Women. The funds must have
gained largely, because the house was filed;
and the actors must have been gratified,
because their efforts were rewarded with
cordial applause and chortles of glee. The
little plays We're clever little plays. Each
is English IN origin and scene, but quite pat
enough for the American situation. If the
stage Is TO be used as a platform for prop
uganda may all the prop2gandists be as
we'll equipped with the sense Of ilumor as
were the workers and auditors OF yester-
day! These little plays We'll acted arc
quite as likely to make votes for women"
as are any public meetings. petitions and
paradngs. II the suffcagettes carry this
triple bill around the country the legisla-
tors may find Their own intrenchments
weakened
But il is with drama, not with propa-
GanGa. that the critic is concerned Let II
be said, though. apropos of the occasion
that in the acting Of the afternoon the
women excelled the men. The first piece
was by Miss Bessie Hatton. and was called
BEFORE the Dawn The dawn" Of
course. is the dawn Of equal suffrage. and
the time of the playlet is 1867 when it was
"scandalOus'' for single woman to travel
without escort in a hanson cab Mr. Mon
tague Rutherford, Mrs. Harriet Otis Del
lenbaugh, Miss Janet Beecher. Miss EVELYN
Weeden and Mr.. Leonard Howe made I'D
the cast OF this piece.
The second play was entitled "A Wom-
ans Influence" 1t was written by Gertrude
Jennings 1t IS little story of gaining
influence for factory reform in behalf of
working women. 4 fiirtatious widow seems
for time to be more influential than her
Steiner reforming sisters but only for a.
time. Miss Molly Pearson was the fiirta-
tious widow. The best acting in this piece
in fact the best acting OF the afternoon
was by Miss Haidee Wright Miss Beatrice
Professionalism, Miss Alison Skinner and
Mr.. Arthur Forrest were also in this second
play, and went very well through their
task.
The third piece. How the Vote Was
Won" was the most amusing in the triple
bill. It's authors were Miss Cicely Hamil-
ton and Mr.. Christopher St. John. IT tells
now all the women of London went on
strike at o'clock one afternoon. workers
and non-workers alike casting themselves
upon their nearest male relatives for home
and support. Women without male rela-
tons went to the workhouse. Thus mere
man. who insists that the home is woman's
only sphere is taken at his word; he is
compelled 10 supply the home and the
maintenance Parliament yields before the
day is over and promises suffrage bill.
This skit kert the audience in a whirl of
laughter. Miss Molly Pearson. whose
',slavev'' in The Passing of the Third
Floor Back" is such a capital impersona-
ton was again a "slavey' i'm this piece.
Miss Beatrice Forbes-Robertson was quite
sparkling as a sufTragette leader. MISS
FoIa La Toilette Miss Helen Ashley. Miss
Margaret Mckinney. Miss Ruth Holt Boucl-
cauIt, Miss Janet Beecher. Miss Kate car
lvon Alexander Classy and Ernest Glen
dining were the other members OF the
cast.
Miss Maxine Elliott rected TWO poei'S
with charming effect, although she slipper
On the names Of the authors. Does Miss
Elliott realize that she is a delicious CO.
Inedienne? Mr. Forbes Robertson delivered
brief address Miss Beatrice Forbes
Robertson received the principal applause
of the afternoon. not only on account OF
her acting which very good, but in
recognition Of her services in organizing
the matinee In London the sufragette
cause owes much to the stage folk. AT TINS
rate its American advocates will also owe
much TO the players No doubt more VIII
be heard OF these three little plays. They
would anusc even the home bodies who
take no thought of politics. A W.