The Washington times., 1910-09-13
The Little DamoZeT' Por-
trays Bohemian Life In
LOndOn'S Soho.
UNIFORMLY GOOD.
VERDICT OF CAST
Miss May Buckley Gives Able In
depreciation of the Title
Role.

A quaint bit Of life from London's Bo-
hemian quarter. set in a plot out Of the
beaten path and told in lires that
abound with epigra-as, is The Little
DamOzel." making its American pre-
miere at the Belasco Theater this week
The play is an Importation consider
ably above the average comedies Eng
land has sent US in recent seasons It
was written BY Tonckton HOffe. staged
under the direction Cf Edward Fitz-
gerald, and owes its appearance here to
Henry W Savage, who was present
last night 70 witness its Yankee initia-
ton
Bohemia has no nationality. and the
scene might have well been laid in Paris
save for the characters introduced from
the outside world. These We're Capt
Nell PartinEtOn. a rusty JOinted officer
Of corrugated morals, and Recilaw
Poole, globe trotter and citizen of the
world at large
Scene In Soho.
In soho was the cafe Angeuque, where
consorted the temperameutaI musicians,
PepO and Abraham, a stout paUnChed
proprietor, who acted as first aide TO
the villain. the inevitable Papa" this
time Surnamed BaTthOldy, and the
breezy DamozeI, who brings back plas-
ant memories of Trilby
Captain PartinEtOu was a fTeQu enter
OF the cafe on the DamOzpI-S account
The captain failed 10 heed the admoni-
ton Of another comedy. Say what YOU
want 10 women but never put II on
paper When the time came for the
captain 10 wed a woman who might not
have appreciated his purely esthetiC love
OF Bohemia II became necessary 10 clip
the disappointed DamozeTs power Tor
mischief
On a bargain the captain struck with
Poole to marry the young woman and
deliver the letters HINGES the story.
Poole performed the unusual feat OF
falling In love with his wife and the
inevitable disclosure came when he
learned that ParkinEton's fance was a
girl he had wanted &c marry seven years
before
The third act brings tie broken
hearted wife back to the AngeIiGUe and
closely on her heels follow Poole and
two friends 10 spend an evening a.
the old rendezvous before the former
sails for China
Furnishes Comedy.
It Is worth a moments pause TO make
the acquaintance Of the Hon FitzFOy
Locke, who fitted the conventional ideas
Of an English nobIeman. and was all the
funnier on that account This gentle
man had taken to selling life insurance
for living. and by way OF increasing
business he wore black and a u.ournful
visace 20 impress on his clients the
frailty OF the thread between this NOR
tai sphere and the next
The eStfnable gentleman who furnish
ed uerriment n the early acts lends a
hand and uersUaceS the Danozel 70
have a parting word with Poole The
yveaDOn used was the Information that
his friend had his life insured IN nVe
companies. each OF Wflcn carried a
clause that payment would be made IN
Casa of suicide. and that Poole had not
hooked massage TO China The parting
word grew and grew through the great
er part Of the act and ended IN a recon
The comedy. as might be gathered
from This resume, develops some mighty
dramatic situations Ihe cast proyea
equal 10 every emergency MISS May
F31ClzIev in the title role gave colSis-
tent and clever portrayal She drew the
contrast between the buoyant harT
vvinSOune wife Of Poole with me aOlilty'
She rose TO genuine dramatic power
when she denounced her husoand Tor IN. IN.
bargain that purchased her IN the laS
act she was better than rather woTdy
dialogue meTited-
Pruning Needed
The faults Of the play are mainly con
rerued with its dramatic element and
hardly affect its mission IS a provldel
of amusement Before the comedy
reaches Broadway, though, il would b'
AZ. act Of vision TO Gull the prolix firs
act Then a chance might be given u
4elI what part the little DamOzel ac
SSaITv uIaES IN the life OF the cafe
fEct that does not develop clearly nov
until the play IS well under way i
should be easy TO COutrive a less clumsy
vvav Of bringing PartinCtOnS : nance L
Po0Ie-S apartments 4 woman : WflTn'
cover a multitude OF strange happenings
b71r they should not be stretched too Ear
George CSrahamS portrayal Of m
Hon. Firzroy deserves the highest praise
Henry NOgel PLAYED an excellent cadF
ac+er rart in Papa BarthoIdy- Cyri
Keightley gave an acceptable pOrtraya
OF ReckIaw Poole
In two weeks the play goes to New
York II should be a pronounced sue
cess Remembering The AollUsc-
Penelope however. suggests that j
my be too clever for Broadway.
. -.L--l-l IN