The Washington times., 1910-04-19
Her Portrayal of Mrs. Dot"
Pleases Large
Audience.
OWN CONSTRUCTION
IS PUT UPON LINES
Good Support Given Her IN
Maugham's Clever
Comedy.
N II. MCINTYRE.

NJ H MCINTYRE
When a woman wants any particular
thing very. very much, and makes up
her mind 10 have 1t, she usually sue
ceeds
This is the theory held by the author
OF Mrs. Dot" which made its first ap-
pearance in Washington last night AT
the National. and SO long as Billie
Burke is chosen 10 illustrate this theory
no one is skepticaI enough to doubt the
correctness Of the premise.
This fascinating young woman has
in the past three years secured a warm
place for herself IN the hearts OF the
American theater-going public matinee
girls. e. al. and her role Of Mrs Dot
bids fair TO strengthen her in that posi-
ton
Her Interpretation
Whether Mr.. Vaughan IN writing the
comedy had any idea that the leading
role would be given the sort Of inteTpre-
tation that it has received, does not
matter in the least TO the admirers OF
Miss Burke
II IS barely possible that IL writing
the Iires he had an idea that the charm
ing widow he pictured would be
vorIdly-vise shrevvd sort Of person the
rvDicaI widow. in fact II 50 his illusion
has been rudeIy shattered, for Miss
Burke has her own ideas on the sub
iect- and has injected her own personal
ity into the role and given her own
construction to the lines. and 'twere
rank heresy, after seeing her. even 70
intimate that any other conception OF
the part could compare with II
Ia this new comedy Mr. EIsugham has
not disappointed. Like Penelope, the
last Of his comedies seen in Washington,
there Is nothing particularly noticeable
save a wealth OF clean humor, bright
dialogue, and a very pleasing, plot,
withaI a pleasing coordination II has
a very English atmosphere without any
eEaEgerations.
Comedy's Plot
Mrs Dot Is a rich widow, very rich
in fact. thanks to a popular brand OF
beer and former husband who prior
to his demise manufactured the afor=-
mentioned beverage. Tor some reason
which at times she can satisfactorily eN-
plain and at other times cannot her
self understand, she is much in love
with Gerald FIaIstane. at first q we'll
nigh pennies. younger son or some
thing o. the. sort. but later by the death
OF several obstacles a part Of the
'-peeraEe-'
Unfortunately he is engaged, and while
neither he nor his fancee are anxious TO
Sc the enSageElent end in a wedding.
the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. IS, and he re-
fuses TO seek his freedom even after
Mrs Dots proposal Then the deter
mined little widow makes I'D her miud
20 break of the engagement and her
successful Efforts furnish HE COIupliCa-
tons Tor numerous c0U7icaI situations
To accomplish her purpose she uses
L. 81.
makes desperate love TO an old friend 70
stir I'D jealousy in the man she wants.
OF course she succe ses and an elCpe-
meUt clears I'D all the difficulties
Miss Burke's Work
In her portrayal OF the widow, Miss
Burke IS the same cha ming inEerue so
well remembered IT. Love Watches
Nlv3CioJss and fascinating, at times she
IS more Ike q glTI Of seventeen than
Young widow. but q thisg Of whims.
a veritshle April day always and 50
thoroughly satisfactory personally that
even II she did not do the good v-o~ly
g. an actress that she does It would be
Good as the comedy is. and excellent
as IS the work Of some Of the mem
oers u the cast. Miss Burke dominates.
and 1t Is Of her one thinks afte-Ear5
and the Mrs Dot she creates not tho
one teat might have been.
Others In Cast
Julian L'Estrange as Gerald HaIstane
looks the part Of TIE stage lover and
gives the impression that he would be
most acceptable If only his Opporluni-
ties We're not so limited.
The only fault 70 be found in his
work lies in tendency TO overdo his
part bit now and then and a lack Of
clearness in his enUnCia lion This is
very noticeable at the very Offset and
IS accentuated BY the fact thar in the
first act his part OF the dialogue Is car
ried On with his face turned from the
foouights and the impression OF the
indistlnCtness OF his words carries
through the performance. He has a
ing personality
AZ Freddy Perkins. a sort OF English
chGpple, Basil HaIlam does excellent
work save for an occasional too zeaI07Ig
c1ort TO get a laugh Ann Meredith
portraSs very faithfully the role OF
Nellie SeuCnEeT- q shallow girl on
gagged to one man and IN love with an
other The rest OF the cast IS uniformly
good including annie Esmond a. T.adv
SeIIeuEer
The play is well staged and the gowns
worn by Miss Burke and The other NO
men IN the cast are dreams"
GAYETY-Sam A Scribner's Big Show.
Sam-A- scrIbuers Big show" the at
traction a. the Csyety Theater tbfs
week. stands in the 'front.' rank Of bur
lesque shows Tt : void OF any weak
points and proves ir- eresting from start
20 finish.
DAISY Harcourt. billed as the English
coincidence. Is the feature OF the per
Torrance. Her songs and costumes
scored a hit Borden Zeno and Hav5a7
brothers proved themselves young men
who can sing. dance plav on various
Sir}s uf musical instruments and tel
fuunN- stories
The burlesQJe consists Of a three-act
musical farce which Is entitled ''Oh. Tou|
woman sam Sidman. with his Ger
man dialect and gTCrCsCue makeup. is
TIE nrt7lclpal funmskeI- He Is ably as
sisted by Michael Mcdonald. Miss Nav
rose as Mile Fir Chiffon a French
n,9clStc. Is particularly GOOD
FOURTEEN WOMEN DROWN
BUDAPEST. Hungary, April ia
boat containing seventeen women on
their way 70 the annual fair at Sat