The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-09-13
THEATERS LAST NIGHT

well party. Poole has announced that he
has a government appointment in China
and Is going out there. Then Il is that
Poole's best friend, another waster. but
the best fellow OF the lot the Hon. Fitz-
roy Locke, once a gentleman, now an
insurance solicitor. puts two and two to-
gether. He has found out that Poole had
only $1,000 left after he had paid Part
ington, and that every penny % that
has been spent in life insurance COM
panies-companies whose policies have
no suicide clause. He has also found
out that Poole Is not going to China; ne
has booked his passage only so far as
Marseliles. He tells these straight facts
to The Little DamozeI'' and she sends
for Poole. There is a wonderful inter-
view between them. She swears that she
Will not touch any money he may leave
her; she tells him that II he kills him
self II Will reflect on her and make her
life more miserable yet, and at last he
promises not 10 do II. She begs him 20
make an honest living.
They tell me 1t is rather a difficult
thing To do. but III try" he says.
But when his hand is al the door she
calls him back and falls into his arms.
I thought I could stick It out. Rocky. ''
she cries. but I can't, dear,;" and all
is well between them.
That IS the plain story There are
numerous subtleties and clever tricks of
dramatic construction that we cannot
touch upon here. save only TO say that
here is playwright who knows his
little book" His method reminds one
much OF Pinero, for he tells his audience
as much by what he leaves out as by
what he puts in. His big scene in the
second act is decidedly Picturesque. The
audience can see the tragedy coming:
they are made 10 wait for it with inter
est that groves tenser and tenser, while.
apparently, all unconsclously, the actors
in the drama are laughing lightly, deal
ing with inconsequentialities II is won
derfully effective
And here. too, is dramatlst that can
write dialogue. Its flavor is decidedly
English. but cleverness in this respect
is international nowadays. Let US give
one or two examples:
When the bailif Is Whiting on the mat, you over
come yOur little dislikeS
They don't call me an insurance agent but a
stipcndary patron
You tried 10 trap her but finding shs wasn't
having any. you proposed That's the worst OF being
hot-headed with hug banking account
We were 10 be married. All my friends knew It.;
but. worse than all all my enemies knew It.
After my social trouble there a perfect cpl
denic Of myopia among my friends
Whenever ! see three men drinking together /
know somebody has been done
Ten thousand is big sum. You could do a lot
with that.
Yes. quite a nurnber
A single woman can only damage herself, but 4
married woman can DO damage ind,sTiminately.
Love is thing you can't have. unless you can't
have H.
Should you commit suicide we pay Just the sane
We always show that CLAUSE in our policy to married
couples.
She married you for money and is making YOU
happy III probably marry for love and be miser-
able.
loved a lady who Ioathed mo so much that abe
shiTered whenever y was near. think that was
why loved her.
For The Little Damozel" Mr.. Savage
has picked a most excellent cast Of play
ers, It is not 'star" play at albion
ors go now TO one, now to another, and
the result is a perfect whole-perfect
team work. Perhaps the work of Cyril
Keightley as Recklaw Poole will be best
liked. for the very genulneness Of the
players acting; his fine spirit. and the
art with which he makes the character a
bounder with still lot Of the gentle
man left In him. Miss May Buckley. a
charming and clever actress, never did
better work than she does as Julie. ''The
Little Damozel." She IS altogether a de-
light, whether in pathos or comedy. and
her cleverness adds much 10 the 10Y OF
the performance George Graham, as
Fltzroy Locke. Is also strIkingly clever.
and 1t should be sufficient praise for him
TO say that he reminds one Of George
Arliss at his best; his sureness OF touch;
his repose. and the ease with which he