The Washington herald., 1911-04-30
THE WEEKS PLAYBILLS.
Belasco-Mary Mannerfns.

Mary Mannering's greatest success has
been achieved in "A Mans World" a
play by Rachel Crothers. the author of
THE Three of Us" It was in this
piece that Miss Mannering appeared for
considerable period at the Comedy
Theater. New York. last season, and
now, after successful engagements in
Chicago, Philadelphia, and Boston, she
will be seen at the Belasco Theater for
five days, beginning Tuesday evening
"A Mans World" which discusses the
double standard OF morals. has come in
for great praise from ministers. editorial
writer's. and educators-to say nothing Of
dramatic critics. The plot tells of Frank
Ware, a successful woman novelist, who
has taken under her wing a nameless
babe the child of a girl who has died
In disgrace. "Kiddie,' she calls him, and
his history makes her hate men for their
treatment OF women in such cases. She
lives In a Bohemian atmosphere with
singers, artists, musicians, and play
wrights coming and going. They become
suspicious Of 'Kiddie," and question her
as to his birth Franks silence causes
the tongue of scandal to accuse her of
being the mother. By and by there is
new visitor in the Bohemian set. He
is Malcom Gaskill. a newspaper man.
He falls In love with Frank and demands
that she clear up the mystery Of the
boy. Then it suddenly develops that
Gaskill is the father Of the child, and
the tables are turned What Is there
left for Frank to do? She is face to
face with a situation in which she is
one OF the principal actors. Moreover
her happiness is at stake, but she has
been preaching against mans riding
roughshod over the whole world Just
because he is man, while II a woman
makes the slightest deviation from the
path OF virtue 1t spells damnation," and
she cannot see her way clear to forgive
GaskflI
Love is not ALL" she says as she
turns Gaskill out Of her heart
Miss Crothers has handled her subject
in big, broad manner. She makes one
Of her characters say: This is a mans
world. Man sets the standard for
women. He knows she's better than he
is and demands that she be-and IL she
isn't she's got to suffer for it. That's
the whole business in a nutshell"
The woman's side is voiced In these
words: Because women allow men to
i've on lower plane. then take them as
husbands. men are as they are"
Miss Mannering, who is under the H.
rection OF the Messrs. Shubert, has been
surrounded by an entirely capable COM
pany. 1t Is to women especially that
Miss Mannering's play is OF particular
interest, because it is largely a woman's
success.
Coi0mb1a-"Such . Little Queen"
In presenting at the Columbia Theater
tomorrow night Claiming Pollock's
comedy Such Little Queen" as the
third Offering Of the Columbia Players,
Managers Metzerott and Berger have Sc
cured one of the tenderest and most
charming romances seen on the American
stage In years. 1t is the play that made
Elsie Ferguson a star in a single night,
and one that will afford Frances Nelson,
the leading woman Of the company, the
most delightful part in which she has vet
appeared. as well as affording Henry
Mortimer character equally as strong
and well suited to his abilities. Such
q Little Queen" has the romantic flavor
Of THE Prisoner Of Zenda" and other
similar plays. only its scenes are laid in
New York. OF almost equal Importance
with the King and Queen IL the part
OF Robert Trainer, q big-hearted Ameri.
can. that will be intrusted To Everett
Butterqeld, while George Barber win
present another character study In the
role Of Adolph Lauman, the millionaire
Dacksr. In the cast also win be found