The Washington times., 1911-05-16
TAFT AMONG THOSE
WHO GREETED THE
MAN FROM HOME
Final Curtain Leaves Wash
ington Well Pleased
With Play.

When the curtain went down on the
last act of "The Man From Home last
night at the Belasco, leaving 'the man
standing with a whimsical smile on his
lips and complete happiness showing on
his face, as the girl in the next room
sang "Genevieve, Sweet Genevieve,"
President Taft arose in his box and ap-
plauded vigorously, as did everyone in
the audience, loath to, see the last of
one of the most delightful offerings the
Capital has ever had
Washington has had to wait long for
its chance to see this success of the
century," as one enthusiast has called
it. and those who were at the Belasco
last night doubtless are unanimous in
the hope that Its return will not be long
delayed, for, after seeing it once, one Il
willing to see II again, and still again.
American plays innumerable have
been presented within the past few
years. but THE Man From Home, "
written by Booth Harrington and Harry
Leon Wilson. with the wonderfully fine
portrayal of the title role that the in
imitable William Hodge gives, with a
well-nigh f1awless cast with it's beauti-
full setting, its real humor and homely
truths, It's patriotic appeal and biting
satire. is alone in it's class.
Appeal to Every Class.
American to the core. pointing whole
some moral, and. to use a trite phrase
so popular with the unctuous advance
man, with laugh in every line." need
ing no Haunting of the Stars and Stripes
and minus the proverbial American
setting - all fhn 1og5 l..
Italian hotel. the play has an intense
appeal to each individual theater-goer,
be he serious or frivolous, patriotic or
otherwise.
Much credit for the wonderful success
OF the piece. of course. Is due to the
authors for the beautifully blended con-
cocuon of humor. pathos. satire, ro-
nance. and its touch of the melodr anna
tic. but William Hodges. or IL you
choose, Daniel voorhees, Pike.o Kokomo,
lud., Tor they are one and the same per-
son at all times, with his quaint drawl,
his Hoosier dialect, the Inimitable way in
which he lives the part OF the rugged,
sterling tye of American, lifts the play
above the rank of the average good
production, and makes IL the near
perfect Offering that 1t is.
The saory deals with the subject al
ways sore spot with good Americans,
OF the worst sort of title hunting by
American girls with good American
dollars. and handles it in a way that
drives 1t home. 1t tells of the success
full efforts of this shrewd, homely law
yer more at home in Kokomo than
abroad to thwart the schemes of a
group Of fortune hunting Nobility"
and to save his two youthful wards, the
girl whom he loves, and her brother,
from them.
Cast Almost Perfect.
The cast. which in a few instances
has been changed since the original
production. is almost perfect. Dodson
Mitchell. as the grand duke incognito,
is just what he should be, never over
doing a part that could easily be spoiled
in the handling. He is easy and natural,
quiet and effective. Helen Harvest Is
charming fngenue, and fills her role very
acceptably. Herbert McKenzie's only
shortcOming as the Earl of Hawcastle,
is an unfortunate mouthing of his words
that make them almost uunintelligible
at times. Ida Vernon, one of the old
school, is ideally cast as Lady Creech.
and Echlin p. Gayer is as inane a
young English ass as his part demands
Alice johnson, as the countess, Henry
Harmon as 1vanoff. George LIE Guere,
as the girls brother. and Anthony
Aaher. in a clever bft Of character work
as the waiter. all contribute their quota
to the excellent sum total. Coming at
the close of the regular season at the
Belasco, THE Man From Home" Is a
welcome offering. and If the 8. r. o.
sign is not in evidence at every perfor-
nance, its failure to appear will be hard
to explain, for Washington Is allotted
only six days to see this most delight
full of real American plays.