The Washington herald., 1911-10-01

New York, Sept. 3O.-The usual dra-
matte crop confronts the metropolitan
theater patron this week. No less than
five new productions made their bid for
favor, TO say nothing OF the initial ap-
pearance of that much-heralded throne
wreCker" Gaby Deslys
George NJ. Cohan is to be seen in George
NJ Cohans new play, The Little Million
aire," at the George NJ. Cohan's Theater:
George Broadhurst's Bought and Paid
For" occupies the Playhouse: Rida John
son YounE's Next is playing at Days;
Lew Fields Never Home" is at the
Broadway; Henry Bender is starring in
Der Deppelmensch" at the Irving Place,
and Gahy Deslys. in the new Revue of
ReTues,' holds first place at the Winter
Garden.
"The Little millionaire"
George NJ. Cohan has come back with
a distinctly Cohan play in the Cohan The
ter by the COhan family Also. the
Cohans bring down most OF the applause
and said applause emanates from the
Cohans friends. Quite a Cohan affair,
The Little Millionaire"
George NJ Cohan is the millionaire.
Robert Spooner: Jerry Cohan is the big
millionaire. Roberts father, Henry
Spooner, and Mrs. Helen Cohan is cast
for the role of Mrs. Prescott. the aunt
OF Goldie Gray, Of the Zig Tag Folly
Company, with whom Robert Spooner.
Mr George NJ. Cohan). is in love.
The story Of the play pOrtrays Robert
Spooner afflicted with the spring sick
ness, love, and his father Henry, nee
Jerry. wealthy farmer opposed to the
match. On this slender thread has been
strung the usual Cohanesque pearls of
wifi nd
situations, with the result that the fin
ished product equals if not surpa sses
other pieces from the pen OF the YER
satile Mr.. Cohan.
The first and the third acts are musical
comedy pure and simple with a score
Of catchy songs, and the second act
carries the thread Of the story in a
highly farcical manner. The result is
, pleasing, for it breaks what might he
surfelture of song with the usual slap
bang Cohan comedy.
On the whole. it looks as though Mr..
George NJ. Cohan ct al. had put over"
a success that would entertain erudite
New York for some time to come.
From a literary standpoint no more
daring play has been produced in New
York than The Woman" now playing
at the Republic under the management
of David Belasco. Its situations and
n
derfully handled and staged with the
skill of a master, yet, were it not for
the prominence given a part that would
loom small in the usual production The
Woman" would run we'll within the class
Of medocrity. William c. De Mile, the
author, has staked all on a single daring
conception and won. The Woman is
the success of the season.
For the first twenty minutes after the
curtain rises the play appears we'll on the
road to mediocrity, then, after the audi
ence, even the last late conner, is COM
fcrtably seated, the sex problem is
brought to the front with startling ef-
feet. Matthew Standish is running for
ofhce. 1t is discovered that his early
career was marked with hotel register
autographs. Fine campaign material. IL
the name of his women companions can
only be found.
His enemies move heaven and earth TO
consummate disclosure. and at last, in
despair. confront Standish and seek to
wiring from him the name of his amour.
Standish steps to the telephone and calls
UP 1903 Plaza, to warn his former love
that disclosure is imminent. Wanda
Kelly, the switchboard operator, de-
stroys the record and refuses to be
bribed into furnishing the clew. At last,
the enemies of Standish give up their
attempts and one of them calls up his
wife. The number is 1903 Plaza
This is the incident that De Mile has
chosen to gamble with for the success of
his play and the incident which starts
the all-absorbing vein Of human interest
suspense, and sociology on a caeer that
ends with the usual cloak OF heroics.
Mary Nash, as the telephone girl, was
easily the star of the evening. Cuyler
Hastings, as Standish, gave an excellent
performance, and the others in the cast
divided the honors about evenly.
'cwhat the Doctor Ordered
A. z. Thomas has stepped into the
breach with new solution Of the ancient
problem How TO be happy though mar
Red" It is set forth IN "what the Doc
tor Ordered" at the Astor, by Fritz WILL
iams and Virginia Hammond In the roles
or John and Daisy Carr, and, leads to