The Washington herald., 1911-01-17
THE COLUMBIA.
"The Travelling Salesman"

Back to a number of customers who
had invested in s. worth of his line Of
goods last year came Frank ]. Nc
Intyre. The Travelling Salesman to
the Columbia last night for the first
night of weeks sojourn in this city.
Judging by the constant laughter and
insistent applause, Mr.. Mclntyre's wares
have not deteriorated in the least since
they were last seen in Washington.
From all indications, it would appear
that THE Travelling Salesman" is fated
to have the same success which attended
the same authors 'Ehorus Lady for
the past four seasons. 1t is true that
this is only THE Travelling Salesman's"
third year out. but the lines have lost
none of their laughter provoking quail
ties. nor has the plump, not to say
fleshy and also stout-conedan, whose
role contains the majority of the witty
lines, lost a particle of his ability to get
them across the footlishts successfully
and to obtain a hearty laugh with each
one.
There is little use to repeat the story
of The Travelling Salesman" A piece
which has once played Washington with
the success which this play attained last
January speaks for itself and a return
eHSdStfItHt Is Only al u
renew acGuaintances with old friends. 1t
is sufficient TO remind those who saw it
last season that the plot concerns a
piece of property which some villains
are trying to steal from a poor, unsus-
pectins girl-they are always poor and
unsuSpecting in the plays-and the sue
cess which the hero meets with in foilng
their plot. If he isn't successful, he
wouldn't be the hero. SO what's the use
in going into any further details about
the story?
Besides. what makes the play worth
while is not the plot, but Frank Nc
Intyre, Gertrude Coghlan, James O'Neill,
X. ID. Blakemore, Sarah McVicker. and
the rest of the people who interpret
Forbes lines to the best possible advan-
tase. and get all that is possible out OF
each situation, each new turn or twist
TO the play. They are the ones who make
an evening with The Travelling Sales
man enjoyable, and they are the ones
10 whom thanks are due. May they have
il in full.
One can hardly say anything new about
Frank Mcintyre in the role of Bob Blake.
Columns have been written already con-
cernins his personality. his manner. his
appearance. and his unction-why do fat
actors always have unction? They al
ways do. though. So We may be per-
mere mention that he Is entirely de-
serving OF all the nice things that have
been said of him. and turn to two of the
more subordinate characters. whose work
in the present production is particularly
pleasing. and who probably have not re-
ceived as much praise as Mr.. Mcintyre.
These two are II. d. Blakemore. in the
role of Julius, the, colored waiter, and
James O'Neill. jr.. as Watts. another
drummer. Blakemore particularly was
excellent. His makeup, his pronuncia-
ton, his mannerisms. his entire define
alton, were good superlatively good,
while O'NeiIl's characterization of the
drummer was delightful Let us hope
that Washington will see more of this
pair.
Miss Coghlan and Miss McVicker, who
had the two important female parts
in the piece, also contributed to the pleas
ure of the evening, and the consensus
of opinion appeared to be that it is to
be hoped that The Travelling Salesman"
Will travel this way again.