The Washington times., 1911-03-07
Comedy Gives Chance for
Display of Actors Pecu-
liar Gifts.
CHARACTER PARTS
ABOUND IN CAST
Clever Stage Management Marks
the Third Act-Company Is
Uniformly Good.

Upon the paternal devotion of Achille
| Talma Dufard, baron and fallen star.
| for his gifted little daughter, Albert
| CheValier and Lechmore Worrall have
| woven wonderful bit of refreshing
comedy in Daddy Dufard," at the
Belasco.
| comedy of character, they call it.
And because each role is that of a dis
/ ttnct type rather than the portrayal of
an everyday person, the work of Mr..
| Chevalier, in the title part, and of his
excellent company is all the more re-
markable.
1t is such plays as this and The
Maestros Masterpiece" which appeared
here few weeks ago-for they are
| much the same generally-for which
men who write them and actors who
produce them should be thanked.
The piece itself has to deal with the
efforts of Daddy Dufard 10 bring his
triunic success to his little daughter,
RosaIle. When she has been refused her
chance at the Caledonia Theater, Lon
don, the baron, living quietly in Soho
beneath the incognito of his profession,
is engaged to occupy the fashionable
Alsation's Club, to blind the London po-
lice, who arc about to raid it for its
gambling. When he moves to fashion
able Mayfair, he resumes his title of
baron, and by some extremely clever
and bright work as his little daughters
publicity agent, obtains for her the
leading part In a new sketch at the
Caledonia. over the head of SeIia Fitz-
james. a music hall favorite.
Third Act Inspiration.
Nothing but a veritable inspiration,
rising above even the unusually excel
lent stage,raft in which the play
abounds could have been responsible for
the third act. The first setting is in the
Caledonia Theater, with its crowd of
''toffs.' swells. and ladies. and it is
there that the lines prepare-although
they are hardly recognized as prepara-
ticn-for the surprise of stagecraft to
come.
The Baron Dufard steps to the wick
ct, while waiting for his daughters
turn to be called, and asks what act is
on.
"Chevaliers. s." is the ticket takers un-
expected reply. Wont you go in?"
No. the baron declares. II don't
IKE lndl letlOW CNeNdlleT, anyway.
The next setting is the Caledonia stage.
seen from the audience. with Chevalier
on in the midst of his turn. He Is the
old familiar Chevalier. first as the
costermonger., with his wall to Mrs.
Henery 'Awkins'': then as the Work
US Man" with all the pathos that he
ever placed in the part. and lastly, again
the cOstermonger. with his Right As
Ninepence." Then. while the audience is
still applauding the old Chevalier they
n, In fENy- -
dark, to light again on a scene behind
the scenes in the Caldonia Theater, and
while the real audience is applauding
20 get Chevalier back, they are con-
frOnted with him backing from them
into the wings, the curtain rising and
falling, while he takes his calls. And
after Chevalier has hurried "out 'front.'
TO watch the progress of the sketch in
which Mile. Dufard is to appear, the
Baron Dufard enters.
Dual Characterization.
And strangest of all, Mr.. Chevalier's
dual characterization 1t can be called
such-does not confuse or displease, as
such roles usually do. The conception
of Daddy Dufard is so totally different
from anything this veteran imperson-
ator has ever done before, his art is
so perfect, that the audience does not
realize that they have witnessed a re-
markably clever piece of stage trickery.
OF the supporting company, Miss
Violet Hemig is all that could be de-
sired as "Daddy's" daughter Her
work is charming and convincing. A
HyIton Allen, as Paul Hammond, a
young playwright in love with ROsaiie,
is good.
OF those who have to portray the un-
usually difficult characters of the piece,
aside from Mr.. Chevalier, Louis Hen
drick. as Otto Weinberg, Egyptologist,
and Harry Brett, as The Great Jolly"
a cockney music hall singer, who revels
in bad French, have the most difficult
parts which they handle excellently.
And then there are Miss frankie Ray
mond. as Sclia Fitzjames, the music
nall favotte; Horace Mitchell, as Cesare
Goltti, an italian poet; Mary E. Bar
ker, as Nine. Poulard: Arthur Blank
ston, as Joseph Fontaine, manager uf
the Alsation's Club, and Leslie Kenyon,
as Grover Toft, manager of the Cal
doEia, who have good parts and do
them we'll.
The Lenten season had its effect upon
the audience last night, although the
house was a good one. 1t may be a
mild form of heresy. but, whisper, even
The sternest conscience couldn't possi- |
bly, twinge very hard if two hours were |
flched away from the forty days and
given to Daddy Dufard."