The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-10
ADJUSTMENTS
"The Real Thing"

By Catherine Chisolm Cushing.
 Characters in the Play:
 Richard Grayson, the "Husband"- Fred Tden.
 Kate Grayson, the "Wife''-Josephine Lovctt.
 Dorothy, Jack, the "Children"-An- drew Ridgewell, Mac MacComber. Olive Wycoff, the .'Understudy"- Florence Short.
 Jesse Lorraine, the "Widow'--Miss Crossman.
 Tom Bradley. the "old Beau"-Al- bert Brown. The scheme of "The Real Thing" which was presented at the Jefferson theatre last night by Miss Henrietta Crossman and her company, is the risk wives run who devote themselves ex- olusively to children and household pursuits without holding on for dear life to those graces and accomplish ments which first won their husband 8 love. In other words, neglected hus- band in the home means ans under study" next door. or Just around the corner. or wherever feasible affinity happens to be found.
 The play is very entertaining and lls Miss Crossman essayed the part of the Understanding Fairy" adop ting the style of the play, who sees how do- nestle absortpion Is about to cause serious trouble In the household of her sister and sets about with irrepres- sible energy to win back the wavering husband by restoring her sister to a semblance of what she was in the hey day of her athleticism and accomplished young womanlfood. The sister, once a champion tennis player and girl of the outdoor life, as well as graceful dancer. musician and 'all around" beauty, has grown careless of her per- sonal appearance. Devoted to her chil- dren and foolishly sacrificing herself on the altar of prosaic domesticity, she permits her husband to find a tennis partner and pal" in the person of a schoolgirl neighbor, who furnishes the lonesome husband with the companion ship denied him by his wife.
 The Widow" or the "Understanding Fairy" who is none other than Miss crossman, sister and guardian angel to the family, fluffily disguised, arrives on the scene in the nick of time. Her brother-in-la is beginning to take just a trifle too much Interest Tn the schoolgirl who, 1t must be said m justice To her. Is quite innocent of any wrong intentions. With character istic energy, the Widow" herself be- reaved of husband who seems to have been the wrong person altogether, sets about to open the eyes or her heed less sister and avert complication in the future. How she rejuvenates the domestic drudge, wins back the dis gruntled husband and incidentally has a strenuous wooing by the man she really wanted to marry when she first promised to love, honor and obey" provides three acts or clean and spark : ling comedy, which is characterized at all times by irreproachable propriety.
 Miss Crossman and the members of her company acquitted themselves in most creditab1e fashion. Miss Crosse man is player of experience and abil ity who finds herself In a conpeniai environment as the Widow in "rbe Real Thing" Fred Tlden as the "Ius- band Josephine Levett as the "Wife l" Florence Short as the "Understudv" ma Albert Brown as the "Old Beau" cave the star consistent and intelligent sun- port. The play will be repeated at the Jefferson again this afternoon and tonight, which will end the present engagement.
 Incidentally. 1t may be said that in this particular case the Real Thing" means the wife who is sometbinp more to her husband than the woman who looks after his meals and puts his chil- dren to bed