Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-17
Belasco.

The DTOne, IN three aCtS, Dy HutNer-
ford Mayne, which was given its Ameri-
can premiere at the Belasco Theater last
evening by a practically all-1rish COM
pany. is going to set tongues wagging
and contrary opinions forming. If Amer
lea has enough Of those who take de-
light in quaint characterization and
unique comedy to let it live.
It is not a comedy after the American
meaning of the word. 1t is not construct
ed by the hard and fast rules laid down
Yet withal 1t drew a very large and rep
resentative audience to the Belasco
Theater last evening. and. while 1t did
not evoke much in the way OF hand
clapping. it did thoroughly delight and
entertain the great majority. For all
the evening, after the situations began to
develop, there was an audible sound OF
polite laughter on all sides.
1t is really an Irish "Old Homestead.
but with a somewhat different story.
The Drone" is lovable old man, pos
sessed of considerable wit. despite his APP
parently intense simplicity. to virtually
live on his well-to-do brother for twenty
years without doing a stroke or work,
because fOrsooth. he is believed to have
"a wonderful head" and to be inventing a
fan-bellows that will make them all rich
in time. The characterization of this
role by Whitford Kane Is sufficient OF
itself to place it's portrayer beside
Denman Thompson in the line Of unique
impersonatiOn. 1t was beautifully done
throughout, a masterpiece of dramatic
art.
Around this drDne the whole story of
the play revolves. II really there Is j: q.
played by Robert Forsyth. is widower
who has intrusted the keeping of his
home to his young daughter. a delightful
character delightfully."- portrayed by Mar
mt OirI
deity represented by Nellie Wheeler.
Things do not go well enough to suit the
thrifty farmer and his hired man. Sam
Brown, another bit of unique character
poses to Sarah McMinn. scheming.
thrifty spinster. who plans to take over
his home and show him where he can
save money on all sides, principally by
getting rid of the drone, who has been
more or less expensive because OF his
habit Of taking trips to Belfast to get
new ideas and see men who can advance
his invention.
The plan does not suit either the
daughter Mary or her Uncle Dan. and
so they scheme to get rid of Sarah. and
in doing so involve John Murray In a
suit for breach of promise. 1t Is at this
point that some of the most delightful
comedy Of the play develops. The man.
ner in which the drone convinces the
brother of Sarah that, as there was mo
love, no letters. no photographs and real
ly no nothing between John and Sarah,
her chances of securing G1.UD damages
were slim. He finally persuades her
brother in Sarah's behalf. to- take over
his entire fan-bellows. rights. title model
and all in full settlement of the claim. and
restores his brothers confidence In the
fact that he has "a wonderful head" be-
sides making Mary, who in the mean
while has been cOurted and won in true
Irish style by Alick McCready, a young
farmer thoroughly happy.
Not a character of the entire cast but
Is a sharply drawn and cleverly defined
natural Of the County Down. Ireland" "
where the scenes of the play are laid
all Of them-in the kitchen Of John Muir
raw. It is bit Of life with its ordinary
and its comical incidents transplanted
from the native heath and presented in
a far-off land for admiration and enjoy
ment.
The company is a group of player art
lists to whom minute details are as i'm
portant as the broad strokes that every
body notices. Margaret O'Gorman made
an ideal Sarah: Joseph Campbell was her
brother to the life; Alec F. Thompson.
laughably clever as typical Scotch en-
gineer who had worked his way up and
had been brought to John Murray's house
by Sarah to expose his brother. and John
Campbell, typical Irish lover and young
farmer.