The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-04-16
AT IIIiIIE IIIiIlIzAl EIglIzS
PoLI's rHEATER.
ssNoboay,. widow.n

EooouEA W1uOWs'
The Poll Players launched out on their
Washington career last night in chass's
Theater with a presentation OF NO
bodyis Widow" q fercical romance from
the pen OF Avery Hopwood, produced this
season by David Belasco. with Blanche
BATES in the leading feminine role. the
womanly reason and charm Of which no
one who saw the comedy last winter
have forgotten.
Roxana. the role essayed by Izetta
Jewel last night in a most vomanly
characterization. Is an American girl
who falls victim TO the charma OF an
EngiiEhman. the Duke Of Moreland. who
is masquerading under the name Of John
Clayton. Roxana marries first and thinks
afterward when she comes unexpectedly
upon her newly acquired husband kiss
ing an old sweetheart Of his This is the
American girls cue to pack her belong
ings and 50 home TO America, which she
promptly does, circulating the report
among her friends that her BRIDEGROOM
has died a sudden death.
The play opens at Palm Beach. when
the duke, under his own name. and the
ostensible widow meet again. Moreland
proceeds to WOO his wife for the second
time under the most extraordinary and
amusing circumstances, suffering the
humiliation which she infiicts upon him
as punishment for his past misdemean-
ors, at the end OF which she decides to
remarry him. Meanwhile, in q ft OF
temper, Moreland arranges q supper
with his hostess, just after the making
OF which engagement Roxana APP
proaches him in her most womanly and
winsome mood. proposing marriage TO
him with ali of her former impetuosity.
The duke is thrown into a quandry con-
corning his supper engagement, which
he cannot avoid. During the little sup
per with Betty Jackson he IL inveigled
into kissing her, Of which act Roxana
learns. A second forgiveness OF the
same fault is to much to be asked. even
by the brilliant Englishman. so he re-
sorts to strategy to now recapture Rox-
ana and persuade her to marry him.
The comedy is clever and amusing.
though never hilariously funny. The zest
Of the first act is furnished by the fenc-
ing ." Roxana and Moreland over the
supposedly dead body of the latter, q
most clever conversation which was last
night deftly handled by Izetta Jewel as
Roxana and A. H. Van Buren, as the
Duke of Moreland. both OF whom were
enthusiastically received by the large
first night audience.
Mr.. Van Buren,, who Is a Washington
favorite. responded to persistent curtain
calls with a graceful speech OF sppre-
citation - the welcome accorded his re-
turn to a Washington stock company IN
a new environment, and promised great
things for himself and his associates in
the production Of a number of strong
plays throughout the spring and sum-
mer season.
A. II. Van Buren, gave a most sincere
and sympathetic characterization Of the
English duke and scored heavily.
lzetta Jewel portrayed the title role of
the piece with a capricious charm that
won for her instant popularity with the
Washington theater-Eoers who saw her
last night, coming quite up TO the stand
ard promised by her former successes as
leading woman of Otis Skinner and
James K. Hackett, respectively Miss
Jewel was given a most cordial reception
last night, being the recipient OF many
lovely flowers and repeated curtain calls
The cast OF 'Nobody's Widow con-
tains but nine characters. so that many |
Of the Poll Players must wait until an ]
other production for their Introduction
TO the Washington theater-going public. /
Members of the company seen last
night were Louise Kent as Betty Jack
son, Jane Whitford as the Countess
Manuela Valencia. Gertrude Bondhin as
Fanny Owens, Hazel May as Sadie, maid
to Roxana Clayton; Robert lie Seur as
Ned Stevens, Graham Velsey as Baron
Reuter-, Louis Haines as Peter, the but
Ter; Izetta Jewel as Roxana Clayton. and
A H Van Buren, as the Duke Of More
land They were all well cast and gave
an exceptionally smooth first-night per-
formance
The theatsr was handsomely decorated,
the long coSridor which has been such a
comfort to Washingtonians in days gone
by resembling something Of a flower
show. IGN