Evening journal., 1912-11-07
PUFF And POWDER
SCORES In COMEDY
DUPONT Club TheSpianS Make
Hit in Facing the
Music"

MUSIC
With the winds OF Autumn whist
ling outside, the coy breakfast room
IN Mr. and Mrs John Smiths" now
hat, No. l9 Mona Mansion. keusington.
London, presented a most inviting ap-
pearance, with It's dainty furnishings
and lowered draperies last night
Very peaceful, indeed. did Il seem, and.
as the oomely and genial MRS. Pont-
ing" the new housekoeper (who had
been employed by Mr.. Smith," during
his wifes absence In Dover), busted
herself with the preparations for
breakfast, she little dreamed of the
conflicting and puzzling chain of cir
cumstances, amounting almost 20
tragedy, which was 50 soon to mar
the peace Of the whole household II
happened that the REV John Smith.
curato of St Andrews" occupied
fiat at NO. 90 Mona Mansion. and his
wife, Mabel" also happened TO be
absent but is shortly expected home,
as is also mora" the wife Of the
"other Mr. Smith"
Mabel" arrived Unexpectedly the
night before, and through a mistake IN
the numbers of the fats she got into
the fiat belonging 10 the "other Mrs.
Smith" and was content, thinking It
TO be the new fat into which her hus-
band had moved during her absence
in Scotland
Mrs. Pointing" the news house
keeper having never seen the new
mistress, supposed. Of course, that
everything was all right, when she
met her next morning; and when the
other Mrs. Smith" arrived Mrs.
Pointing refused to recognize her as
the real mistress Imagine the de-
nouncement.
"The other Mr. Smith" appeared -
realized that a mistake has been made
and in his extremity appealed to
/ Sergeant Tunell, of Vine street sta
! ton for help i'm his prediCament
Sergeant Tufell, on being told the
story. confused the "Curate of St. An
drews" and his wife Mabel" with a
London crook. who piled his trade in
a parsons Disguise and his accom-
pliee. Matilda Scraggs." known as
THE Duchess" and got matters more
confused than ever During the un-
travelling of the thread. so hopelessly
tangled. Jack" got almost desperate,
and in relating his troubles to his
friend, Dick Desmond apparently
has a touch of brain trouble. and in a
delirious way. reviewed the kind
act, which he thought was response
Bile for the 'mix-up,' in so vivid a
manner that Desmond" was really
] alarmed fer his sanity
The appalling situation Is righted
| by the appearance of the Rev. John
Smith" and the discovery. that two
Smith families of the same name were
near neighhOrs; each family hereto
fore having been unaware of the other
one and peace reigned once more.
This is not a "Sh0r Story for an
Idle Hour" as one may suppose, but
is a brief synopsis of the charming
original farce comedy Facing the
Music" by James Henry Darnley, and
given by the members Of the dupont
I Puff and Powder Club. in the DUPONT
4 auditorium. last night The vast
room was completely filled with an
enthusiastic and appreciative audi
ence. and the continuous and hearty
applause throughout the entire play
assured the success of the club IN
their initial performance of the COM
edy. Never were amateurs more thor
oughly trained. and each part was
taken with the east and self-posses-
sion of a professional Never was a
poor husband more utterly bewilder-
ed than William s K Wells, who
took the, part of fthe other Mr. Smith.
and his rendering of the part, partic-
lularly the dramatic scene of his ap.
parent, momentary loss Of reason
would have done credit to a finished
professional
L. ID. Maloney as the solemn faced
"Curate, with deep base voice was
splendid while the big, bluff, red.
faced Sergeant Duffel portrayed by
Charles T. Mcguire, was the chief O
detectives, and awe inspiring enough
to create fear in any criminal, as the
poor, trembling "Curate" can testify
when the Sergeant confused hin
with Lefty Sam"
The Misses Lola Parsons, and Ma.
rian Truitt as the two Mrs. John
Smiths. were charming and tool
their different parts with grace anC
ease
Colonel Duncan Smith, uncle oil
John Smith. as portrayed by d. Harry
McAvoy, made a capital uncle" anC
showed his decided preference for ac
tresses. when the charming little Miss
Fotheringay. of the Bijon Theatre
known in her home life as Miss La
vina Denton, appeared in the Smitl
home with dainty airs and graces
Miss Ruby Ayerherst. az Mrs Pom
ling" was an ideal hOusekeeper, ant
last. but by no means the least
"Dick Desmond's, Crank r. Palmer)
CHEEKY countenance and hearty, in
fictitious laughter, cheered alike, the
bewildered. helpless, other Mr.
Smith" and the enthusiastic audience
During the evening fine musica
program was splendidly rendered b,
the DUPONT Orchestra.
The young women in the play were
recipients of exquisite flowers as al