The Washington herald., 1912-03-12
Ig.lT [fIlIIE lIH1 AlFI2gllIEES
AT THE BELAsco. -
sBaby Mine and Russian Imperial
Ballet.


Of domestic problems OF tragic nature
Baby Nine" the farce which occupies
The first part of the bill presented at the
Belasco Theater this week, clears the
atmosphere of depression.
Marguerite Clark, who has not beer
seer in Washington since she appeared
here as leading feature with Dewolt
Hopper in "Happyland." is a mite OF
humanity chucked to the brim with the
thing we call charm, and quite equal to
her strenuous role in TBaby Mine"
Washingtonians who saw her take fying
leaps into her bed from almost every
position on the stage last night are quite
ready to believe her statement that none
OF her numerous musical comedy roles
have exacted so much OF her as her work
in the Baby Mine" company. There is
never time that she hurdles over the
iootboard that one does not expect some
terrible disaster, but every time she
somehow manages to land in a soft spot.
Talking to Miss Clark of this gymnastic
feat, she told me Of an amusing occur
renee during her Chicago engagement.
otis Harlan was playing the part that
Walter Jones has now. and you know
that Otie is no lightweight" she said.
he leaps into the bed to hide himself.
there was a crash. and when 1 looked
around he was all tangled up in the
debris. The bed was broken down.
Otie's head was down and his feet were
up, and it almost broke up the show,
for, of course, it was with considerable
difficulty that he was rescued"
Margaret Mayo, the author OF Baby
Nine" has filled 1t with unique. situa-
WhaaN . fv-Nv, . .,
time the curtain goes up until the end
of the farce The story is that of Mr..
and Mrs. Alfred Hardy, married a few
weeks, and head over heels in love
with each other, in spite of which
fact they have more thu their share
of little spats
He learns she has lunched with a man.
she denies it, concealing the fact that
the man is Hardy's chum. Then Hardy
leaves her. Now, Mrs Hardy is a capital
little fibber. In fact. that is what has
led her into all her troubles. With her
friends, Mr.. and Mrs. Jimmie links, she
works out an astonishing scheme to
bring young Hardy back to her. II is
nothing less than borrowing a baby from
an orphan asylum and wiring Hardy to
come home. This might go very well,
for Hardy gets the wire and rushes back
TO kiss his heir, but there is a hitch
in getting the baby. Hardy arrives be-
fore the yOungster is safely installed
in his new home. In fact, Jimmie
arrives with the precious mite just as
the father is searching for the kiddie.
Explanations are skillfully made. 1t
seems to have worked out beautifully
when the real mother demands the re-
turn of her child. Mrs. Hardy sends
Jinks out pOst-haste to get another baby.
Jimmie gets il, but just as the substitu-
ton is being made. Hardy enters the
room and the only way they can cover
up the deception is by telling him he
has twins. StiT. the real mother of the
first baby is demanding her child. on
Jimmie goes to get another baby. so the
hFst one can be returned. but again
Jimmie bungles the change. Hardy arr
rives at the wrong moment and is told
that he is the father of triplets. Then
in the midst Of the turmoil comes the
mother Of the first child and the father
OF the other two. and Hardy must be
told that he has been tricked.
Complications succeeded complications
throughout the performance. each one of
which reduced the fashionable audience
Of the BelascO Theater last night TO
shrieks of laughter.
William A. Brady is giving US the origi-
nal New York company, which includes
Marguerite Clark. Ernest Glendinning,
Walter Jones. Agnes De Lane, Marie
IL
ney Anderson and Frank Hartwen.
AS Jimmy Jinks, Alfred's much i'm
posed upon friend. who SO bungles the
baby borrowing, Walter Jones gives an
excellent impersonation of thek good-na-
tured, faithful friend who will go through
fire and water TO re-establish peace
That the baby business" in which he
Became so deeply involved went into the
hands of a receiver with happy results
through NJ INF
on poor friend Jimmy's part.
Ernest Glendinning was a most credu-
lous father, swallowing tales of an heir,
OF twins, and finally of triplets in his
household with amazing rapidity and sin
Cerity. He portrays the character of the
tmpetuous husband and wouId-be father
well, giving II a most impressive tone
that but adds to the merriment of his
auditors.
Agnes De Lane, the wife Of poor,
5ungling Jimmy" and the friend OF the
little love-sick wife, who agrees to the
suggestion OF borrowing a baby to en-
tice her husband home, is versatile in
thinking Of plans Of escape from the
most absurd situations in which they be-
come involved.
Marguerite Clark interprets the leading
feminine role with that same winsome-
ness which won so many hearts for her
when she was known only a musical
comedy girl Since she began her pro-
fessional career in the chorus OF the
Aborn opera company. each climb has
been a step higher. She has never had
to look for an engagement since she be-
came known, and her entrance into the
field of more substantial dramatic enter
tainment has won for her unstinted ap-
planse and popularity.
Miss Clark is one OF the most petite
women on the American stage. and takes
pride in the fact. saying that while
Stella Mayhem is fat and glad OF IT. she
is little and is glad OF It. She weighs
exactly nlnety-four pounds, which re-
minds Us that some very delightful
things are do-fe up in small packages
Baby Mine" left the Belasco audience
in a most happy frame OF mind TO re-
ceive the poetic entertainment furnished
by MilSail Mordkin, Mile. Lopoukowa,
and Nile. Pajitzkaia. OF the Russian I'm
perial Ballet, who gave the following pro-
gramme:
Loves Dream After the Dance Czihulka
N. Mordkin and Mile. LopoukOus.
Anitra Greg
Mile. Pajitzkail \
PolkA AyloThone .Dngo
Mile. LopoukowL |
Bow and ArToW .SaintSaens
N. Mordkin.
Danve variations.
Nile PaHtzkaia.
Bacchanale Gaznouu
NJ. Mordkin and Mile. LopoukOwa. |
The performance proved a revelation in |
ballet dancing and pantomimic art to |