The Washington herald., 1913-09-23
NEW NATIONAL.
"Finc Feathers"

The season of 1914 was inaugurated
at the New National Theater last night
in the most successful manner. in that
the first offering was a new play by one
of the best OF modern authors and in
terpreted by a star cast, all Of them
Washington favOrites. Fine Feathers" I"
Eugene Walters latest work, was the
play, and the cast was made up of Rose
Coghlan. Lolita Robertson, Lydia Dick
son. Robert Edeson, Max Figman, and
Wilton Lackaye.
Fine Feathers is appropriately des-
ignated on the bills AS "a play Of to-
day" 1t deals with modern social and
business conditions and with men and
women such as we meet in our daily
lives Bob Reynolds, a clerk in large
building contractors office, lives mod
estly in little bungalow on Staten
Island trying hard "to make both ends
meet on a salary of S25 week. HIS
wife. longing for finery and amuse-
ment has expended money given her
for necessary expenses for new hat
and theater tickets; also the matinee
has caused her to forget that there is
nothing in the house for dinner and
that her husband must do without his
daily meal. Confding her trouble to a
neighbor, Mrs. Collins, the latter ad-
vises her TO feint sickness and so d.
vert her husbands thoughts from the
dinner question.
She acts upon this suggestion. but
almost Immediately is conscience
stricken and confesses all to her hus-
band who readily fOrgives.
Just as this domestic episode Is nap
pilv adjusted, there enters John Brand,
member of a cement manufacturing hrm
that is about to submit bids to furnish
cement for the construction of dam TO
be- built by BOb's employees. Brand taunts
Bob his former college chum, with his
comparative poverty. and offers him a
hrib,. to pass as sufficient an inferior
quality Of material than that called for
in the specifications for the dam. Bob
refuses but his wife, who has overheard
the conversation. surreptitiOusly accepts
the money from Brand. When Bob
learns what has happened he. in order
TO protect his wife. enters into Brand =
scheme. disrcgarding the counsel of Dick
Meade. a shrewd newspaper man and
his sincere friend. The Reynolds family
rroye into more elegant quarters and the
Young wife enjoys life to the top of her
bent.
Meanwhile Bob has plunged into stock
speculation. OveTplays the limit and not
only finds all his money swept away. but
gives a check for a large amount after
having been notified by his bank that
his account is OverdTawn. At the criu-
cal moment comes the news that the
dam built Of faulty cement has broken.
over -helmed by the situation and mo-
mentarily fearing arrest, he commits sui
eide.
II would he difficult to decide who OF
the members of the cast deserves the
greatest praise. Each one rivaled the
other. so that there was presented a per
forrianCe than which none more perfect
has been seen here in long while. Rob-
ert EdesOn gave a consistent interpreta-
tion to the character of Bob Reynolds.
He was especially forcible and cOnvinc-
ing in the closing scenes with Brand.
Wilton Lackaye. as John Brand. was
the typical, INSCRIPTIONS contractor
with whom fraud is merely business" d"
and who does not hesitate in the en-
plOyment of any means to serve his
purpose. Max Figman presented a cap
ital portrait of Dick Meade. whose gen.
uineneSs of character is sought to be
hidden under the veneer OF a devil-may-
care gayety. he is one of the best
Of comedians. Rose COghlan is the same
fine actress whom WashingtOnians have
known as such for many years. Time
cannot witner nor custom stale her in
finite variety. She was inimitably COM
ical as Mrs Collins, and in company
with Mr.. Figman and Lydia Dickson,
who was eXcruCiatingly funny as
Frieda. the maid. kept the risibles of
the audience in motion. Lolita Robert
son was charmingly effective as Bob
Reynolds pleasure-lOving and misguided