The Washington times., 1913-02-18
MISS REED SCORES
IN HUMMER PLAY
"The Painted Woman" Given
Initial Capital Production
Before Big Audience.

Another name was more deeply in
scribed in the archives of stardom and
another play. Frederick Arnold Kum-
mers latest The Painted Woman
took its place among the popular pro-
ductions of the day, IL the sentiment
Of the magnificent audience which wit
messed the first night Of the drama
at the Belasco last night can be taken
as a criterion.
Florence Reed is the name Of the
young actress who, in the leading role
of the new production, decidedly clinch-
es her title to stellar honors. Through
out the four-act drama-a continuous
cycle of thrills and situations of ab-
sorbing interest-the young actress
work was brilliant, and after the final
curtain drop critics and audience alike
voted she had accomplished great
personal success.
Brings Back Memories.
To everyone who has In boyhood or
girlhood read and dreamed Of the en-
chanted Spanish MAN, the drama
brings back memories of book which,
once picked up. was hard to put down.
THE Painted Woman" Is 'melodrama
OF allurtng caliber. 1t Is gripping from
beginning to finish.
Back to the piratical outlawry Of the
seventeenth century the playwright
carries his audience Ramona, the
heroine, is enslaved in the home Of
the pirate chief Firebrand, who has
former mistress Of the pirate. Ann
Devereaux. John Barton. mate of the
good ship Thanksgiving" owned and
manned by Puritans, who traded solt
fish and other New England commodi-
ties for the silks and jewels which were
the pirates plumber. visits Ramona,
whom he first saw in Jamaica slave
and claim his lady. He Is shot en-
route to his ship by Portugee. a pirate,
whom he has chastised on a previous
occasion for an insult offered Ramona.
Nursed Back to Health. .
Though wounded John manages to
elude the pirates. He staggers into the
presence of Ramona. who hides him
and nurses him back to health after
his enemies have gone. John asks her
10 become his wife. Unexpectedly.
Firebrand returns John. from his hid
ing place. hears that Ramona Is the
mistress OF the pirate. The hero en-
cages the chief in struggle and the
latter is killed by Pedro, a servant. who
has become attached to Ramona. John
upbraids the girl for her presumed de-
ception. but after hearing the story of
how she. had been Senslaved .by Fire
brand relents The couple are surprised
by the other pirates Who capture Johns
shipmates when they come after him.
The Puritans are released on the
promise OF Ramona to become the prop
ertv of Portugee. - o.. r.
The Jamaica slave market is the final
scene. Here Ramona is being sold at
auction by Portuge. when John and
his shipmates appear. They purchase
the girl and the lovers are united.
Charles walfror, az John. and CASTOR
MervaIe. as the pirate chief. are the
two leading male roles. Mr.. Mervale.
as the reckless buccaneer chief was
admirable. Mr.. Waldron gave an ade-
auate impersonation of Iohn. the Puri-
tan lover. Geoffrey stein. IN the role
of Portngee. and Anthony Andre. as
Tench. hid Justice to their parts Jobyna
Rowland, made all that Was possible
Of the role OF the deposed mistress. Ann
Devereaux. and Louise Eyarts Was
more than good in the minor part of
Lucia. David Barton. as PEDRO. and the
rest of the rast unheld tretr ma rfs of
80 prarS', ~.ie-- -d -y-o-~ -ptist~fv>~ q.