New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-03
LADY FROM OKLAHOMA
Play at eighth Street
Theatre Lacks Form.
JESSIE BONSTELLE WASTED
Third Act of Play by Kate Jor-
dan Develops Only Real
Dramatic Clash.

Nothing 80 aimless. 50 formless. so
utterly lacking i'm dramatic quality mas
been seen on the New York stage TINS
season as the first two acts Of Kate Jor-
dams three-act play. The Lady from
oklahoma" which. after some earlier
adventures and misadvcntures. was pro-
duced last night for the first time in this
city at the Forty-eighth Street Theatre
There is no exposition I'm the first act, no
progressive development in the second
The only aim OF both seems 10 be 10 get
through the evening until il is time to
raise the curtain for the third act-an act
30 UNEXPECTEDLY well-wrtten and ship
shape that it gives che play a fghuns
chance Of survival.
The scene OF the first act is laid in the
editorial room OF womcns magazine.
The woman editor. at her desk. receives
visitors-an anti-sufiragettc, "a starving
illustrator: she discourscs over the fort
uncs of literary and artistic life III TINS
city. she gives advice she reads snatches
from letters from her readers aud She
proves 10 bc the pillar Of strength on
which leans her employer tho owner ~
many periodicals and Washington
newspaper Some of this talk Is good. but
il has nothing To do with the play what
ever. and there is far too much Of it. At
last. when one has been wondering FOR
some time what il is al goins To be about.
the Lady from oklahoma enters. Her
husband is a United States Senator and
ne is in the clutches Of handsome wom-
an lobbyist. She too. seeks advice. She
would become cultured. socially pos
sble." and-ho rcjuvenatcd in seven
months. when Congress meets again. The
editress finds her teachers. dressmakers
and beauty parlor.
The scene of the second act is laid i'm
this establishment. II Is Lot an act, II
Is cross between a musical comedy
scenario and what Is called in vaudc-
willie ~ scream" Again nothing happens.
except face stcaminE. massagiug and
manicufiug. until nearly the fail Of the
curtain. when the Lady from Oklahoma
and the woman lobbyist meet. The Lady.
after admitting that she could give up her
husband IL II would make him happy.
tells her 'iNal that she Is not the woman
for him and that she VIII win. She also
learns that the "s!rcon" is cndcavoring
to win the Senator'S vote FOR corrupt
bill
Then comes that unexpected third act
.n "a committee room al the Capitol ln
Washington The Lady from oklahoma.
thorough woman II ,he world now.
charming in dress as in md"urr. wins 20
course. She unmasks the conspiracy.
saves her husbands political future and
rcgains his love. but at the height Of her
triumph she drops back into the rude
speech of their early days OF poverty and
struggle
There is nothing new. aothing original
in al. this. boo plot cor characters. Jessie
Boustcllc as the Lady WIS obliged 90
waste q great dcal of good work Oh
farcical toinfool .rr but her serious mo-
mcuts were worth while. even though.
for woman of such grit. she was per
haps little too readily moved t. tears.
William Is Harcourt nlad' q manly and
appropriately Western Senator. while
Henry Harmon save an exceptionally
convincing and consist 'lt sketch OF tho
corrupt senator Kirby. Isabel OMadi-
gan was tacttuIy amusing as thc 'ditrcss.
CAST OF THE LADY FROM OKLA
HOMA"