The Washington herald., 1913-03-11
BELASC0.
"Bunty Pulls the Strings."


When you go to the Belasco Theater
this week, as, of course. you will 70
see "Bunty Pull the Strings" you Will
find a few moments sufficient for a re-
alization of the reason why this three
act comedy from the pen Of Graham
Moffat charmed London when first pre-
scented in the English metropolis at the
Haymarket Theater. repeating It's Lon
don popularity in America during fts
long run at the Comedy Theater. New
York, for there has not come to WASH
ington this season so human, humorous
and honey a play as this story OF
Scotch village life, with its three love
affairs, which are brought to a happy
ending before the final curtain by the
clever manipulations of "Bunty."
When the first curtain raises on the
parlor in the home OF Tammas Biggar
and Introduction is made to "Bunty'
and her incorrigible brother, "Rab," one
forgets all about being in q theater and
readily imagines himself paying a very
real visit to a very real straight-laced
Scotch family, an illusion which fingers
until one has heard the last word Of the
simple story OF these folk. whose lives
are ruled by stern Calvinism.
when Bunty Pulls the Strings" Is
delicious combination of wisdom and
humor which touches a chord in every
human heart, making one love the
close akin to the contrasting characters
which dominate the story. While the
Scotch ways, and the delightful flavor
and atmosphere OF a Scotch village OF
1850, enhance the interest of the comedy
which the Messrs. Shubert and William
A. Brady are presenting at the Belasco
this week, 1t is the very real story un-
derneath this atmosphere which makes
the play a success, simple and oo-
vious story which holds the interest OF
the audience because of the character
through which it is developed: its keen
flashes Of human nature and the dia-
logue which scintillates with a wit which
is all the more appealing because 1t oc-
ours wholly unconscious on the part OF
the Scotch characters.
The story concerns Tammas Biggar
and his domestic affairs. Tammas. as
young man, was to have wed bonnie
lassie TO whom he clunS until the day
set for the marriage in the vain hope
of finding money enough to make her
his bride, lacking which he ANONYMOUSLY
deserted her at the last moment, migrat-
ing to the little village of Lintiehaugh,
where he married the daughter of
prosperous merchant. This union was
blessed with three children, two sons
and the dear "Bunty." whose manage
rial ability was sufficient to run the
kirk. her affianced husband, Weelum
Sprunt. and her fathers wifeless domi-
Cile.
At the opening of the play Tammas is
in a sad plight, having appropriated
funds belinging to the spinster Susie
Simpson, who shrewdly proposes mar
riage to him as compromise and can
collation. of his Indebtedness to her. a
-. ,s..l,s ha1r
successful had not Ellen Dunlop. the girl
Tammas deserted thirty years previous
", arrived at the psychological moment.
plunging the stern, staunch, and sturdy
Scotchman into greater difficulties. from
which his own wits would never have
eXtricated him had not "Bunty" begun
her adroit pulling Of the strings.
The clever little keeper of her fathers
house not only satisfies the debt of the
ludicrous Susie Simpson. but establishes
a marital relationship between her father
and his erstwhiIe sweetheart; brings hap
piness to her brother in his love affair. |
and removes the obstacles which lie In
the way of her own marriage with the
unattractive Weelum Sprunt.
The contrasting characters through |
which this story is developed are cleverly |
ing of which is so convincing IS to make |
one feel personally acquainted with each
member of the strict Sabbath observing |
Scotch family.
First and foremost there is Molly |
Pearson. who makes "Bunty' a pure de- |
light. Miss Pearson has a voice of
singular sweetness, and a bewildering !
multitude of quaint mannerisms which |
carry one well into the atmosphere OF
1850, and make one feel very much In |
sympathy with her stupid ''Weelum" |
when he declares that il it be true that |
"Bunty' is "a born henpecker who will |
marriage him through life," he will be
henpecked and 'glory in his shame"
Sanderson Maffat's "Weelum Sprunt"
kept the Belasco audience in a state of
high amusement last evening. for a
more thick-headed, melancholy bulk of
than "Bunty's" accepted
suitor. as portrayed by Mr.. Moffat, is in
The fact of the matter is
that it is impossible for any one who
follows the girl through her clever un-
raveling of the family troubles not to
feel that she is entitled to better things
than those promised by a union with a
''Weelum Sprunt.
Ethelbert Hales gives a finely drawn
Characterization in the role of Tammas
Biggar, the stern Scotchman, and Amy
Singleton as Eelen Dunlop is excel
lent. Edmund Beresford as Rab Big
gar, the one member of the household
who cannot conform to Calvinistic
ideas, and Margaret Nybloc as Teenie
furnish the minor love theme
of the play. Vera Poole as Susie
Simpson draws a most ludicrous por-
trait of the designing old maid, while
other members of the company fit into
the picture, making the tale of Bun
tvs clever manipulations the most
told stage story OF the
season.
Aside from the quaint charm of the