The Washington herald., 1913-03-04
NATIONAL THEATER.
Billfe burke, in "The Mind the
Pafnt' Girl"

Paint Girl"
Billie Burke. with her pretty hair
sparkling eyes, and incessant flow o
good spirits. appeared at the Nationa
before a large and discriminating audi
ence last night in Pineros THE 'Mint
the Paint Girr'-comedy of theatrical lif,
In London-the inner life where not 81
much Of the glamour Of the stage enters
No one knows this life better than Sil
Arthur Pinero, the author. for he ha.
seen the ups and downs OF 1t, its light.
IS well as its shadows.
In this play the author paints thu
mind, morals, and motives Of a musica
comedy idol. and gives US an idea of the
life of one of the spoiled darlings of the
world Of Jingle and jest. Contrasted with
this feverish, frothy existence is the rea
Eoodness and genuineness OF some who
live in it-overruling at the crucial mo-
ment the petty jeolousies and little mean.
nesses
Pinero's play illustrate the private life
OF the performers at the famous Gayety
Thcater IN London. While the elements
or humor and satire are not absent, there
Is much less caricature than is usually
found in portrayals OF stage life There
Is no heroic figure. and Lily Paradell te
merely the simple-hearted, clever and
pretty girl who has risen above humble
surroundings, made herself something OF
public idol, and is an object OF devo-
tion among her personal friends. Billy
burke plays this part with vivacity, ten
derness, and natural charm.
Inc play VIII seem to many who are
familiar with Pinero's manner to have
less substance than most Of his we'll
known works. but this treatment OF the
theme was probably deliberate. He is
n l~1;-
hrogho or complication In the earlier por-
tton of the story. but moving at once to
the situation in the third act. where Lily
confronts tn" sinister figure OF the con-
fict-the lover. who has been upon her
track for six years. maddened with jeal-
ousy.
1t may hc there is a suggestion of the
melodramatic in the contriving OF this
climax. Would a man of dignity of
character and good social position as
Capt. Nicholas Jeyes. her lover WAS sup
posed to he, descend to the adoption of
the disguise # a waiter as employed by
the Jealous lover? And is there not
something rather theatrical in certain of
the proceedings later. and especially in
that cCnN uIsive scene of three where the
villain Of tn" scheme is unmasked and
denounced and Lily tells the story OF her
life? Be that as il may. there is no
disputiHC the simplicity. pathos and elo-
Quence OF that confession as made by
I;illie Burke.
The interest OF the impersonation of
tho girl Of The theater of humble origin
and s"rdid upbrinCing lies In the different
phases of her Chartctcr as they are
awakened by circumstances. Happy and
thoughtlesS She is at first only the sur
face shown: tho mind deepening as love
and struggle are awakened. the story
and fundamental elements of her nature
brought to light in the conflict in the
third act. Here the acting possessed
the qualities Of melancholy. force. and
passion. and they gave to the scene a
higher atmosphere than the arrangement
Of the incidents by the author suggested.
Among The Mind the Paint Girls"
collection of COurtiers are many of those
character studies in which Mr. Pinero de-
lights. Lionel Roper. for instance. the
facetious fnancer. who is an old friend
and adviser OF Lily: Lord Farncombe.
Young guardsman who sits through
Inan- performances of Lily's show to-
prove his low" for her and his qualifica-
lions for horoism; De Castro. a genial
Jew; German baron and Capt. Mich
olas Jcyes. the Scody soldier, who loved
Lily in tho old DAYS
Although the pIav has caste as its
basic idea. which probably means more
in England than it does here, it has
1nGcu import III a country WneTe
students enliven their college days by /
falling in love with American show girls, /
or bankers and brokers turn to the stage |
and make their selections from the mu- |
steal comedy stars
The cast contains Shelley Hull. who |
played 4 very acceptable viscount, and |
II. z. Herbert. who made a satisfactory |
Capt. Jeyos. \ very good sketch OF |
composer fond of gambling was supplied |
by Bernard Merefeld. Morton Selten as
Lionel Roper was satisfying. while Kath-
crime Manning. in the role of the actress
married into aristocracy. was interest
ing. even if tn" surroundings were en-
tirely now 10 her. Thomas Reynolds
made = funny NsNinE Jew \ word of
praise is due Lydia Rachel. who made
The prima donna's mother quite vulgar,
hut in an artistic sense. if one NAV so
express IT. Vera Mellish. a daughter of
Fuller Mellish. looked very pretty as Flo
Gonnify
The play struck a sympathetic vain in
the audience. which was demonstrated
hy frequent and enthusiastic applause,
and will no doubt Prove n most salts
factory drawing card. as it appeals to
almost the whole range of human emo
tions. The music. which is by Jerome
y. Kern, is not of the loud and crashing
kind, but sweet and insinuatng