New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-25
MAY IRWIN
"Widow by Proxy" at George
N. Cohan'S Theatre.
CONDOLENCES TRIUMPH
vncessant Gales of Laughter,
Clever Play, Bright Lines,
Good Acting.

When the curtain fell last night on the
.hird act Of Catherine Chisholm Cushinc'S
eVjdow by Proxy" az tho George NJ
sohan Theatre May Irwin had scored
,ne OF the greatest successes OF her nota-
BY successful career. New York has a
,o,oriously short memory. but il has the
virtue OF never forgetting It's stage
fsvorites The reception Il gave tnr
actress Yesterday evening Oh her iirst
appearance Was hearty ana Ions: there
after II kept applauding her IN sheer
gratitude for new delights. for laughter
that is wholesome and viii be rcmcln-
oerel with pleasure this morning and for
m ait that is sterling in its quality. for
The true comic spirit, trained to do its
best aud ever giving IL in fullest meas
IRE 4 finished artist, indeed. IS Nav
irwin. so smooth and easy ana finished
IN ner method that II i we'll TO rc,ncm-
Der the hard work that lies behind IL
She was on the stage last night and held
is centre from first 10 last
IRE author has provided hcr with q
capital vehicle. The farce-comcdy has
1een built around her. bui it is a good
lay. nevertheless Astounding in clever
ines and genuinely comic situations. ano
provided with plot that removes what
little stins some may see ia IS subject.
.ncc 81 The end OF the second act Il
.urns ola, that there IS no widow at all.
aOt even by proxy.
Dolores Pennington. the widow OF a
sold seeker who has persisted in Alaska.
refuses 10 so TO Pennington Manor. near
Boston. IN order 10 collect a legacy. be-
cause her husbands maiden aunts. Of the
Brahmin caste. had refused 90 meet her.
q mere actress when their nephew mar
..ed her Dolores is living with her friend.
Gloria Grey Miss Irwin. a music teacher.
IN New York. Miss Grey seeing that bills
arc many. carh IS scarce and tho Harder
empty. rebels against such foolish price.
and insists or going down 90 Pennington
Manor in Do'orcs's place. assuming her
name and widowhood. Thus she becomes
;he Widow by Proxy" and Dolores. who
accompanies her. Miss Grey. OF course.
her troubles begin mt once. but also her
'riumphs. She aweS the naughty Pen
nrston ladies by talking gii5ly Of her
noble relations Of dukes and duchcsscs;
she forces them to extend the invitation
hey had decided 10 withhold. introduces
her dressmaker. Who has followed her
pos; haste to collect hey bill. as the Ma
0uisc dc Chateaubriaud. and i having a
lovely time OF IL when having fallen IN
love with her supposed dead husband
cousin. sho learns from that Gentlcman's
own manly lips that ho can forgive any
fain- except untruthfulncss. \ fa!schood
from a woman had once wrecked his life
nd the widow by proxy has been telling
them 70 him right along-whoppcis. too
Every opportunity offered by the rlo5 il
well worked out and sped on lis way by
clever dialogue. in which lie other char
actcrs are often something more than
merely feeders" Tic Ncssrs. LiebleI,
Who produce the comedy. have followed
he Old custom OF surrounding Miss irwin
with q good cast II Vas 80 IN the old
JAYS. il is SO now. and e always il serves
10 heighten the effect of her PLAYING.
lara Blendlck played the somewhat
negative part Of Dolores Pennington
y, IN consistent discretion; Alice Johnson
vas a dazzling costunitre--One dare not
ilayel the scion OF the house of Penn.ns-
ton who, loathing untruthfuncss in a
woman must yet bc led 20 happiness and
marriage by the music teacher vino had
been untruthful in a good cause and had
been forced 20 20 in deeper and deeper
after she had once begun. Helen
and Frances Gsunt were the
Two quantity dignihed Oid-iashioned
maiden ladies In the second act Miss
Irwin sans Sweet Sixteen and Don't
Leave Your Wife Alone. With all her
old archness adding sentimental song
when the man Of her desire appeared
upon the scene WIDOW s. PToX! -
likely 10 stay al the Conan Theatre ana
10 keep IL filled az long az the msnagers
choose to keep it there. It is the real
hing in farcc-comedy. thanks in no small
pant 10 the author. bat most Of al, ana
al the time. 70 MAY Twins art
CAST or WIDOW by PRoAN.'
io4.a Grey .'...-s . Md. - " "a