The Washington herald., 1913-03-04
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BELASCO.
"Bouxht and Paid For"


Long heralded as a hit Of hits, as a
success Of successes, and now known
in addition as an inaugural attraction
par excellence, Bought and Pair For"
came to the Belasco last night to more
than substantiate the many fattering
(; comments that have preceded 1t. and in
| go doing to score one Of the emphatic
hits Of the season before a brilliant au-
dience that filled every seat In the house
and threatened to overflow into the
| aislea
| And seldom has a Washington audience
had the pleasure of enjoying the enecuve
work of a better balanced cast than that
which William A. Brady has furnished.
or OF seeing two more luxurious. and at
| the same time more artistic and harmo-
nious stage settings than those used IN
the first three acts of George Broadhursts
comedy drama Truly. Mr.. Broadhursts
engrossing story could hardly be told by
people better fitted for the telling.
| To many in last nights audience who
| had read or heard of the story OF the
marriage Of the millionaire Robert Staf-
| ford to the SO a week telephone girl.
Virginia Blaine and who were familiar
with the complications that followed their
union: who knew what was meant by
the phrase, bought and paid for" the
character of Jimmy Gilley came as
most welcome and amusing surprise
There can be no denying the potency.
the appeal. of Mr.. Broadhursts more
serious scenes. and also there can be no
denying that he has created in Jimmy
GiIley an unconscious comedian whose
complacency and deep-seated sense or
satisfaction afford more simon pure
enjoyment than any one comedy charac-
ter has disseminated this season.
Gall of
Stafford, n self-m made man. a millionaire.
who, meeting Virginia Blaine at tele-
phone switchboard. pursues her acquain-
tance and finally asks her TO marry him.
Tho first act takes place In Stanords
sumptuous apartment. where virginia
and Fannie. her sister, accompanied by
Jimmie Gilley. the latter's intended.
have come to dine. Before they leave
Virginia has promised to become Mrs
Stafford.
The next two acts occur in Nirgfnia's s
exquisitely dainty boudoir. She has been
Mrs. Stafford for two years and has
everything that her heart could wish Tor |
and everything that money can buy. |
Jimmie and Fannie. also married, and |
thanks to Staffords generosity. have
been with Virginia TO the opera. Every |
thing seems bright and happy. But |
there is one flaw and q very serious one, |
Virginia tells Fannie in strict confidence |
Stafford has taken to drinking and of |
late has come In intoxicated and. not |
himself. has humiliated and degraded |
her.
Stafford comes in very much the worse
for his evening, and. after Jimmie and !
Fannie take their departure, there en-
sues a most dramatic scene between hus-
hand and wife. He, in his drunken |
fashion, at ,mpts to embrace her. telling |
her that she is his property: that he
bought and paid for her: but she. with
loathing In her heart for the brute he
now is. repulses him. and fees to her
room. He pursues her. and the curtain
falls as her door Is broken in.
The next morning. Stafford. himself
again. and not realizing fully what he
has done. apologies as best he can. and
promises TO do better. Virginia. how
ever. delivers her ultimatum. Either he
must stop drinking or she will leave him.
and she never believes for a moment
request. lie does not. saving that he will
not be hullied into abstinence, and Nir-
Ctnia leaves. vowing that she will never
come back until he sends for her.
The last act finds the Gilleys--Jim-
mie back as n shipping clerk at sI3 a
week, while Fannie does all the work
and tries to make ends meet living in
Cneap nav way uptown Virginia Is
earning her living as a shopgirl in a
Seventh Avenue store. The curtain
rises or Jimmie and Fannie bemoaning
their fate and longing for the pros
perity that association with Stafford
afforded them. 1t is almost time for
Virginia TO come home. and suddenly
Jimmie has an idea-they are chronic
with him, and each one is more ludi-
2rous than its predecessor-and this time
It is a good one. for 1t is through his
telephone message that Stafford and
Virginia are brought together and a
lasting reconciliation effected.
To Miss Julia Dean. whom her many
Washington friends were happy to well
,ome. credit is due for a wonderfully IL
performance as Virginia. Her
emotional scenes We're appealing TO a de-
gree. and last night won her the instant
appreciation of her audience. Charles u
2ichman is especially effective in his sec
ond-act scene, his stimulation of intoSica-
ion being the feature OF a noteworthy per-
as Stafford. To William Harri-
,an falls the rich comedy role of Jimmy
iilley, and you have only to sea Mr. Har-
'iGan to realize how completely he makes
he character his own. Playing opposite
lin as Fannie is Agnes De lane, who
contributes a splendid character study.
Allan Atwell John Cromwell and Claire
'oste complete the exceptional cast.
"