The Washington times., 1913-03-11

A first We merely heard of
~ "Bunty,' looking upon her as
n something rather remote. mas
much as the premiere Of the
play took place in the Haymarket Thea
ter. London: then. az soon as its sue
cess was So definitely assured that 1t
was Initiated. we began 10 see various
burlesques on the Scotch comedy. both
in the way of playlets and comic opera,
until In the due course OF time "Bunty"
herself arrived in Washington, where
she is appearing this week at the Be-
lasco Theater.
1t has been just like anticipating the
arrival Of some highly praised and
much-heraIded relative-we know what
he wears. when he was born, his
morals. and his most intimate personal
affairs even before he has So much as
become aware that we are in existence!
When Joe Weber and Lew Fields were
here some, time ago in their jubilee,
they gave a burlesque Of ''Bunty." but
had no idea at the time. that they
had copied the costumes So faithfully.
WIZ, even the trimming on the dia-
phanous petticoat covering the hoop
skirt Of Bunty was put on in exactly
the same design, and the costumes Of
Weelum and Susie Simpson were mar
vels of duplication. So quaint, SO for
eign are they to the styles OF today.
that they do not need to be carica-
tured to be funny-they are screams
just as they are-even as the domestic
trials and tribulations OF the Biggar
family are food for constant amuse-
ment to the audiences
Something tells me that the plaT
would be taken a trifie more seriously
at home in Scotland. But I must quail
ify that statement In last nights au-
dience. I more than once noticed =
panied look OF infinite understanding
pass over the features of some man
well past middle age. or some gray
haired woman. smile in a sympathetic
and kindly fashion at the sternness of
Tammas Biggar There were many last
night and there will be many to come.
10 whom the strict Scotch Presbyterian
father-his side wh.skers and his un-
bending tyranny-are all too familiar
a picture. / am so sure on this point
that l would be willing to give the
name OF one man whom / saw last
night and swear that at some time IN
his earlier exictence he had been thrash
ed for whlstling on Sunday.
And right therein lies the germ of
success for Graham Moffat's play. Har-
PLY the world Is no longer very full
of Tammas Bisgars, Q trust tnat some
cf those who are left recognized them
selves), but there are many Susie Simr-
sons, countless Weelums. and quite 4
sprinkling of Eunties! Then, again.
every family has some large or small
domestic bugaboo of which only GER
tin members are aware; all large fam
lilies suuabble and get caught in the
act by visitors; and from time beyond
the ken of man. older sister has stood
brayely between her younger brother
and the parental slfpper-or its substi-
tute.
Almost every criticism of this play
which | have run across. and which |
have conscientiously perused, has
passed over the plot in the most mig
gardIy fashion, by saying that 1t was
merely an episode in the lives OF the
members of the Biggar family, and con-
cerned the manipulation of certain COM
pJications by one Bunty." Right here
and now I propose to outline more or
less clearly the plot OF "Bunty Pulls
the strings so that those who would
know will be informed
On a peaceful sabbath morning IN
Scotland, at the home or one Iammas
BiSgar-a pillar in the church-the open
ing scene is set. Stern Tammas. with
fiery Scotch blue eyes: blonde side
burns" and an all-abidins fear OF the