The Washington herald., 1913-01-07
THE NATIONAL.
"sIasgie Pepper,

Miss Rose Stahl has a worthy sue
cessor to her Patricia o'Brien OF 1.-THE
Chorus Lady" fame in Maggie Pepper.
the shop girl heroine Of the three-act
play of that name, from the prolific pen
of Charles Klein. which made its initial
, Washington appearance at the National
| last night. And the very enthusiastic
| manner in which Miss Stahl was re-
ceived was due more to her individual
efforts in a role admirably suited for
the exploitation of that rare gift for
unique characterization which is hers
rather than for any especial Klein-like
brilliance of plot.
Maggie Pepper" considered solely as
Klein play. might almost bring a blush
to its authors brow when compared with
lis other successes-here we have a sur
felt of sentimentality with a super
abundance of melo-dramatic thrills-but
considered, as it should be, as a vehicle
for Miss Stahl. Mr.. Klein may well credit
Maggie Pepper in his success column.
Last nights audience was appreciative
to degree, and applause and laughter
were the order of the evening, for Mag
gle Pepper is just the sort Of bright,
breezy, slangy, yet thoroughly common
sense and self-reliant young woman you
like to see and enjoy. And In her tran
s!tion from show girl to shop girl Miss
Stahl has gathered many keen, clever.
really funny lines, which she tells as only
che can, and gales of laughter result
Mr.. Klein's story tells OF one Maggie
Pepper, who for fifteen years has been a
worker in Holbrook & Co.'S department
store. She has been cash girl, saleslady.
assistant buyer, and now, as the story
opens, has her eye on the buyers Job,
which has just been vacated. She thinks
she Is entitled to II, but John Hargen,
who manages the establishment, prefers
that his niece's milliner shall do the
buying in that department.. and Maggie.
very much disappointed. tells her tale of
woe and also expresses her opinion of
the old methods still in force in the
store to a handsome young chap who
strays into the stockroom.
This young man turns out 10 be Joe
Holbrook one OF our leading conti-
mental cut-ups." Maggie calls him, who
has come back to do a little work by
way of variety. and who, when Maggie
suggests few changes that would prove
beneficial to Holbrook &c Co., rightly de-
cides that he needs her in his business,
and Hargen, notwithstanding, appoints
her buyer. Holbrook is engaged to Har-
gems niece, and complications ensue.
He learns to depend entirely upon Mag
gle for advice in running the establish
ment, and with her aid scores a great
success. His business conferences with
Maggie are not at all TO the liking OF his
fiancee, who demands that she be dis
missed. This precipitates a crisis, and
Maggie. in a rage, leaves the store.
Maggie has adopted Zaza. her dead
brothers child, and Is trying to keep
her out OF the clutches OF her adven-
turess mother. Holbrook comes to Mag
gie's apartment to tell her that he has
broken his engagement and to ask her
to marry him. Also comes Zaza's
mother and her husband, the former to
reform and the latter in search Of money.
Holbrook and the husband fight, here
the melodrama. and Holbrook is shot.
Maggie takes care of him, and when
he. becomes well enough to go away he
won't. and possibly you may have
guessed II. Maggie promises to be Mrs.
Holbrook.
A brief outline of the story can convey |
but little idea OF what an entertaining
young person Maggie Pepper is: for Miss
Stahl Is eNcellently cast and gives
splendid performance She is Maggie |
Pepper. and not to see her is to miss a |
Characterization distinctly worth while.
OF the supporting company John $. |
Robertson, as Joe Holbrook, is an ef- /
fective laugh getter in his third act /
scene with Miss Stahl, and gives a pleas !
ing performance throughout. Max Rey-
nolds contributes An amusing character 1
study as Jake Rothschild. as does Agnes |
Marc as Hattie Murphy.