The Washington herald., 1913-04-08
COLUMBIA.


May Robson, In "a Might Out"
If everybody that witnessed May Rob-
| son in "A Night Out at the Columbia
last night, enjoyed the play as much as
President and Mrs Wilson seemed to en-
that such was the case. the collaboration
of which Miss Robson and c. T. Darcy
are the co-authors is indeed rightfully
entitled to be called 1.-The funniest of all
plays as it is indicated on the pro-
gramme. AS the play was given for the
benefit of George Washington University
by the board of lady managers 1T is al
| most needless to state that it was a
/ typical George Washington University
audience which greeted Miss Robson and
crowded the house from pit to dome. A
party of students from the university had
taken possession of strategic points In
| the balcony and gallery whence they
vented their enthusiasm at suitable mo-
ments at fntermissions by giving their
various and sundry class and university
yells.
Let it be asseverated by a serious
minded and truthful critic that the play
is an antidote for the blues, the crouch,
and kindred ailments, and that some
men were present whose stern counte-
nances are, rarely disturbed by even a
shadow of smile but who could not re-
sist the temptation and inner impulse
to join in the outbursts of laughter,
mirth, and hiarity which greeted the
antics of Miss Robson and some of those
who assisted her. There is probably only
one little criticism and that is that the
Granmum of Miss Robson is leetle bit
overdrawn-too strenuous. too excited.
Granmum is about seventy years old,
"a a
age no matter how youthful in spirit,
are somewhat mellowed by time and tenn
pered by experience.
The motive of. the comedy is to il
lustrate in part the phases of heredi-
tary infiuence-not seriously, but in full
measure. The narrative of the play
deals with two young men-grandsons of
Mrs. Woodbury., who is affectionately
called 'granmum." She simply dotes on
them and enters into their troubles, ac-.
ting as sort of guardian and chum
Paul and Jack are not the verdant and
difhdent provincials, as regarded by
their mother, who insists upon their be-
ing home by 10 p. m. The boys are
quite familiar with the whiri and sway
of New York The knowledge does not
lessen their affectionate regard for the
advice and opinion of Granmum, who is
rather sensitive in her love for them,
HhN ally tuIlOuS 10 KNOW OI Inc
attraction, that. like magnet draws
them so frequently to the city.
She resolves upon seeing for herself
the places they visit She easily per-
suades the boys to take her with them
on the coming Saturday. Granmum is
not aware of the shady character of
the place which she visits in company
with her two grandsons for dinner and
to see the sights" While waiting for
Ilr1n he. \
forcibly hustled out into the street and
on arriving home she finds the house in
darkness and the doors locked. The BOYS
climb up the ivy and assist Granmum
through the window. Her hat is crush
ed, jacket torn, and her appearance gen.
orally disheveled
This adventure leads to an explana-
ton. The boys are ambiguous, and
Granmum sustains them. And now
comes the report that a bond has been
taken from Granmum's locker in the
safety deposit vault, and a detective
is Immediately put on the case. The
arrival of the policeman with the
brooch belonging TO Granmum that she
lost in the restaurant during the ex-
citement produced CONSERVATION and
an extremely humorous situation. The
story moves on rapidly, in which the
love and devotion of the young peo-
pie are sustained through the influence
of the jolly. whole-souled Granmum.
Edith Conrad, as Mrs Haslem, the
mother of Paul and Jack, sustained her