The Washington herald., 1913-03-25
COLUMBIA.
"The Love Leash"

Eue Love LeaSh
The Love Leash" made its initial bid
Tor public approval in the Columbia The
ater last night, and was accorded 1t by
most enthusiastic audience. principally
because this new three-act comedy by
Anne Steese Richardson and Edmund
Breese makes one comfortably sure be-
Tore the close of the first act that its
mission is largely to furnish an evening
OF frothy entertainment ia clean and
clever way.
The story begins at Shore View," the
country home of Vera and Theodore
Knapp, who have drifted into marriage
from boy and girl understanding which
reached its climax when, on the death
of his father, Theodore's mother decided
that her son should marry and settle
down. In explanation of the matter TO
his closest friend, Bruce Walton, young
Knapp gives apt expression TO the situ-
alton in modern vernacular when he de-
clares that he and Vera always hit 1t
off rather well,' so without further rea-
son they married.
AS a matter of fact, they are very
much in love with each other, to the
~oman's complete understanding ano
to the mans ignorance Young Knapp
fancies himself a prisoner in his mag
niflcent home, chained by the love of
two women (hIs young wife and his
adoring mother), who coddle him until
he gives vent to an expression of his
disgust to his friend Walton. an out
burst which his wife overhears.
Intuition suggests TO her quick un-
derstanding that absence from her is
the only cure for his unhappy state
of mind. she insists upon trial
divorce which is to last for a year.
during which time both she and her
husband are to be as free to lead their
own lives as though they were unmar-
ried. Walton. being a lawyer. draws
up the agreement of separation. after
which Teddy goes abroad and Vera
devotes her time to bringing the genius
of one Carl Hassler, an obscure musi-
clan, into public recognition. 1t takes
her Teddy but a short two months to
become disillusioned concerning the
charm and appeal of Leila Lawford, a
young girl novelist, to whom he has
fancied himself drawn, and he returns
TO New York to find his wife at the
height of her success in making the
German musician famous. His jeal-
ousy is stung to fever heat first by
tile musician and later is directed to-
ward his friend Walton.
The second act is laid in the studio of
young Hassler, where the musician is be-
ing lionized and where Vera learns to
her satisfaction that her husband is not
In love with the pretty little story writer.
The whole of the last act, which returns
10 the Knapp's country home in Connecti-
cut. is required to restore the faith of the
man in the affection of his wife for him
and 10 bring the story to a conclusion.
which is obviously happy from the first
curtain.
The first two acts of the piece scintillate
with clever repartee and keen little
thrusts of human interest, moving with
quickness and sureness of action which
holds the interest of the auditor; but the
final chapter takes a circuitous route to
its happy conclusion at the expense of
the appealing directness with which the
earlier part of the story is told, intro |
ducing elements so foreign to the main |
theme as 10 mar the force of the drama.
Through two entire acts one wonders |
into just what niche of the domestic |
misunderstanding Mrs. Anson Smith, |
diVorcee and adventures, and her friend. |
Paul King a painter. are intended TO
fit. only TO discover that the woman is !
introduced for the fulfillment of her final |
mission of inspiring her sophisticated
friend. the painter, and Carl Hassler,
the unsophisticated musician, to insult
Vera with a proposal of marriage when |
she shall have obtained the divorce
from her husband, which Mrs smith
represents her as desiring. The story
would have a more direct presentation
were it stript of all but the essentia.
characters which are Vera Knapp, por-
trayed by Grace Filkins; Theodore
Knapp. played by Frederick Truesdell:
Mrs. De Witt Knapp, the mother. repre-
scented by Jennie Eustice: Bruce Wal
ton, the family lawyer and friend in
trusted to John Flood; Carl Hassler,
the musician; Leila Lawford. the novel
ist, and Norton, the butler, played re-
spectively by Lee Kohlmar. Ann Mer-
edith and Harry Stevens
Upon Miss F'ilkins rests the larger
share OF the responsibility of the piece.
Vera Knapp is an eXaCting role requir-
ing for its adequate portrayal the finest
lights and shares of comedy. That Miss
Filkins drew both distinctly proved her
a Comedienne of great ability and an
emotional actress to be reckoned with
There was eNaggeration In the lavish
ness with which she demonstrated her
unappreciated affection for her hsuband
in the first act. fault which NAV Justly
be said to have marked the eatIre intro i
ductory presentation of the characters
Involved in the domestic tangle
Certainly Mr.. Truesdelrs indifference
to his beautiful young wife is sufficiently
ovetdrawn to make one conclude that
the woman must be an idiot not to rec
ognize it before she hears him voice it
to his friend. and as consequence deals
solar pleXis blow 10 the sincerity of
Nera's amazement and emotion when she
overhears the conversation between the
two men. 1
In the second act Miss F'ilkins is both
rlever and convincing, and Mr.. Trues-
Sells performance strikes truer note,
preston of being forced because of the