Evening star., 1913-03-11
Belasco.

Belasco.
Graham Moffat's quaint offering OF
Scotch comedy. "Bunty Pulls the Strings"
at the Belasco Theater last evening. de-
lighted an audience that filled every avail
able seat, and included the President of
the United States and members Of his
family, who applauded. and laughed as
heartily as the remainder.
"Bunty' is one of those unique concep-
tions that is best described as an ideal
lied glimpse of Scotch life, with char
acters chosen to present all the traits
Of Scotch individuality. There is the
stern, pious, harsh and unbending father
and elder in Tammas Biggar, father of
Bunty; the soured and disappointed old
maid in Susie Simpson, the perpetual
BRIDE" whom Tammas had left waiting
at the church years and years before,
but who ultimately landed him with her
thrift, her genial good nature and her
household accomplishments; the big sim
ple-hearted, patient lover, Weelum Sprunt.
who had been put off and off and off by
his sweetheart until he was on the point
Of desperation, and with them all was the
chief charm Of the play, II it must be
called play, the delightful and incom-
parable Bunty, daughter of Tammas and
promised wife of Weelum.
There Is no villainy, no wicked prob
lem. no melodramatic thrill, indeed none
Of the unlimited plots or marplots en-
ployed by dramatists to create interest
and hold attention. There is a breath Of
the "Hielan's" and the heather, a flood
OF the sunshine, the shade of the passing
cloud, touch of heart interest and an
atmosphere of the lighter and laughable
side Of Scotch home life blended into
series of interesting episodes that makes
one feel sorry when the curtain ends it
all, even though it be on the scene of the
lovable Bunty enfolded at last in the arms
OF her long-suhering and patient Weelum.
The offering Is a creation of pure de-
light, indescribable, yet the very essence
likely to come but once in a lifetime
and when enjoyed at it's best is likely
to make a lifelong memory. One Won
ders when it is all over what has worked
not care, for. in the simple. homely an
nails of the poor, Mr.. Moffat has found
a dream of delicious entertainment and
with master hand invested it with
a reality of life.
Each of his characters is a study in
itself Those who have seen them In real
life will greet old acquaintances in a
new setting and those who have only
read OF them will recognize and find
in them charm more potent than the
average imagination could suggest.
Each is thoroughly natural and almost
commonplace until it is blended into the
idealism OF the play Besides the prin-
cipals there are the rugged types of
make the perfect picture.
There Is the little Scotch kirk and its
ancient and cOmical sexton and the bash
full young elder ''at the plate" who re-
welcomes the stranger. There is a real
touch Of unmistakable home life in the
early breakfast. the laggard=who likes
to linger In bed, the washday. the noun
glow: the window garden. the boy. that
wanted to see the sights of the great
city, until sweetheart made home of
deeper interest to him. There is the ideal
little housewife in Bunty. who has long
filed the place of her dead mother; her
little tricks Of thrift and her sound rea-
soning sense in passing upon the quail
fications of a stepmother that is to be.
But to mention everyt thing would still
pulls the Strings" 1t must be seen, and
those who love the purest. the brightest
and the best of enjoyment will see it,
without having It first dissected.
Miss Molly Pearson is the ideal Bunty.
Volumes could not say more. Sanderson
Moffat, brother Of the author. seems an
ideal Weelum, one Of the most unique
characterfzations In years. Ethelbert
Hales realistically portrays the harsh
felt that nothing but a thrashing would
discharge his duty to his young son. Miss
Amy Singleton Is the personf1cation of
the big-hearted, whole-souled Eelen Dun
Top. VINO puts out the eye or the sour
and grabbed Susie Simpson and lands
Tammas finally after years and years
of waiting. while Miss Vera Pole splen-
didly impersonates Susie and her novel
way Of trying to win husband
Others who help in the delightful pres
entation of the little Scotch gem are Ed
mund Beresford. as Rab. Bunty's brother;
Miss Margaret Nybloc, as Teenie Dunlop.
Rab's sweetheart: J. E. MacGregor. the
minister's man: Miss Marjorie Davidson,
as Maggie Mercer. and Leonard Booker.
the village policeman. The period of the
play is 1850. with characteristic costumes
of the period, including the old-fashioned
hoopskirt for the women.
Last nights performance was a benefit
for the Florence Crfttenton Mission.
Columbia.