New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-05-06
HER FIRST DIVORCE p"
Laughing Success by Newcomer
at Comedy Theatre.
DELIGHTFUL COMEDY
Deserves Popularity as High
Glass Light Summer En-
tertainment.

1t is to be hoped that New York Will
for once not live up to its more or less
we'll earned reputation Of being unable 10
recognize good thing" in the play
house. Here Is one of the best things OF
"A long theatrical season, coming with
ripples of laughter, provoked by legiu-
mate comedy. by clever lines and In
geniously planned situations. not by the
broader methods Of barely disguised
farce. It's author Mr.. G. W. Bell, a
lawyer OF Hamilton. Ont, bashfully
bowed for moment on the stage, having
been twice brought out by Laura Hope
Crews at the end of the second act and
then hastily retired to leave her to play
to the end the most grateful part that
has ever fallen to her lot; the part. also,
I'm which she does the best work of her
career thus far
Ethel Willmott Miss Crews Is the wife
of young. capable. masterful and sue
cessful young corporation lawyer Cullen
T. Estrange) She herself has studied law.
and is practising II with more, or rather
with less, success. when one Of her
clients gets seventeen years sentence
her what she thinks Of him. which seems
to be quite comfort to her. But when
she agrees TO take the divorce suit her
friend Clara Rowe ruth Holt BouclcaulD
wishes TO bring against her idle, good-for-
nothing. but very pleasant husband (Allan
Pollock. Harry Willmott forbids her TO
risk the notoriety attaching to counsel In
divorce case. and puts all his ability
and niasterfulness 10 work TO have his
own way Mr. Rowe's besetting weak
ness is fondness for drink, and. Of
course. Mr.. Pollock does fullest justice 10
his sad case.
Harry Wilmott sees but one means Of
stopping the whole affair. and that is by
making his wife Jealous of her own client.
Mrs Willmott swallows tho bait, and ere
long she Is briblng her own chief wit
ness 10 go away. in order 10 prevent the
suit from being brought al all She gets
all tangled up in her own most improves
sional plotting she has good cry when
Mrs. Rowes father begins to question her
ability to conduct any case whatever in
court. and finally cross-examines her own
wItness-a maid-who has not gone away,
after all. In an effort TO show that she Is
mendacous, unreliable and everything
else that Is undesirable. This capital
scene Is palpaby meant as a satire on
the INSCRIPTIONS methods Of some trial
LAWYERS with witnesses for the other slde.
Throughout Miss Crews holds the centre
~ the stage I'm an irresst!bly clever
sketch OF an intensely feminine. incon-
UhO having
founded a Society for Elevating the Bench
and Bar, throws legal ethics TO the wlnd
the moment she Is led to believe that an
other woman wants TO take her husband
away from ner.
But all the parts are well written and
constantly amusing. and they are In eX-
cellent hands Julien LEstrange fits his
role to perfection he always does. Allan
Pollock's entertaining way with alco-
holic exhilaratlon and it's subsequent de-
preston need not be insisted upon: and
Harold Russell. as his father-n-law. Is
as choleric and overwhelming as man
OF many millions ought 10 be with SON
in-law and an unreasonable daughter
like his Ruth Holt Boucicault. "a that
daughter. does well with what is In the
nature Of things rather passive role.
Adora Andrews. as the maid burdened
with the weight OF her testimony. not a
word of which. 80 she Is told, she dare
forget. lest terrible legal things befall
her. adds To the enjoyment OF the evening
4 trine light as air is Her First Di-
vorce," but II is "A clever trife, well writ
ten. we'll acted. worth seeing. and worth
seeing again for it's own sake and for the
sake of Miss Crews's admirable work.
CAST Of HER FIRST IIVoRCE"
Harry Wulmott ............. Julian L. Estrange
Eth,l Willmott ............. Laura Hope Crews