Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1914-11-07
COMEDY JAN" A
TRIUMPH OF ART
Miss Alexander Adds to Rep
utatiOn as Exceedingly
Clever Amateur Actress
ALL CHARACTERS
WIN APPLAUSE

Before a large and appreciative au-
dience that completely filled The
Playhouse last night. the DUPONT Pun
and Powder Club presented the COM
edy Jane" a farce that kept the en-
tire audience IN laughter from the
time the curtain went up until It
finally descended. Last nights per-
Torrance was highly creditable in
every way. each one in the cast be-
ing especially suited to the role he
or she was playing, with the result
that there was much really clever
acting throughout.
While the PUT and Powder Club
already has a number of past sue
cesses to its credit. it is safe to say
that none has ever been more thor
oughly OF delightfully."- given than was
| Jane" which fairly scientillates with
laughter and fun all the way through.
Several of the principals in last
nights cast have been seen here be-
fore in previous productions the club
has given, but none has ever been
seen TO better advantage than In the
roles last night
Jane" has for its theme a domestic
problem from which many compiled
tions arise. One Charley Shackle-
ton. a bachelor. has been writing to
his guardian, Mr.. Kershaw, and blam-
ing a mythical wife for his extrava-
gance. He is much perturbed to re
ceive a letter from Mr. Kershaw an
nouncing his intention Of visiting
him and in his desperation he turns
TO Jane, a maid in his household,
and by literally bribing her gains her
consent TO act as his wife during the
visit of his guardian. Jane informs
her husband, the butler, William Tip
son, whom she has just married that
morning, of the proposed scheme of
which he Immediately disapprOves.
However, he submits to the inevitable
and the fun begins.
Mr.. Kershaw arrives and mistakes a
designing widow, Mrs. Chadwick, for the
wife, which adds considerably TO the
lpiquancy Of the situation. Things have
reached this state of confusion and per
plexity when Mr.. Kershaw suddenly re-
members that there was also a baby,
Jane, however, rises to the occasion and
borrows q baby from Mrs. Pixton, wife
of the coachman. Trouble continues 20
thicken until William can stand it no
longer, when he steps into the lime
| light and tells the whole thing. OF
course, Jane and William are reunited,
the baby is returned TO the PixtOns and
Lucy, whom Shaclleton has loved all
along, consents 10 overlook the decep-
ton of her lover, and so it all ends
happily and joyfully for each one. Much
iollity' is added to the farce by mis-
chievous pranks played by Claude, a
ed-headed, roly, poly boy, who is a
member Of the household.
Each character in last nights produo
ton seemed exactly suited 10 thet
roles. and Miss Maude Alexander. in tn
title role. "Jane." received much ap
! plause for her clever acting and spon
taneOus Interpretation of the part. Mis-.
Alexander is one of the best amateurs
ever seen Ed a production in this city
ID. H. McAvoy as the much perturbed
bachelor, Charley Shackleton, played the
part with much intelligence and natu-
I ralness, whereby he received his full
share of applause. Mr.. Kershaw, the
hoodwinked and Jolly guardian, was
played by Charles i. Mcguire, who gave
/ the part an exceedingly clever and spir-
tied Interpretation. which proved very
enjoyable. Mr. Mcguire seems we'll
fitted for elderly roles, such as he has
had. Miss Helen Brogan, as Mrs. Chad.
wick, the widow, was Just as coyly and
coquettishly designing as her part de-
manded she should be, and Augustus
Reissmann, as the irrepressible Claude
created much amusement and fun. Miss
/ e. Carolyn Hertel. "a Mrs. Pixton; ID. r,
Montgomery as Mrs. Pixton, and Miss
Esther Noll as Lucy, added much to the
performance through their intelligent
and delightful conceptions of their vari-
GUS parts.
In fact, it may be remarked that all
in the cast last night were singularly
free from restraint of any kind, the
stage presence of each one being re-
markedly good, with the result that
each part was played with a finesse
and naturalness that could not fail
to convince the large audience of the
genuine excellence OF the whole per-
Torrance.
The play was very ably coached
and staged by Edward S. Grant, who
had carefully looked after each de-
I tail, with the result that the stage
setting was very attractive. The du-
Pont Puff and Powder orchestra fur
nished music.
At the end Of the second act and
after the final curtains had descended
a large number Of beautiful bouquets
we're handed over the footlights to
those who had, taken part in the play,
and each in the cast was forced to
take a number OF curtain calls de-
manded by the insistence OF the ap-
plause of the appreciative audience
There will be a matinee this af-
ternoon and another performance to-
night, for which large audiences are
expected.
Following Is the cast:
! CAST OF CHARACTERS.
: Charley Shackleton. d. II. McAvoy
/ Mr.. Kershaw. .... .Chas. +. Mcguire