New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-05-06
THE CAST.

Isabel, OF course, was a perfectly NICE
young widow. Quite perfectly nice. We
insist upon this being thoroughly under
stood at the outset. or else we cannot
really cannot, go on with the story.
Otherwise for instance, how are we 10
tell you OF the ardent young French gen.
tleman who came tripping into her pink
Partisan boudour at three O. of the morn
ing and approximately pressed his even
ing suit, while Isabel covered on the bed
in a pale pink something? One must
have faith in Isabel. She mustn't lie
blamed for that intrusion. She brought 1t
upon herself by her innate distaste for
the word no" and the author brought
il into the play for reasons OF his own.
Whatever these reasons were and how
ever many. many playwrights have found
1t necessary to the plot Of their play to
employ that justly celebrated slumoer
utensil I'm their plots. The Charm Oh
Isabel" presented last night at Maxine
Elliotts Theatre, has its rather trite,
bedroomy first act 10 thank for one thing
which adds greatly TO its chances of
successful run. 1t introduced really
amusing Frenchman. Had ii not been
that Henri I.atour entered that lethal
chamber just at the critical moment, the
slowly evaporating charm of Isabel would
have vanished in a sudden despairins
Whit.
He did enter, however and at that In
the person OF Albert Brown. who made
such humorously spirited use of the many
cpportunities in his role that one became
Henri brought into that drowsy atmos-
phere the necessary ray of light. His IT.
resistible humor started the ball rolling,
and for the rest of the evening the honK
Of the first nghter was heard in the land.
More comedy characters came as the play
progressed, bringing more cheer, until at
the end one was quite convinced that
here was a rather amusing evenings en-
tertainment. One even admitted the
charm Of Isabel.
Isabel, as we have said before. was
nice young widow. She would have lived
and died like any other nice young WIDOW
had It not been that her temperament de-
manded amusement and her good nature
forbid infiicting pain. She firted with
every man she met right up to the last
danger semaphore on the flirt line, and
then was both grieved and distressed
when the horrid victims wished TO dis
regard the rules The disregarding was at
its height when the curtain rose upon
/ Isabers boudoir last night. Her dis
tracted companion and a skeptical French
maid awaited her return from a question
able dance whether she had been escorted
/ -. Of hA dor
variety. The bounder made matters
worse by bounding in and announcing
that he had lost Isabel. After tale tell
ing OF 1sabels fiirtations with noble
Frenchman he departed. and the lady
herself arrived. breathless and rather
weary. but evidently enjoying the sensa-
ton hugely.
Now for the Grand Guignol stuff. lisa
bel undressed. Yes Right there on the
spot. OF course, she was ably assisted
/ by a companion and a maid, and the
scene was a bit Americanized by shield
ing pink peignoir arrangement held. very
deftly held. by all three. Then she got
/ IN bed. yawned. and popped out the lights.
Enter Henri. the noble Frenchman,
through the open window. a shrek, and
Henri begins his tale or Devotion Eye
/ brows, mustaches and upturned palms few
/ all over the place and finally lighted on
the edge OF the bed as Henri poured
forth his soul. He adored her. She
must be his. What do you mean his?
An! Henri. you have erred. She is not
that sort Of a widow. Does Henri falter?
Not falt. He will win her as his bride.
He. Henri I.atour, count of a thousand
De's. will wed her. Exit HENRI protest
ing devotion.
Now you see why it becomes necessary
for Isabel 10 visit her prim and proper
relatives in Salan, Mass. You don't?
Wen, neither do we. but the author does.
and that settles 1t. The next act shows
her playing havoc with New England
family who live in Little Womep
cottage that would make Bad Taste
exhibition look like the homes or It's