New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-03-21

Peple. At the Longacre.
THE CAST.
George b. Nettleton. George Parsons
7. Boggs John. Hale Hamilton
Krone Robert Smiley
Miss Sally Parker...................Car ree Clark
Thomas J. Vanderbilt. Fritz Williams
Tony Toler. Jack Deyereaux
Mr.. Applegate .......................Wa Walter Allen
Office Merritt
Shipping clerk ..................F Frank Cerbrach
Mrs. George Il. Nettleton.........Ivy Troutman
Miss Florence Cole.................An Ann Murdoch
Goodies .Maude Bourne
There are many amazing features in the
laughabe farce by Edward Peple, pre-
scented last night at the Longacre. One,
and most refreshing of all, is charming
Ann Murdoch in a happy role. Another,
not a whit less refreshing, is Goodies"
OF Maude Eburne in her part of the
'ousemaid. These two, combined In a
spirited dash last night with the rest OF
the cast, made the play bright and anus
ing from start to finish, and extracted
the full value from the authors clever
dialogue and skllfully conceived stua-
tons.
The curtain rises upon a "pillory." the
Office OF the Eureka Digestive Pill Com
orderly office, with chewing gum typist
and a flaming headed Perl of an office
boy. Then the partners enter and begin
TO quarrel one, Mr.. r. Boggs-John.
claims that he Is the blood and brains of
the pill business, and the other Mr.. George
b. Nettleton iterates and reiterates that
he is by no means the bone and fat OF
the organization.
So they have it out, and make such
violent scene during the delicate lasso-
ing of a big contract by a hustling
young salesman that they lose both the
customer and the salesman along with
their tempers. That settles It. They
must end the combination right there.
Chorus: "All right. I'm satisfied. Call
our lawyer" The lawyer arrives. He is
Mr.. Thomas j. Vanderbilt. clever
schemer, who is in love with Mr. is
fancee. Miss Florence Cole.
But when the lawyer tries 10 make
legal dissolution Of the partnership they
only quarrel again over the terms, so the
lawyer. in despair, and catching hint
from their abuse about mot fit to black
my boots" suggests one hand OF poker
the loser TO be the winners butler for
year, with a thousand and one penalties
and fines for misbehavior or breach oil
contract After a bit of bluffing and hoot-
ing they play. and Mr.. 7. loses.
Now. this is manifestly a terrible calam-
ity TO Mr.. T., for he daren't tell his
fancee on pain OF penalty, and we next
see him rebeliously serving in the Net
Teton household and repelling the inces-
SAINT advances of the 'ousemaid, Goodies,
who thinks "'e's a dear Things iooh
blacker and blacker for Mr. T., as MS
impotence with his luck makes him UNI
ruly and loses him many hundreds IN
fines. At last his sweetheart discovers
him. and after an amusing scene, In
which poor Mr.. T. cannot tell her why
he is there or what he IS doing, she
worms the secret of the bet out OF the
gullible Mr.. Vanderbilt.
once in possession Of the secret the
Dresden china fiancee becomes strong
minded lady. and proceeds to eXtricate
her beloved T. from his hateful buttons
and butlery. With the scheme OF making
Mr.. Nettleton jealous by pretending he
Il, infatuated with Mrs. Nettleton, MI.
II so works on the feelings Of his eN-
citable partner that, in wild scene OF
misunderstanding passion and sobs. all
bets are called Off And as a httlhs |
climax the clever Miss Cole proves that
they never were on ali the time
All this. of course, is only an outline |
of the stuff Mr. Peple has employed "
build his three short acts, but IT Is USED
with a shrewd sense OF values and linked
with amusing dialogue of that active type
so vital to the smooth development OF
farcical situations.
Ann Murdoch is quite delightful as the
ingenious fancee of Mr.. T., and plays
with a spirit that appears to be recent
and very welcome addition to her other
charms. Even her Billie Burkeisms Were
submerged in the enthusiasm or her iatei
scenes. Maude Eburne was JOY as Coz
dies. Dressed as a smudged raced sldFey
in 'orrible shoes she pursued the detected
Mr.. T. with such giddy assurance that
her few appearances alone are worm
going to see, not to mention her supreme
collapse when she hears OF the tutllity Vi
matrimouy and is advised TO remain
maiden.
Fritz williams made the part OF me
LAWYER convincing and finished, as ne Vas
bound to do. George Parsons was ven
cast as the irascible Mr.. Nettleton' ana
Hale Hamilton gave good performance
as the other partner, Mr.. 7. IVY Trout
man played Mrs. Nettleton. role win
few opportunities, but ably handled. JACK
evereaux appeared with dash ana as
Z reared with a slam as the energeuc
salesman in the first act, where also Gar
rec Clark gave good portrayal Oh
snippy stenographer. and John Merritt
with the famous head that makes MIN
destined for the role OF Office boy SO lohs
as the color lasts. few In and OUT
''Torchy" incarnate.
Not to disappoint the courageous au-
thor who took a CHASTITY chance when ne
out that easily juggled title upon his play
one might say. il one were suthcienuy
bromidic. that a Pair Of Skies ought 10
draw full houses into the Longacre.