Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-03-10
FUN HOLDS HIGH REVEL IN
PAIR OF SIZES" AT NEWARK
by ADHLlNE cARRIcK WELLS

BY ADELINE CAKRICK WELLS
IT is far better for a theatrical Of
fering to begin In lame sort of
fashion and urge itself into a nvely
eanter than to leave the post with
chatter of hoofs that promises much
only to peter down into a discourage
ing little Jog trot that makes an au-
dlenee's right hand point skyward IN
the justly famous ana UNSUITABLE ges-
ture that mutely means, never
again"
Meaning, that "A Pair of Skies" a
three-act farce, fresh from the pen
of Edward PepIe, which is being tried
out on the er-Newark public this
week at the Newark Theatre, before
being introduced to New York. not
only has possibilities. but probabili-
ties. Because, though the first act
is accepted with a placidity that has
nothing whatsoever to do with all
that the word farce" implies, the
second one finds people Laughing
spontaneously at intervals, and the
| third act brings uproarious approval.
When an audience leaves a theatre
| in the benlgnant mood that follows
| hearty laughter. IT insists upon find
/ ing some one to share its little bless-
/ ing. Man is garruious, particularly
when he is favorably impressed.
| Therefore, it would seem "A Pair OF
Skies has fair chance Of grasping
| that prize of prices in the lottery of
things theatrical. a goodly metropoli-
tan run.
| Maude Eburne. who plays Goodies,
an English maid-of- ail-work, is a
| bright and glorious find. Goodies will
remain a chortiing. chuckling MEM
DRY when everything else i'm "a Pair
| of Skies" has faded into the dim and
distant past. Mr. Peple could wine
all dulness from the first act by writ
/ ing in a reason for Goodies to invade
the office Of the fighting partners.
From the crown of her wispy head to
the soles Of her anything but -wispy
| feet Goodies was-Coddles Miss
| Eburne, who has invested the Cock
ney maid with a personality that will
| not be squelched. was recruited from
/ the Lyceum Stock Company In Ro-
| chester, The Dyceum company pre-
scented "A Pair OF Skies" for a week,
/ and Miss Eburne's work was so good
that the manager Of the offering just
naturally made her promise to play
! Goodies in New York. and. of course,
! she reluctantly consented"
i Credit mus lac given to the author
| for giving us something new in the
farcical line. Two life long friends
go into the business of making diges-
tive pills. As the business grows
| each partner keeps pace with 1t, until,
when the play opens, they are at dag
| gers points each convinced that tt
success of the enterprise Is due to him
llone, and trying his level best to i'm
plant that fact in the tough soil of
his partners brain.
They take a hundred petty ways of
showing their superiority. When
| Nettleton gives an order John coun-
ermands It, and vice versa. If John
| calls the stenographer for dictation.
| Nettleton calls her, too. Each insists
Upon the obedience and the distracted
| 5irl stands bewildered. torn between
| .wo partners, as 1t We're. This sys-
lem extends TO the bossing of the
9ookkeeper, and even to the esplon9 &c
If the hippant, fiame-headed Office
boy.
Matters finally reach a pass where
each partner is on the verge of spon.
tsneous combustion. The firms law.
yer, Vanderbilt, is called in, and
after trying all sorts of possible
schemes for the adjustment of the
| firms affairs, he suggests the "impos-
sible" a game of showdown poker
In which the holder of the lowest
| hand agrees to serve the other for
one year in any mental capacity
which the lucky one may see fit tn
suggest, shall receive $50 per month
for his services. and shall be fined
! heavily whenever his employer deems
! that his misdemeanors warrant It
| During this time the master" shall
conduct the business alone, creditins
the man" with his share of thu
profits, and if either master or man
or the masters wife, who is told OF
the contract. reveals the secret, HI
is to forfeit the sum of five Thousand
dollars. All of which is couched il
fearfully legal language and set dowT
by the bone Of contention stenog-
rapher.
After the partners agree, the cards
are dealt Nettleton draws a pair OF
skies and wins. There is a funny
minute wherein John banks up q
marvellous straight, only to see the
deuce of spades staring at him from
the fifth card.
The second act finds John. repiett
with side VIII 'skers and brass buttons
butlerng about the house of the
gloating Nettleton. Johns famed
comes to the house, finds her tianco
adamant when it comes to revealing
the reason for his garb, beguiles the
| IaWyer-Who loves her, too-into tell.
ing her the story, and stralghtWaS
sets her feminine wits to helping John
to turn the tables on the too com
placent Nettleton. II wouldn't be fail
to tell the rest, for from this poini
on the play has found it's gait. anc
gallops with relentless gaiety all ovel
the rs bilities of its watchers.
Cnddlne whn was hired hecAuAn She