The Washington times., 1914-08-18
AT THEA TIERS THIS WEEK
COLUMBIA

1t Is an easy thing to say that in the
selection of The Marriage of Kitty
and its production last night as the
closing bill of a season that has been
made notable by the presentation OF
nineteen clever plays by company
of clever actors and actresses, the Co
lumbia players made happy choice.
Ii would be an easy thing to say-but
it wouldn't be true. 1t was not a nappy
choice. Any choice for 4 closing bill
would be equally unhappy. When the
weeks of enjoyment of good plays that
have gone before are considered there
is no happiness to the patrons IN the
choice of any play that blasts one
prospects with the qualification of final
ity about it that distinguishes the inev-
liable CLOSING bill" Therefore. there
are not many people who attended the
Columbia Players performance last
night who looked upon it with that
unalloyed feeling of pleasure such good
team work between players, author. and
producer would ordinarily arouse:
The thought uppermost was that on
the stage were a number OF clever
people who have come to be regarded
as very pleasant associates in the quest
for pleasure: who would in a very short
time be scattered to the four corners
of the country pursuing the vocation
OF helping perfect strangers find the
same kind OF relaxation. The convic-
tlOn lnaI tne perfect strangers WOulu
undoubtedly be as highly entertained.
enlightened. and upnfted in the
process, as we have been entertained
and enlightened and uplifted during the
past nineteen weeks carried no consola-
ton whatever To be perfectly human
consequently while the Columbia
patrons might say all sorts of nice
things about the Players and their work,
at the same time there is a bit of re-
sentiment felt that the season has come
TO an end.
However as all seasons must close
sometime. 1t is probably just as well
that the end of the Columbia season is
thrust into the delightful humors that
pertain to The Marriage of Kitty"
they form as good e cloak for condo
lence as anything else could. The pro-
duction calls for very few people
there are only seven in the cast, and
but four of these carry the action of
the play. AS Kitty Dorothy Bernard
emphasizes the fact that in terming
gentleman who first applied the word
to theatricals invented 1t as a short
cut to the definition Of acting ability
that requires most of the qualities Of
any other kind of an actress, along
with a lot of things other kinds Of
actresses are not required to display.
Kitty is an ingenue role that calls for
every one of these qualities and in her
presentation of 1t Miss Bernard not
only includes them all. but adds a few
touches that are distinctly her own
and makes her Interpretation Of the
part an original creation of charm and
substance.
A. H. Van Buren as Sir Reginald
makes an achievement Of a part that
isn't particularly attractive, although
it makes a delightful impression on
the audience. Carrie Thatcher had
another of those parts which she does
SO well in the character of the hys-
terical young widow who has designs
on the affections and pocketbook Of
the tickle young baronet and fails
to cash in with either. George Bar
bier Is family solicitor who provides
the common horse sense most of the
clever playwrights use to overcome
the absurdities of their heroes and
heroines and bring their plays to a
happy ending. Mr.. Barber gives a
human quality to these characters
that is made satisfying. John Kline,
David Chase and Bessie Maxwell play
the smaller parts in a very acceptable
way. GARDNER MACK.