Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-22
ANU Sc M ENTS
rEPLE's "A PAIR OF SIZES,
LIZ An IInIfIl l,fAxn on

- nv hOtN TOO SHORT
| mere ~ Just one fault to be found
with Edward Peple's "a Pair of SKIES"
1t is about an hour too short AS pre-
scented at tho Academy of Music last
night by company OF all-actors. it
crowded into some thin. like two AMI =,
half hours more irresistible sida-r,,k
ing comedy than any such brief period
could possibly hold, and in CONSEQUENCES
thejaudience went home-or to its tyne-
writer-still trying to catch up with the
laughs. trying without success, how
ever Tor there is enough humor in ~
| fair or skies to occupy al appreci-
ative memory for days, not TO say
hours
Ana ii is humor OF all sorts, comedy
| oil every variety, save that which is
either rough or Suggestive Upon the
heeis OF moment of downright farce
'nere trips bit OF pure wit: Il scene
already shaking with the comedy Of sit
uatioh Is further frightened by u flash
OF repartee. aud an Instant OF semi
! ouhoonery Is heightened into whole
i some laugh by satire. sarcasm. whimsy,
oroiiery. what YOU will. Furthermore,
while the ideas around with the farce
| rs pn.t are ludicrous in the extreme
| they are developed by the hand Of n
mastercraftsman. Interest in the work.
! ing out OF the absurd story is sustained
to the very fall OF the final curtain.
while surprises tumble over one another
! throughout.
| ana surprise-as we'll as almost helpless
anuSement-are sustained to the very
last they are created and maintained
! from the very beginning. There are
"niN three acts, but, contrary to the
rule i'll such cases made and provided
the first act is not only explanatory
but is every whit as divcrtinc as either
or the others. Indeed. 1t seemed that
MI Peple, when he set about writing
tair or SKIES was supplied with a
\ MI tt,r ;IN1.
mirth. from which he drew enough fun
10 make n dozen farces. but all which
he concentrated into one, with the re-
suit that he was able 10 provide. not
! only the principal. but all the minor
characters with fat" parts.
The story is too good 10 he related
save In barest outline: Two partners
| quarrel violently AS to which shall di-
rect the conduct of their business. and,
upon the advice OF their common law
yer, they settle their dispute by arbi-
tratjon-with deck of cards--the
loser becoming the servant of the other.
and both being bound. under penalty OF
heavy forfeit. not to disclose the
cause OF the eNtracrdinary situation
that results. Upon this hangs what
was proved last night to be- In every
truth, the funniest farce in the world"
Although Mr.. Pcple's work is
scintillant example of the art of farce
writing. it is very far from being OF a
contrary. it needs must be played-and
played well-cvery minute And that
was the manner in which It was pre-
sented last night By II. n. FraZee's
rarely capable company; so capa BILE "A
company. indeed. that in this season
OF theatrical starvation it came to us
as sort of windfall OF dramatic
mama.
Oscar Figman, one OF the most COM
petent OF the farce players. lights OF
musical comedy and all-around come
/ dams OF our stage. would make. one
would say. even Mr.. People laugh at
MS own carefully and skiilfully evolved
/ hunor TO say nothing of the actors
individual points scored Orlando DAILY
handles q straighter and less grateful
! part with ease and abundant resource
! iulness; Mary Harper is particularly
! charming as the losing partners sweet
/ heart. Jane Meredith's performance as
/ the jealous wife is capital. and even
! the smaller parts are portrayed by men
! regular actors And they work to-
/ gether with such certainty and as
surance that the farce is PLAYED in the
joyous tempo of George NJ Conan
| musical comedy.
For tired business men, tired shop-
! pers tired jitney dodgers, tired tam
! SocrS, tired thcater- gOers, even men
ana women wha are tired of being
! tired, "A Pair OF Skies" is cordially and
confidently recommended as a veri,able
! tonic.
Douglas Gordon