Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-09-21
BelaSco.

The stage does not present many
classics nowadays, but the pretty play.
Peg O. My Heart" is one of them. Its
theme is a contrast Of the natural with
the artificial, with a demure, bright
witted> little Irish girl who believes
her unfortunate father the best man in
the world and also the best mother
she knows, representing the natural,
and a family Of bankrupted English
aristocracy. her only living relatives,
representing the artificial.
But one loses sight of the lesson in
the charms of Peg, whose clash with a
life she does not understand brings to
the surface her native wit and her real
worth. She is human little creature
whose worldly wisdom. what she has of
1t, has never impaired her innocence,
but guides her Alright always. 1t is a
simple little story, but so appealing in
the interest excited in Peg THAT one
never seems to tire of it. And that is
why Peg O. My Heart will never lack
an appreciative audience.
The company presenting the little
play at the Belasco Theater this week
meets all the requirements, because it
has an ideal Peg in Miss Florence Mar
tin. A new one to Washington. to be
sure, but one that will not be forgotten
for the freshness of her youth, her
beauty and the charm she imparts and
that invariably belongs to Peg, no mat
ter who may represent her.
Nine characters are used in telling
how the poor, friendless little Peg,
whose heart is often aching with the
desire to get back to her poor father,
breaks down the barriers in which her
awakens and wins the heart of her
cousin Ethel. cold-blooded. senten-
tious creature, whose ideal of life is
her own comfort and happiness. and
also the love of a titled young man
who is her uncle's chief executor and
the custodian of the vast fortune left
to Peg, although she never knows it
until the end of all her troubles
Isle Leigh is the equally self-ab-
sorbed aunt to whom Peg is brought to
ton the effeminate fop, her son. the
only other character of importance in
the play. The other parts. at best
minor. almost to the insignificant de-
Frank Burbeck. Herbert Ransom, Vera
Shore and Gordon Burby.
B. F. Keith's.
The vaudeville revue, Safety First, ,
with Sophye Barnard and Lou Anger
in the principal roles. is the headline
attraction at Keith's this week. Miss
Barnard is in her usual fine voice, and
hCi Shoi ldot were pledSluS 10
the audience Mr.. Anger gave the star
good support with material of the
usual variety. The other members of
the company put forth their best ef-
forts to make the piece success
Bonnie Glass. assisted by Mons. Ru-
dolph. has dancing turn that rank
up with the best. and Miss Glass easily
shared the honors of the evening with
the headliners. Her costumes are mod
est and in good taste, while her dane
ing in the different numbers is fault
less in technique and grace. Sherbo's
orchestra. part of the act, furnishes
good music on the stage.
Al. Herman, 'The Black Laugh"
works along original lines, and had
little trouble keeping the audience
laughing. Another good number is the
Spanish violinist. Ota Gygi, who has
been heard here before. He introduces
new numbers in his regular program
and>in response to many demands for
an encore. Irene and Bobbie Smith
sang themselves into the good graces
Of the audience: Hermine Shone and
Company were well received in "The
Last of the Quakers": Harry De Coe
has unique turn with chairs and
tables: Kate Gilmore and Sam VIII
ltams present their talking act as well
as ever. and the Pathe pictures are
interesting.