The Washington herald., 1915-12-24
Edward Childs Carpenter S
New Comedy. Which Had
Its Premiere at the Belasco
Theater Last Evening, Fur
nishes a Pleasant Holiday
Entertainment with Its APP
pealing Love Story and
Cleverly Pointed Epigrams.
B, JULIA CHANDLER MANI.

| Edward ChiIds Carpenters comedy.
| which had its premiere at the Belasco
Theater last evening, with Oliver Morosco
as its sponsor. is quite in keepinC with
the Christmas spirit telling as II does a
romantic story with the Yuetide holidays
as background.
II isn't a great play. nor a thrilling one.
but il does furnish a quiet evening OF
pleasant entertainment in the simplicity
Of its theme. which is sprinkled literally
with more or less clever epigrams.
The story has to do with young
writer. struggling for fame in surround
inEs of poverty. There comes next door
to him the daughter of Morris Gamer. who
has suffered the bereavement OF her
mother in Paris. The girls parents have
been separated for years. but when her
maternal protector crosses The Great
Divide she turns to America in her
deSolation TO seek protection under the
roof which her father made impossible
for the mother Marjorie so loved.
The girl finds Morris Gamers home a no
Linr" .-Oncenial environment than did her
mother before her. but. abetted by one of
her fathers friends Romney Evans, she
manages an interest in life by stealing,
incoGnito. across her roof to the attic
Of the aspiring young author. bringing to
his miserable quarters a basket load of
Christmas cheer.
Marjorie's interest in Anthony Quintard
has been awakened on the evening of her
home coming by Albert Sewell. musician
who has set to music one of the young
authors verses. and who is looking for
a suitable Hbretto for his new opera.
Sewell has Offered a prize of ten thou
sand dollars for an available hook. and
when Marjorie makes her entree to the
garret home of Quintard she finds him
engaged in writing book for the con-
test Persuaded that she is the compan-
ion Of the ''Veiled Princess (his whim-
steal name for the young millionairess
who has returned from Franco Quintard
accepts her fairy godmother gifts. and
her good services in typewriting his work
until In their equal simplicity they in
volve themselves in a most unpleasant
situation which is in the end satisfac-
torily Strengthened out, and the young
author finds his path of love smoothed
by his newly cquired success.
The first two acts of the play are a bit
talky and move too slowly, but with a
little pruning should whip into shape
and measure up to the better standard
of the second two. which run with quick
or action and hold the greater interest
OF an audience
The Cinderella Man" takes its title
young artist to the story-girl to whom
the fairy godmother brought happiness
when her lot seemed the most hopeless.
and the good fortune which befalls him
elicits our pleasure with an enthusiasm
almost equal that we felt for the little
maid of the fair tale of our childhood
days.
An admirable cast was responsible for
the splendid presentation of the little
romance last night. Phoebe Foster WIS.,
ualized the girl Marjorie with delight
full naturalness, reading her lines with
a singularly pleasant infection, and
charmed her audience by the youthful
ness of her beauty and the genuineness
of her acting
Playing opposite Miss Foster Shelly
Hull gives an admirab BILE performance as
Anthony Quintard. while Frank Bacon
as Jerry Primrose and Lillian Dix as
Quintard's landlady achieve in their re-
spective character parts distinctive per-
sonaI success.
The supporting cast includes ManefeeI
Johnston, Theodore Babcock. William
Yerancc. Hubert Wilke, Charles Lane.
Helen Turney. and Reginal Mason. The
four acts which have been staged by
Robert Milton are beautiful examples OF
scenic art.