The Washington times., 1915-11-16
Plays and Players at
the Theaters s'
BEL.ASCO.

The Briton may be dull in perceiving
the point OF pun, but the same indict-
ment II given the lie when It comes to
English authorship. an Immense audi
ence at the Beiasco Theater decreed
last night when Cyril Harcour's Lon
don and New York success. "A Pair Of
silk Stocking" opened . weeks engage
ment.
The author has written q text that
bristles with wit and satire. and he
has. moreover. provided q story which
gives ample excuse for manifold and de-
licious bits Of humor. epigrams. and
situations.
The play is SO bountiful with amusing
things that 1t would be Just as hopeless
TO point them out as It In TO try to dis
unguish between the excellence Of the
cast
"a Pair Of SILK stockinss'' invades an
English country house Of the better
class on the limbs of . recent divorce.
They are not exhibited to any great ex-
tent In the opening act, but In the sec
function Of keeping inactive tho pair Of
legs supporting the downcast though
hopeful male principal Of the divorce
suit. Anxious to explain his side Of the
controversy over motor car which
caused the separation. the husband.
theatrical rehearsal. seeks a reconcilia-
ton by invading the bedroom Of his
former wife, which by chance happens
to be that Just quilted by another
house Euest. q former admirer Of the
oivorcee; The former occupant Of the
ers ex-husband concealed In a closet.
Mistaking him for burglar. the pair
bind him with tho dainty silk hosiery.
which gives the play its name. and put
him for safe keeping in the bathroom,
nnds explanations Of the burglar episode
discredited by Lady Cover and her
other guests. whose search for the bur-
glar only succeeds In producing a gris-
ed-faced tramp. The bedroom occu-
right nnarauder.. It develops upon the
ex-hubby TO rubstantiate the burglar
story by confessins he II tho culprit.
which not only preserved the respect
ability Of the household. but paves the
way for the reconciliation he zealousiy
Mr.. sothern upholds the Iaurels Of his
historic family bv exhibiting as delight
fui an individuality as his comedy II
unique. Why his wife. exnuisitely
played bv Miss Eva Leonard-Boyne.
should have ''biffed off to her grand:
to conceive except for the attendant hu-
morous passages II afforded him. As a
bishop-fearing Lady Cover. Miss Alison
Skipworth impaired a luster to every
erisrsm she uttered that rivaled the
brilliancv Of sothern's spoken lines. and
every minute she WIS on stage humor
had no inactive moment. In philoso-
phizine on me rriage in the second act.
Miss Skipworth's every syllable assayed
IN per cent satire.
p. Clayton Greene. an unoommonly
rne actor. contributed mu~h to the gem
~ral excellence Of the production by his
portrayal Of the former lover: Miss
GLADYS Knorr. the WASHINGTON sirl and
tho only American member OF the COM
rsny. combined inte,lieenc~ with Der
rorsI charms IN the ing~nue role: Miss
Svbil Carlisle as the sedate but wise
"rxe- Of complications" was excellent.
rnd Theodor- Duggf. In not more than
twenty words as the tramp-burefar,
achieves . distinctive characterize ton.
The remainder Of the cart mot all op-
, roYtunittee. and the two sc"n"s Of tins
rlay and the costu~''oe r~csAk~d highly
the eood taste Of winthrop Ames. the
producer.