The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-11-16
John Drew's New Vehicle
Is Delightful Comedy
In The Chief Horace An
nesley VacheIl Has Com
pounded a Highly Enter
tanning Concoction Through
the Mixture Of High Com
edy, Bristling Epigrams,
and an Absorbing Ro-
mantle Theme.
By JULIA CHANDLER MANI.

In Horace Annesley Vacheirs THE
Chief" which had its premiere at the
New National Theater last evening. John
Drew has an admirable new vehicle. the
piece proving charmingly romantic
comedy that fairly bristles with epigrams.
Mr., Vachelrs imposing title carries with
it OILY the fondness OF his friends for the
Chief has earned his designation only
by being a thoroughly good sort. He
is a titled widower whose destiny has
been ruled by his mother-In-law. This
ample and designing lady has married
him through trickery to one daughter
from whom the good Lord has delivered
him before the first curtain without any
particular avail. for the second of the
species is ruling his house. and. abetted
by friend mother. laying siege to his af-
fections.
To interfere with the sovereignty Of
Mrs. Bargus and daughter Emily comes
the girl whom the Earl of Yester knew
and loved in India-the girl who went
out Of his life ten years before the play
begins because OF the trickery OF the
Bargus mother. who is quite willing to
and does-pursue the same methods to
accomplish her purpose the second time.
OF course, we know from the beginning
that Cynthia Vansittart could never have
committed the theft OF which she is &C
cused, and our instinct Is not slow in
determining the guilty party. although
the fact in no way detracts from the
fascinated interest with which We watch
the three acts accumulate their evidence
until the tense climax just before the
final curtain when Cynthia is cleared
without the sacrifice OF her dignity, and
the audience is left confident that Yester
will make up to her for all those ten
lost years of happiness which they might
have had.
Now. don't get the idea from this brief
summary of the central theme that The
CHIEF is a crook play. for II is quite
free from sleuthing and all that sort of
thing, being a high comedy Of sctntillat-
ing quality, but embracing plot of
more absorbing interest than that for
which one usually looks along the lighter
vein of drama.
Certainly Mr. Drew never had a bet
ter opportunity afforded him for the
demonstration OF his facile methods. for
Mr. Vachells comedy runs the gamut
from smart satire to genuine romance.
and Mr.. Drew touches both light and
serious vein with the defines Of an
artist.
AS his leading lady, II was a delight
to see Laura Hope Crews last night. for
We have not forgotten the splendid per
Torrance she gave here a couple Of years
ago in a similar capacity with Mr..
Drew in THE Tyranny OF Tears" In
Mr.. Vachelrs new play she creates the
role of Cynthia, bringing to her visuali-
Zation that charming whimsicality and
admirable poise with which We have
learned before now to associate her
name. There is nothing more delightful
than the quaint little squint she utilities
so effectively In accentuating the humOr
of a phrase. nor can / think of a char
acter portrayal more perfectly balanced
than that which Miss Crews gave a de-
lighted audience last evening.
Running like a thread of gold through
the more serious purposes OF Mr. Vach-
ellis new comedy is fascinating sample
OF happer love demonstrated, in the
main. by an ingenue who looks like a
bit of exquisite Dresden china, and loses
no time in making an auditors heart
her abject slave. Her name is Consuelo
Bailey. and she visualizes Daphne Ken
yon. the ward OF Yester. proving another
thorn in the flesh OF the Bargus connIver.
Little Miss Bailey is just bit of femin-
inc fun. but she possesses a histrionic
gift commensurate with her beauty
which is greater praise than you'll rea-
lie until YOU have seen her delightful
performance and had a whih OF the fra