The Detroit times., 1915-01-19
GARRlck.


oARRlcK.
"A Pair of SiNcs." Edward Pepfe's
happy combination OF love, poker
Jealousy and American business
brought a record audience some DIS
lance past the verge OF hysteria III
opening its weeks euga>e>ent IN
the Garrick theater. Monday night.
This funniest OF farces in addition
10 being one tong laugh, has further
claim 20 merit IN that IL IS one or the
rapidly increasing number OF pieces OF
This type IN which the author has
found II possible 10 Or FUNNY without
resorting 10 suggestive situation or
rlsuue dialogue While the various
characters md il necessary 20 con.
sumo an amazing quanttty or high
balls. interspersed with cocktails the
general tone Is clean and wholesome
the lines are clever, the humor Is
sparkling and the members or the
cast without exception get the most
ouf OF their parts.
George b. Nettleton and I. Boggs
John are partners in the pill business.
Each takes TO himself all the credit
for the success Of the concern. This
leads 10 violent quaTrels. and the part
ners finally decide TO separate. Their
lawyer is called in and after much
fruitless wrangling, proposes that they
settle the status OF the dissolution by
means OF a hand at poker, the loser
10 become the servant OF the winner,
who is TO have entire control OF the
business for the space OF one year.
This is agreed 10 and Nettleton wins
IL of 81 fha nnVf fQW
weeks he makes life miserable for the
unhappy T Boggs John, who becomes
his butler and is forced TO grow side
whiskers He even goes SO far as to
invite Johns fance, Florence Cole, 20
a dinner, al which the luckiess butler
is forced TO serve. The lady worms
the secret of Johns servitude from
Vanderbilt, the lawyer. and sets Der
wits working TO compass his deliver
ance. With her assistance, he con
trives 10 simulate love affair with
the wife OF Nettleton, who grows furi
ously jealous and demands the break
inc OF the poker agreement, which is
sealed with a $4,000 bond on both
sides.
Then the fiancee explains that the
contract is illegal because based on
a game OF poker, explains her STRAIT
agem and brings the partners together
once more.
The honors of the piece are divided
between Ralph Herr, as Nettleton, and
Marion Ballou. as Goodies. an English
maid OF all work, in love with John
in his capacity of butler Mr. Herr is
perfect, both as the irascible business
man and as the insanely jealous hus-
banc His nervous mannerisms and
amazing command OF facial express
sion brought gales OF laughter from
the audience.
Miss Ballou was responsible for one
OF the most bits of character acting
seen in the Garrick this season. Her
perfect makeup, and the coy manner
in which she makes love 10 the state
ly butler. in dialect composed of
simon pure cockneyese, interspersed
with bits Of American slang, brought
down the house.
lone Bright, petite, active and
blonde scored hit in the part OF Flor
ence Cole, while Ethel Jackson fitted
admirably into the part of Mrs. Nett!e-
ton. Richie Ling acted the prosper
Gus lawyer in clever manner, and
Mark Smits as John, the partner-but-
Ter, gave a creditable performance.
Mary Harper, as Sally Parker. stenog-
rapher,. and William Dixon In the char
actor OF an Office boy, drew their quota
OF laughs.