Evening journal., 1915-04-20
Winning STORY TOLD
IN THE 'FRA|D CAT"
Owen Davis New Play
Gripping Story Of Life
and Dramatic
SUPERB ACTING AND
SPLENDID MOUNTING

II certainly appeared as if owen
Davis has written a winner in his
new play. 1.-THE Fraid cat'--or as
most of the audience seemed TO call
j.. because q was more like the child
hood term-"Tho Fraidy Cat, which
was given IFS first public performance
last nigni al The Playhouse. II de-
lighted the audience that filled the
.heatrc Coupled with superb acting
by company OF high ability WAS a
splendid scenic mounting. Notwith-
standing that II was a FIRST night.
the play was produced without a
hitch. In the closing acts. when
The play becomes intensely dramatic
al times, the audience hung on TO the
various lines as II entirely absorbed.
{ There is no doubt that The Fraid
Cat" has a gripping appeal. lt is to
be presened all week before moving
into New York MI Davis is au
thor of sinners" which began its
career of success at The Playhouse,
but his new play is truer to life and
abounds in more real human interest
than its predecessor
"1he 'Fraid Cat" deals with family
which is selfish, 1isiless, yet not worth
less. because il has never been taught
anything useful. 10 worships money as
one would worship a God, and yet IL Is
q man with plenty OF money who finally
sozvs the seed which results in conyinc-
ing the members Of the family though
some of them arc convinced slowly, that
~ takes work 20 produce money as well
as to produce happiness. William a
Brady has given the production scenic
equipment complete in every detail. The
whole production has been made with
that careful attention which character.
izes all of the Brady productions, anc
above all it has been given a company
that is one Of the best ever seen at Tho
Playhouse
Clara Blandick. as the sweet and
eelf-sacrifcing Sally who forgets her
self in her desire to make life easy
for the others. but who rebels and
compels them to work out their own
living, gives a most finished perform
ancc. In the scene where she has
tunconsciously won the lover OF her
sister, the rich man whom the family
Is so anxious TO appropriate to its
own selfish uses. and then sacrifices
her own love and that of the man in
order that her sister may be happy
and the lover do what Is right, Miss
Blondick does some splendid acting
SO naturally that It does not appear to
be on the stage, but an incident In
real life.
Miss Alice Lindahl, who appeared
for week with The Playhouse stock
company. plays the part of Ruth. III,
sister who Is Wiling TO marry mar
whom she does not love because h'
- has money, shares the honors will
Miss Blandick It is an entirely op
posite character. yet Just as hard e
portray Miss Lindahl did the hes
work of her life as Ruth, aud she
= played the part in a way which vor
the good will of the audience from
the beginning. Dorothy Dunn as luc.
had but little TO do. but what she die
have she did remarkably well. Tn,
same Is true OF Vera Rial as Mrs
Baxter. Jennie Dickerson as IN,
servant Della played the part IN
most delightful way and made Il
really important part of 'hc play.
George Howard played tho part o
David Conrad as II shcr have beer
played. Mr.. Howard 3 been seer
here before but It is doubtful IL n,
was ever seen in part which s,
thoroughly fitted him. Edward Haw
son capably played Edward Paige TIT
head OF the family who spent his timi
In writing a book on life of which IA
knew little. II was Augustin Wolk
as Ted who shared tho honors of tn
evening with Mr.. Howard for ther
is no doubt that this capable youni
\ actor was perfectly at home in tn
part Of the young and growing
brother. His delightful intorpreta
tion of the comedy and of the line
where he becomes the support an
comforter of his sister. who is tryin
To bring the family out OF chaos, wa
n splendid piece OF work Rober
Toms as Dick Parker. and Harr
Stlgler, as the Rev Angus Baxter
make the most OF small parts