The Washington herald., 1915-02-09

favor OF his young ward if he would
avoid the chance of thoroughly despised
relatives coming into his large estate in
the event of his death. While Blake
pooh-poohs the idea he gives his promise
nevertheless, instructing Attorney Water
bury 10 write his last testament while he
is absent on a weeks trial trip of his
new motorboat, leaving his ward Elaine
his entire fortune. Following this in
struction We are introduced to the de-
voted Elaine in the person of Miss Muir
dock, and witness her distress in her
guardians insistence that she shall not
accompany him, as is her usual custom,
on his holiday.
Feeling that so tiresOme an introduction
has perhaps been the necessary shadow
cast by coming events Of greater i'm
port and interest, the audience is eX-
pectant when the curtain is raised on the
second act, which the program informs
US Is some months later. and is in no
way surprised to find Elaine bereft of
her guardian and on the verge Of an in
Vasion from the inheriting relatives, con-
sisting of one very white sheep, alto
gether surrounded by a black flock. The
desirable chap being the younger son,
good looking, romantic, and possessed
with a keen sense of fairness. Elaine has
no difficulty in enticing the heart of her
guardians cousin, Raymond lockwood.
quite OUT MS udnCee keeping. while MS
plebeian parents fgUratively tear their
hair and literally rant through two acts
OF resentment, and the elder son re-
lieves the situation with a dash or two
OF clever repartee in his own peculiar
and slangy fashion.
And for just no reason at all, except
, for the ridiculous threats of impos-
sible parents, poor Elaine allows her
self to be tortured by their tyranny
vi
last act in time to witness her pathet-
ic little prayer to his presumably de-
parted spirit for guidance and protec-
tion; thus shattering the fond hopes
of papa and mamma Lockwood and
. Cocktail-haunted brother Belts in the
matter of his millions, and bringing
happiness to his distressed ward.
The story is of the improbable melo-
dramatic type and is without a YES
tige Of originality. 1t introduces the
harried maiden; the noble young hero
throwing his services and his heart at
her feet: Williams running in pairs, and
the final trite denouement of the
heroine's shipwrecked protector arriv-
ing in the niche of time to save her
Remembering Miss Murdock's exquisite
portrayal of a delightfully."- dainty role in
The Beautiful Adventure" in which we
saw her earlier in the season. it is i'm
possible not TO register a sigh of regret
that no such opportunity for the ex-
preston of ability is given her in a Girl
of Today" The little lady was her
bravest last night and. despite the sense
less girl she was called upon to vizualize.
gave her Characterization some delight
fully artistic touches, particularly in the
tenderness Of her prayer in front Of her
guardians portrait and the reality of
her collapse when she found his re-
appearance one Of flesh and not of spirit.
and at all times she was a dainty, if
somewhat fluttery, figure, wearing a be-
wildering number Of quaint and nuffy
frocks.
But that poise which made her per-
formance remarkable in THE Beauti-
ful Adventure" that lyric ecstacy of
poetic expression which characterized her
reading in the French piece has no
chance for expression in this new play
Of Mr.. Brownies, which lacks the virility
Of his former pieces and so handicaps
Miss Murdock that 1t is a great pity that
II has been chosen as a vehicle for her
first starring venture.
The players surrounding Miss Muir
dock in "A Girl of Today" are capable.
Eugene OBrien gives a spirited per
formRnce as her leading man in the
role of Raymond Lockwood; Miss
Belle Daube proves sufficiently icy in
manner and appearance to ALLEVIATE the |
affections Of th9 best intentioned fiance
in the world; Edwin Nicander works |