The Washington times., 1915-11-09
BEL.ASCO.

quite large proportion OF wash
tngton's population laughed until It's
sides hurt last night on the occasion OF
the presentation at the Belasco OF May
Irwin In mo. 80 washington Square"
May Irwin. of course. Is the star. but
she Is supported by a really admirable
company. and the farce Is presented
with a perfection that is rarely attained
In most productions. The story itself
pleased the audience immensely with It's
startling climaxes.
Mrs. DE Pyster. OF 80 Washington
Square. recognized leader OF her set in
New York. Is about to sail for Europe
when her son John comes In. informs
her that. tired Of doing nothing ex-
ccpt spending his ample allowance. he
has gone to work as a subway Iaborcr.
and wants to study engineering; that he
has fallen In love with the only girl in
the world twho happens to be the
daughter OF an upstate .grocer and
| that he won't marry the girl whom his
mother picked for him.
Mrs. DePeyster. after a scene. dlsin-
merits him. A moment later. she Is In
formed by Judge Harvey. her man Of
affairs. that the railroad in which she
ls interested has passed Its dividend and
that she can't have any money Tor u,
European trip.
For a moment she is stunned. but
| finally decides that the world must
| think she has gone to Europe SO she will
lose no social prestige and considts
| plans whereby she may accomplish tbs
| Eventually she comes to the decision
that Olivette Harmon. her poor cou-
| sin, must go In her stead. while she re-
mains In seciusion In her boarded up
| town house.
Is the only person whom she takes into
her confidence.
Everything goes along smoothly unit J,
after her cousin has sailed sne decides
that she will impersonate Matilda ana
| take a drive. Unfortunately. william.
her coachnan. Is desperately in love
with Matilda. and when he secs the
heavily veiled figure which he takes
| Hardly has he fed. .denouncing Ma
tiida," than Jack DsPeyster steals IN
with Mary Morgan. whom he has inst
married. and, taking his mother for the
Ihousckeeper. announces his intention OF
| economiz,ng-and spending the summer
at the home from which he mas bceh
Weird situations follow with rspidity
Land Mrs DE Peyster and Matilda nee
ITO Mrs. Giiberts boarding house. where
Miss Harmon had lived. Eaturaiiy tne
situations there are even funnier than
/ at 81 Washington Square. and the dow
ager and her servant are finally forced
Into n quasi-alliance with DR.. Pyecroit
n crook disguised as minister. The
ientanglements that result are so amaZ'
ing that the audience hasn't time Ia
recover from one laugh before II Is
| overwhelmed again.
! But n wouldn't be fair to tell them
ALI. Let II be enough that the play
ends happily. with Matilda and william
the coachman: Jack and his wife. and
Mrs. DePcystcr md Judge Harvey in
each others arms. supposedly about 70
be transposed into that story-book state
OF living happily ever afterward.
MAY Irwin Is not only wonderful a.
III. resourceful housekeepcr. but
Rpropos OF nothing. she comes out be
tween scenes and sings some OF he'
songs, bringing the entire audience tc
ITS feet.
| President Wilson was In the audience
seeing the comedy for the second time
with him, in the center box or thf
mezzanine tier. were Mrs Gait. the
Secretary Of the Treasury and Mrs
McAdoo. Miss Wilson. and Miss Bones.