The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-10-24
AMEs;S.NElzAIki

domeStlC. OF the trdoe IN antique Iur-
niture. The plot hinges on the artistic
counterfeiting of a valuable set Of
chairs which have been sold ct one OF
the big antiquity sales, periodically
held in London, for the sum of 900
guineas and then resold to confdins
American at an advance of 200
guineas.
The transaction introduces US to
Joseph Quincy. a celebrated and
wealthy dealer. about whom the ac-
tion centers. He is played by Fred
erick Ross with much originality OF
drawing and with n Yorkshire dia-
lect which clouds the meaning of
good many of his lines. With his
pride in his business and its success.
in his charming daughter whom he is
trying to make a lady and in his cum
ningly domineering way of confront
ing business and family complications
surrounding him. he Is a character
quite out of the usual, and interesting
as we'll as amusing. His brother-in-
law, less honest in the same line of
business, is another and different bit
of character drawing in the British
tradesman class.
The living-in practice followed by
many British retail establishments, which
consists in boarding and lodging over
the salesrooms, all or part of the en-
ployees. is responsible for the romance
of the play. Quinney's daughter falls in
love with the young foreman and meets
him clandestinely after the shop is closed
and locked for the night The meetings
take place in Quinney's office. and here
the father discovers them. His handling
of the situation and its consequences gives
opportunity for some good acting by
every one concerned. Differing from the
book, the young foreman's knowledge of
the secret of the chairs which he fabri-
Gated while in the employ Of the brother
in-law. saves the reputation of Quincy,
and brings about the required happy end
ing of his securing the daughter in mar
rage and presumably partnership in
Quinney's.
This is not very elaborate domestic
comedy. but it Is acted in the sure-touch
way the English have for this sort OF
thing. and gives one the pleasant inn
preston of having seen something clean
and agreeable agreeably done
The dead past has buried its dead in
the case OF several recent productions.
but the quick and sad fate that met
even such pretentious undertakings as
''NolOch' and stolen Orders" to say
nothing OF minor efforts such as The
Bargain and George Broadhursts
What Money Cannot Buy" with their
brief careers of less than a fortnight.
mas not dampened the enthusiasm of
the ever hopeful producers. The late
Charlie Read used to say that no one
ever committed suicide with a lottery
ticket. and an unproduced play in his
possession seems to have the same OPP
timistic effect on the theatrical manager.
There's a whole lot of amusement money
in circuIa ton. and the theatrical man
ayers are going after it with a zest
which indicates fear on their part that
the moving-picture folks will get 1t IL
they don't In evidence OF this. we have
this week six entirely new productions.
one for every night of the week. and
many others killing time on the road
waiting for ? chance to get into a New
York theatcr
Chatter.
IT was a serious question whether
either the big Century or the big Hip
podrOme could ever again be made pay
ing institutions. as the public seemed to
have entirely lost interest in anything
put on their mammoth stages. With their
new attra ctions, Ned Wayburn's Town
Topics at the former and Hip. Hip.
Hooray' at the latter. they are playing
to full houses every night.
Mrs. Lily Langtry returns TO America
new play. As returner. she is growing
TO be 4 close second to Mime Bern
hardt.
The war abroad is responsible for send
ing US not only an oversupply OF English I
actors but has also caused an influx of
English pickpockets and other criminals. |
Rita Jolivet. who was with Charles |
Frohman when the Lusitania went down. |
makes her first appearance since that
event in a new play at the Comedy Sat
urday evening"
In the production of "Quinneys'." which |
has been running in London for more
than 90 performances, the part played |
here by Mr.. Ross is taken by Henry |
Ainley.
New York is managing TO get along /
very comfortably just now with only one !
war play. and that n not very serious |
one In fact. there is more war In the !
box offices over the cut-rate ticket ques- |
tion than on the stage.