Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-02-22
"Peg" Tonight
at the Adelphi

Peg RN.,.........,...... Florence Martin
Montgomery Hawkes. ...,.....s.. Frank Burhees
Jerry ..,.......,..,.ss.......H II. HeeVes Sinltn
The Chichester family is in difficulties.
be tonight-and that accounts for the
rather unusual behavior of these English
aristocrats. When the news arrives of
the loss Of their invested fortune, there
Ia naturally only one thing to do-depend
on the son as financial savior. BY the
standards of county life in England as
we meet 1t in the theatre. this means an
advantageous marriage. And considering
the mental calbre of Alaric Chichester It
is a very fortunate solution. It's still
more fortunate that Peg arrives about
this time. not only to act as the other
Marty to this marriage, but to supply a
living to the Chichesters while they walt.
For the heroine of peg o. My Heart" is
a little Irish-American girl, who combines
impetuous and raggamuffinly qualities
with neat little income for anybody
who shelters and educates her. And the
inevitable result, as Mr.. Hartley Manners
works 1t out, Is that the Chlchesters jump
at the chance to live Off Peg and then
twit her and snub her and generally mis-
treat her because she likes to lug an
around with her.
Now, IL the Chichesters are of the stage
STACEY, and II the way Peg returns good
for evil by saving the daughter from a
love affair with a married man Is little
more like well-built comedy than real
life, there is still a great deal in this
exceedingly popular comedy to account
for its exceeding popularity.
The principal thing Is Peg, with her
tongue and her dog. The last two ad-
iuncts unto to produce many very human
little comments on the life about them.
comparison of the white poodle thing
in Miss Chichester's lap with the shaggy.
dear, delightful michael" brings out the
observation that that thing never cnuld
be President of the United States" and
the explanation that michael" barSs at
It because he thinks it's a rabbit
Warm-hearted impetuous Peg rushes on
through the play seeing things with the
ewes of democratic youth and comment
ing on them with frankness that may
be impolite. but, at any rate, q human
and amusing. AS Florence artin has
played Peg in neighborng cities and
as she will doubtless play her tonight
at the Adelphi, she is the life of the play.
There are some other pleasant features
to be recorded. One OF these Is delight
full H. Reeves Smiths delightful Jerry,
and another is the way Peg wins and
WedS TINS trlenu OF tne Ib1nny ana only
spot of light and hope in the gloom of
England's snobbery. Two other players
of the original cast spread considerable
delight in their wakes. One Is Peter Bas-
sett. most perfect of buffers. The other
is Hassard Short who succeeds in making
Alaric both cad and man. The law
yers, maids and Chichester females, who
complete the cast, are no more TO be ig-
nored than the excellent solid wood room
that frames them with a tasteful reality.
Peg has come to Philadelphia very
late in her young life, and hundreds of
reviewers have already explained just
why this simple and unpretenTious piece
should have proved so popular. For all
their sarcasms at Mr.. Manners notions
Of the English aristocracy, the fact re-
mains that the play is WI. en- with skill
in dialogue, set and acte" in just the
right key of actually anc mot through
with CLEANS of kindly reassuring hui
manlty. Peg o. My Heart" brings the
comfortable conventionality of our older
comedies up TO date.