The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-11-09

sand Islands communicates a compelling
sense Of the Joy of living.
Many of our American stars go to the
show shop window and select a play
that may best suit their GENTS, and
oftentimes they are not particular
whether the tailoring Is OF a hand-me-
down character or bears a smart custom
cut so long as they are equipped. Not
so with May Irwin. In 80 Washington
Square, the lady from the st. Law
renee River has a vehicle which was
written with no other object than to
amuse, and it serves its purpose admir-
ably.
The action of the play revolves about
the efforts of a proud society leader to
maintain her position in spite of certain
financial embarrassments. Mrs. Depey-
ster. of SO Washington Square, when
about to make her annual European trip
learns that her income has been temper
arily discontinued Fearing for her So
cial prestige unless she sails, she con-
suits her faithful housekeeper, Matilda,
who suggests that her mistress remain
at home and pass as Matilda's sister
from Syracuse While a cousin of Mrs.
De Peyster goes abroad to impersonate
her on the trip, the lady herself remains
in seclusion in her mansion, with only
Matilda in possession Of the secret No
sooner, however. has this supposedly
satisfactory arrangement been made
than complications as rapid as they are
humorous ensue.
In order to avoid detection by her
son. Mrs. De Peyster has to leave her
home, and with the ever faithful Ma
tilda seeks refuge in a cheap board
ing-house. There they are not only
treated as servants, but an amiable
forger, who is impersonating
clergyman to escape arrest fixes his
fancy on Matilda, and believing her
to be a crook proposes that they rob
Mrs. De Peyster. Just as Ma
tilda and her supposed sister seem
about TO become the unwilling tools
Of the crook they succeed in making
a hasty flight home.
In their unceremonious entrance,
however, they have been observed by
some diligent policeman, who natural
ly mistakes them for burglars These
suspicious are no sooner proven
groundIess than the forger. who has
pursued them. arrives on the scene.
His assurance and resourcefulness is
most amazing. but he is finally trip
ped up. and upon the news Arriving
that Mrs. De Peyster has died IN
Paris the lady herself is compelled
to come out of her hiding place,
everything is Strengthened out, and
the curtain IallS with Adlllud III INC
coachmans arms.
The part of Matilda is somewhat of
departure from the roles Miss Ir-
win has appeared in here before, but
just as funny. and during the course
of the play she sings several Irwin
esque songs. including her old favor
lite, Don't You Be Like that Foolish
Frog" and the newer favorites, Il
Have Been Floating Down the Old
Green River" and My Old Kentucky
Home" with all her old-time gusto.
Next to Miss Irwin's performance. per-
haps. the most notable feature of the
evening was the commendable manner in
which William Collier has staged the
comedy. There was an absence of noise
and rushing about Points are maor
lesitimately and convincingly. Leonard
HOLSTER made hit as DR.. Pyecroft, the
amiable forger-clergyman, although he
was inclined to overdo II.
Julia Ralph has had many a success
prior to last evening in parts which Of
fered her greater opportunities than that
of the masterful clearinghouse lady,
but certainly none of these past por-
traitures has been more effective, or in
better keeping with the frame in which
II is placed.
Frances Gaunt was a convincing Mrs.
De Peyster. and George Clark, Aldricn
Bowker, Clara Blandick, and Charlotte
Carter also fitted well into the picture.
The three interior settings and the drop
showing the exterior of Mrs. De
Peyster's house at No. 3 Washington
Square were quite satisfactory