The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-11-16
BeIa.co-"A Pair of Sill stocLins..n

It is fortunate that the Belasco is a
large playhouse else IL could never
have accommodated a fractional num-
Der OF the many people who last night
came to see "A Pair OF Silk Stockings"
the long-heralded success from Win
throp AmeS Little Theater. 1t is that
matter of limited audience which is
the only fault we outsiders find with
that New York Theater. II keeps its
attractions from the road even longer
I than the average Broadway hit.
However, Washington can not quar-
rel with Mr. Ames' enterprise when II
results in such finished productions as
Cyril Harcourt's sprightly three-act
comedy. "A Pair of Silk Stockings"
which is SO infinitely finer than the
customary farcical comedy as to
cheaper the majority OF recent efforts
in the same field and set a new stand
ard OF comparison. True. there is a
bedroom scene. a generous display OF
lingerie, gentlemen IL. the boudoir,
martial Misunderstanding. and the
usual material, but Mr.. Harcourt's tri-
umph lies in the freshness of treat
ment and the general smart air that
gives distinction. A French playwright
would have injected the risque, the
| vulgar; an American the noise and
slang. but this Englishman gives in
stead the well-bred drawing-room air,
with yet touch OF piquancy and bril-
liancy of wit that makes his play a
delicate, gossamer structure: fine as
the silk web OF the hosiery in the
title With Mr.. Shaw in mind. il may
not be amiss to also remark that Mr.
Harcourt's epigrams are for entertain
ment. and have neither sting nor cyni-
cism.
The action Of the amusing story &C.
ours at one OF those English country
house parties that furnish such endless
opportunities to the British writer's RI
hearsals for amateur theatricals are I'M
oerway when the divorced wife OF one
OF the men appears Unexpectedly. 1t
seems a good chance for explanations
on his part and a reconciliation, ana
with this in mind he hides in the cup
board OF her bedroom awaiting the au-
spicious momen. OF course II does not
arrive. Instead. by the window comes q
young man who formerly occupied the
room. and was likewise once devoted TO
the divorce
Then the eX-husband, still in his the
atrical disg use, is mistaken for a bur
glar. bound with the lady's silk stock
ings and deposited in the bath. Thus
far the situation might have been ex-
plainable. but the supposed thief having
escaped. and the young man being dis
covered BY the housemaid. 1t quite natur-
ally started one Of those stories upon
which the scandal sheets thrive. II is
useless TO attempt a synopsis OF the
complications which follow. but, happy
to relate. the denouement is as cleverly
arranged as the tangling of the plot.
or the splendid company to which so
much Of the success OF "A Pair of Silk
Stockings' is due. interest centered in
Sam Sothern appearing as the divorced
chap with the sensitive nature and the
oddly expressive vocabulary of a London
nut" As brother OF our own E H.
Sothern 1t was expected that he would
give subtle and highly polished per-
Torrance, and in this he did not disap-
point. displaying a resourcetulness and
refinement of method which makes his
every moment on the stage count
In the opposite role of the divorce
Miss Eva Leonard-Boyne. the memorable
Dora Of ''Fanny's First Play gives a
charm.ngly vivacious portrayal Of the
restless society woman, while Alison
Skipworth has a rich part as Lady
Cover. the local Mrs. Grumpy with the
clever tongue. and her characterize ton
Is q source OF constant delight.
Indeed, each member OF the company,
including Sybil Carlisle, as the typical
English sportswoman; P. Clayton Greene,
the vacillating Capt. Bagnal: Gladys
Knorr. a clever young Washingtonian;
Wallace Erskine and Edward Douglas,
shows the keen. selective eye OF Win
throp Ames, and his artistic dictatorship
is likewise evidenced in both the stage