New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-13
By HECTOR TURNBULL.

II Beverly had not taken such an
unconscionable time to strike her bal
ance last night at the Lyceum Theatre
there would be nothing but pleasant
and laudatory comments to make on
the subject of Margaret Anglin's
latest comedy. Two hours for two acts
with but one ntermission, however, is
hardly a pardonable offence in these
days of rapid fire comedies, and as
"Beverly's Balance" had one more act
in which 20 teeter and see-saw before
settling down to a climax, the fact
forces itself into record despite the
abundance of redeeming features.
The unnecessary dragging Of the
play is its worst fault. The dialogue
abounds in bright and amusing
speeches, and the situations, while
based upon an essentially Theatre
foundation, have the charm of novelty
and are exceedingly we'll played. This
theatric foundation nevertheless IS the
source from which many successful
comedy and farce comedy plots have
been drawn, and it is the basic situa-
uon, with all its concomitant Incl
dents, that will probably make "Bev-
erlys Balance" popular as much as the
influence of Miss Anglin's name and
those of her cast.
Beverly, the daughter Of noble
Southern family. has come to New
York to begin a career as singer Her
voice fails her and she is obliged TO
swallow her non-professional Southern
pride and apply for financial aid at the
81 a
The cousin proves to be as poor as
Bevcrly. and when black despair settles
over the couple help comes in sight IN
the form of wealthy young man who
wants u divorce and is bent upon the
Young cousin obtaining it for him.
Although the young cousin Is abso-
lutely strapped his pride will not allow
him to accept the case, for If he does
he must supply a correspondent, and this
shakes his chaste mind as being bit
thick.
Just as the blameless barrister is
about to show his modern millionaire
client the door. Beverly appears and
agrees to play the role of correspond
G - for a certain, very certain, sum
All her Southern pride goes by the
board, and she begins corresponding
at once. with a retainer Of 81 and a
check for part of the sum agreed, in
advance.
In the second act the young mil
lionaire has got on so well with his
fair correspondent that he wants 10
marry her This would never do, how
ever. for Beverly loves the young
cousin. and, anyway, she didn't do this
deed for money at all. She did the
aced for sheer kindness and from al
truistic motives solely. She wants to
bring the millionaire and his wife to-
cather. At the end Of the second act
she succeeds in bringing them together
i'm a downtown suite OF furnished room
and locking them in for the night.
Morning then dawned. as is it's whln
on such occasions, and discloses the pain
in extremely uncomfortable but efec'
tive sleeping arrangements. From there
on Beverly's balance settles down to
its happv mean. The millionaire and
his wife are reconciled, and Beverly
young cousin finally plucks up enough
courage to propose.
II is Miss Anglin's finished playing
of Beverly, of course, that makes u
easy to forget what slight resemblance
if any. the characters and situations II
the comedy bear to actualtles. She
gives the Southern girl such halo Of
sincere. natural charm, with just The
proper touch of whimsical humor. thai
one could easily advise visit to The
Lyceum for the sake OF seeing hel
alone. William Boyd made the role OF
the young millionaire one Of the bcs'
characterizations seen IN the city thl:
season. His playing was rcfreshinglJ
unaffected and surprisingly able.
Pedro de Cordoba added another eX
cellcnt performance to his long list az
the Young lawyer and Mrs. Charles G
Craig lent a deal Of humor TO the emf
nently respectable Southern aunt
Ruth Holt Boucicault was not 81
happy as Mrs. Rcdlaw, perhaps because
the role is not we'll suited to her par