The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-03-16
The Things That Count" Is
Saturated With Sentiment
Laurence Eyres Tender Story Reminds One of an April
Day, When Sunshine Chases Showers and the
Whole World Is Refreshed
By JULIA CHANDLER MANI.

By JULIA CHANDLER MANI.
The Things That Count" which
William A. Brady showed Washington
for the first time last evening at the
Belasco Theater. is a beautiful little
play chucked full of tender sentiment
and wholesome humor, telling a sim
pie. unconstitutional story in language
that once in a while overlaps the bor-
derland of poetry. 1t reminds one of
an April day in which sunshine chases
showers. and the whole world is re-
freshed.
The story reyolves around a cruSty
old lady who scolds the loudest when
her heart is biggest with love and
sympathy. for the scolding is the sort
of shield the modest carry to cover
their good deeds from the eyes of the
world. The folk who touch her life
call her Mrs. Hennaberry and yield
obedience to her will. from Mr.. Henna.
berry down to the lowest mental in the
Hennaberry household.
Because he married an actress mother
HenDaberry put her only son from her
life: refused to acknowledge his wife
either before or after his death. until on
Christmas Eve. she and her maid. Inger-
borg. are lead by their suspicious to fol-
low Mr.. Hennaberry. and his man Abra-
ham, on what appears TO them to be an
the contrary. The grandparents find
themselves in the tenement home of
Beulah. their daughter-in-law, and Dull
Gle, the child whom they offered to take
after her fathers death on condition that
her mother would consent to give her up.
Here the little girl wiggles her way into
Mrs. IIennaberry's heart before the old
lady has chance TO learn her identity,
and while waiting for the child's mother
rNlp IT,, 70 ,tht D,
the neighbors are all invited. turning the
second act into something of an inter-
national congress where it is difficult 10
keep down hOstilitics.
While the party is in session little
DulCie suCCumbs TO an illness from
which she has been suffering, and a
mUch-feared operation becomes an i'm
mediate necessity. The child's life is
saved by Dr. Stewart Marshall, who
is in love with Beulah. and the play
ends with the victory of his love for
the brave young mother: assurance that
the little girl is going to get well, and
the reconciliation of the HennaberryS
with their dauGhter-in-law.
Sounds like quite an old-fashioned
story. doesn't it?
Well. It is. And as sweet as the per-
fume of a garden pink. and with just
its spicy breath, for nowhere does the
sweetness cloy and everywhere does
hUmor flash in sufficient time TO save
the piece from Oversentimentality.
Laurence Eyre wrote THE Things |
that Count" and he deserves high praise |
for the excellent balance with which he |
has told the sort Of story that lives, be- |
cauS" ii goes down where the human |
heart beats and touches the primitive |
emotions of mankind. 1t is entertaining. |
clean. bright. and appealing. which is |
sufficient explanation for its long life |
in New York. when ii was produced there |
10y Mr.. Brady more than a year ago. |
counteracting the naus~ous influence of |
the sex plays which were just about that |
time surietinS the metropolis. and Great
ing something Of a furore through their |
sensational character.
The cast Interpreting Mr.. Eyre's story |
is excellent throughout. Miss Florins
Arnold portrays the duplex character of
Mrs. Hennaberry. painting a portrait
which strongly calls to mind Cyril Maud's !
Grumpy" and finely shading the pic
ture. So strongly does she impress her
audience that heart of gold lies be-
meath the crusty surface which Mrs.
FIennaberry shows to the world that
those who sit 'out 'front.' have an in
slant liking for and understanding of the
old lady whose pride has been her un-
doing and are glad to see her come
into her eventual kingdom of happi-
uess.
George Paige vizualIzes Mr.. "Hen-
pecko" with realism: Francis Gillen
presents a manly figure as DR.. Marshall:
Evelyn WELDING gives an excellent
performance in the emotional role of
Wallace Erskine is fine as
Abraha Miss Hilda Hellstrom, the
Swedish character actress, who has
long been a portrayer of Ibsen roles.
scores a personal hit in the comedy
part of Ingerborg. the "Swede who
was employed to be a French Maid"
because she was a Swede, and little
Miss Grace DouEherty does not stop
at winning her way into the hearts of
her grandparents, but sends out her
magnetism across the footlights and
holds the faithful sympathies of her
auditors.
The supporting cast maintains the
nigh standard set by the principals Of
he company and includes Miss Rena
Howard, Miss Ella Baker. Miss Flor
.nce Mack, little Miss Maxine Hicks,
Nick Long, jr.. Miss Louise Muldener, ,
lick Long, Idalene Cotton, and Edna
Hopper.
The Things that Count" is a we'll
written. well-played, well-staged little
that lives because ii does deal
With things that count in the making
# D. life worth while.