New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-20
Screen Star an EntiCing
PrevaricatOr in Miss
George Washington"
THE SIN We DO"
RIALTO'S FEATURE
Frank Keenan, in Photo
play-Valeska Suratt
at Academy

Marguerite Clark should receive a
vote of thanks for the part she plays
IN Miss George Washington" at the
Strand this week. She earns the title
by her inability to tell the truth. She
~ n prevaricator-one might even call
her by a shorter and uglier name; but
what's in a name? By any other name
she would be as sweet.
As Bernice Somers she is altogether
charming and cnticing and she does
not wear her hair in ringlets. Miss
Clark's mock terror in the situation
which her falsehoods create is most
satisfying. She seems to take it for
granted that her audience will under
stand and laugh-with her, not merely
at her. That seems to be the secret
Of Miss Clark's success. She takes
the audience into her confidence right
from the start and fools the rest Of
her screen associates with a wink and
smile.
Bernice Somers starts right off the
reel to tell falsehoods in school. but
she does it with such a serious mien
that no one suspects her. At meet
ing of the Truth Society" she is dec
GRATED with a medal because she cam
not tell a lie.
Her partner in guilt is Alice Alt
void, played by Florence Martin.
After Bernice receives the medal she
wears it around her neck constantly
as a reminder to her associates that
she is beyond suspicion. When she is
apprehended in the middle of a mid.
night feast she hides the chatting dish
in her hatbox, slides the tray under
the table and the girls under the bed.
and when Miss Perkins enters, led to
the room by the smell of Welsh rabbit,
she is apparently wrapped in slumber
with her truth medal in her hand.
When she is aroused and questioned
she says: .'Oh, dreamed that beau
tful angel was bending over me and
then | awake and it is you" One
must see Miss Perkins to appreciate
this.
Later Bernice gets in more serious
trouble when she and Alice attempt to
steal away to a matinee. Just as they
are about to join their escort, Miss
Perkins appears. To save the situa-
ton, Bernice says they have been in
vited to call on Mr.. and Mrs. Gardner,
in Room 705. As ''iss Perkins insists
on accompanying them 10 the door, they
are forced to enter. and here Bernice
meets her future husband-only she
didn't know il then.
To save another situation she is
forced to become Mrs. Gardner and TO
introduce Cleverly Trafton, the man
whose room she enters, as Mr.. Gard
ner.
OF course, the young couple are in
vited for week end, and there are all
of the complications which always
arise in such positions, but finally Miss
George Washington startles every one
by saying: 81 have deceived you all,
but now | will tell nothing but the
truth. Mrs. Gardner couldn't be there
because the baby had the measles"
OF course, every one believes her, and
Cleverly Trafton is so ir love with his
pseudo that he asks Mrs. Gardner
TO become Mrs. Trafton.
"The Sin Ye Do" with Frank keenan,
as its star, is the feature at the Rialto.
The play gets away to a good start, but
lacks action lOWtfu the Gnu. n tVul =
room scene is not so interesting in the
silent as il is in the spoken drama.
There is something tiresome about
listening to an impassioned address
which cannot be heard. Then, too, 1t
seemed that the characters which Mr.
keenan,, as Barrett Steele, was defend
ing were not interesting enough TO eN'
tract sympathy from the audience.
One merely felt that Mary Ward, the
mother, should have known that no girl
is safe. and that Alice Ward was rather
tame sort Of person to drive a man
like Dace Whitlock to such a frenzy.
Frank Keenan, is most convincing
The little affair which nearly cost him
his life was with Rose barrow, a
frivolous married woman, who con-
stantly pursued him. II all his at.
fairs were carried on with the lack Of
zest which he displayed in this one.
Barrett Steele was not so black as he
was painted. Steele did not know
that ne had a daughter, and when he