The Washington times., 1916-03-07
HIT IS SCORED AGAIN
BY a TEXAS STEER"
Washington Laughs At Its Own
Show, First Produced
Twenty-one Years Ago.

Washington laughed again last night
at its own show.
Charles Hoyt's farce-comedy. "a
Texas Steer" satire on official life
In the Capital. was produced in the
same theater where II was seen twenty
one years ago.
And in the transition of Albaugh's
into Polls. and Of Tim Murphy's COM
pany into the Poll Players the play
lost none Of its original zest. Rather
ut took on a new originality. born of a
greater familiarity with the comedy OF
Congressional life.
1t Is interesting to recall that Frances
Star played n minor part In the original
production.
In the nineties II would have been
| unnecessary to review the plot. But q
new generation has sprung up since
the plays first appearance here, and
now Il Is so old that to many 1t Is new.
About a Texas Rancher.
overdrawn to just that extent nsces-
sary to the caricature. "a Texas Steer
nevertheless presents phase Of the
''statesman's" career that is as real
as that depicted II Sam Blythe's
Price OF Place"
The story is woven about n Texas
rancher, with 10000 head of cattle anc
diamond -in-the-rough personality tC
make UP for what he lacks in polish
who Is elected to Congress.
The last three acts OF the four-ac'
play are staged in the old Arlington
Hotel, now only n memory. brought
back to mind occasionally by the grea
excavation where II once stood.
Maverick Brander. the Congressman
| with his top boots and "forty-1ve," hal
just arrived, with his daughter, ''Bossy,
and his wife. Both of the women pre-
| pared for Capital gayety at Sal
Antone''-and their dresses bring mem
cries OF creations" seen early In tn
session in many Congressional hotels.
Capt. Fair!eiRh Bright. a young army
man who knew the Branders In Texas
AMI who II In love with the daughter
acts as social mentor for the family
hut Is cast aside when Bossv realizes
that he is not yearning to display he
truly wonderful clothes In public.
Some Bright Comedy Spots.
MIR. Fishback," who swung a portio
OF the colored vote for Brander on tn
promise Of the appointment OF "Ministe
to Dahomey." interjccts a bit of bright
comedy into the play with his appeals
fret mandatory, then persuasive. an
finally abject. for office. He finally get
a position OF Importance. He Is ap
pointed chief guardian OF the Congress
sional waste baskets-and proud
boasts that all the bills for Distric
improvements pass through his hands.
The third act finds the Branders, wit
the roughness polished away in spot
entertaining n Senator and a justice @
the Supreme Court.
Just as the party is about to begir
In come an investigating committee froT
Texas. Major Yell. Colonel Bragg an
Colonel Blow. Brander has the alter
native of refusing to entertain then
tanning them and committing social 81
, eide.
He Is unable to get rid Of the "Inve,
tigators." and. to make matters wors
his wife instructs his secretary to z,
them drunk. He does-faNing by III
, wayside In the act-and thev shoot u
the dinner party.
A Romantic Finale.
The next morning finds many emnaI
. RAISING situations as the result Of tn
, social fiasco. but II effects the recor
Z citation of Bossy and Captain Bright.
: When she secs the Texans at Dime
1 she realizes that her fiance was just
/ fed in what she had thought his snol
! berry. and calls him back to a romant
finale.
: A. II. Van Buren, is effective as Il
Z Honorable Brander; Florence Rittel
Eugene Desmond makes an ardel
q sutton.
: Comedy parts are we'll carried by
4 Hammond Daley, Ben Taggart al
I John NJ. Kline.
The rest of the cast Is well balances