The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-06-13
"Mr. Lazarus" Runs True Ito
Form Set by Harvey 0'Hig.
gins and Miss Harriet Ford.
IS A DELIGHTFUL COMEDY
Story Set Forth In New Play Is
Not Complicated, and Set.
tings Are Simple.

Mr.. Lazarus" q new play by Har-
vey O'Higgins and Harriet Ford, which
opened last night at the Belasco The
ater. In a melodrametic farce of more
than ordinary charm and attractive
ness.
For this delightful four-act story Il
surprise drama. and does combine char
acterizations OF high order with
techuical manipulations indicative OF
great skill on the part Of the authors
True. little less might he expected OF
the authors OF THE Dummy"
Mr.. Lazarus" whether II runs for
ever or not (which It wild and whether
II be praised unstintcdly by the New
York critics or not (Which II will be,
is the best comedy which has been
shown hero this season.
Handled With Charm.
While the role of the long lost Mr..
Lazarus. who returns TO ind his bride
OF forty years ago. fat. queruious. and
married to another man. is handled
with charm, intelligence. and dlscre-
Hon by Henry r. Dixey, II cannot be
said to stand clone.
II there is a leading lady In this piece
the title must go unreservedly to the
long lost bride. Mrs. Sylvester, played
by Florine Arnold. Eva LeSallienne.
as the daughter OF whom Mr.. Lazarus
was quite unaware. plays with delight
ful sincerity and naivete, but the ex-
actions OF her role are by far not as
great as those of Florine Arnold.
Miss Arnold's Mrs. Sylvester, repIete.
Dickensy. thoroughly humorous, and
consistent. will stand with the charac-
sister in The Two Virtues" seen here
early this season. as a noteworthy con-
tribution to the stage.
In addition TO the general soul-satis-
flying individual work OF the players,
and the tactfui consideration Of Mr.
Dixy in allowing for the Just exploita-
ton of such efforts. the spontaneity
and humor or the lines. plus four real
curtains. will garner for this produc-
ton great success.
The story is so simple that none but
an u higgins-rord combination could
find surprises in IT.
Is a Fat Bounder.
Most enthralling. however. is the story
OF the sylvesters'. DIR. Sylvester. a
fat bounder. with fis daughter. n black
haired adventures In the making. lives
upon the former Mrs. NAL
10y. and her daughter. Patricia. He
iidiTicu mrs mdiiOy IN tne nope OF
obtaining from her more money than he
actually succeeded in getting-namely
the life insurance from the dead (?)
husband. and the mortgage house In
which they live. The bully Raging of
the undecisive. weak-willed, but stub
born former Mrs. Malloy, and the at
tempt 10 obtain an additional bit OF
money from the daughter. are rudely
interrupted by the appearance OF the
Mr.. Lazarus, who claims to
be the long-lost husband.
He pursues this claim only long
enough to throw the rascal Sylvester
out. neck and crop. safely engineer the
love affair OF his daughter (D, and set
tie enough money on them To make
them comfortable for the rest OF their
lives. Then he disappears, as strangely
as he came.
Henry E. Dixey gives a performance
full OF def and high comedy. The
supporting cast includes william T.
Clarke as DR.. Sylvester. Tom Powers
as William Booth. and Marie Ascaraga
as Edith Sylvester. The four acts are
the same. and take place in a room on
the fourth foor of the lodging house or
Mrs. Molloy-Sylvester
FLORENCE Z. YoDEK.