Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-01-29
ADJUSTMENTS
DISEUTINi: TNRtE-COMFDN
uNESE NIl:D nN JONN ONl:M

To tho average thcatcrEocr IL isn't
~ matter of great moment what John
Drew's vehicle for the season happens
10 be: the poin, is that MIR. pr"W ap-
ucars in IL. John Drew parts have be
come pretty we'll standardized. so that
orc eXpects-and is rarely disappointed
to find a courteous. we'll bred man of
middle aoc. who moves easily and
stands at ease. who speaks the Eng
liSh language. rather than sectional
twang. drawn or whine, and who does
,h"m all pleasantly md good
For 50 long tho public has been ac-
customcd to think Of MIR. Drew III this
light. that il loses sight of the fact
/, that only long experience and rare
Skill added 10 exceptional talent. ma lie
possible his delightful and. apparently,
natural performances. A. matter
Of further fact, there are very few ne
tors who are actors enough to play
such roles successfu fully. Far from
being simple. they arc infinitely
only occasionally. as in The Sec
ond in Command" and in Ear'ie's
The Will" has this INSTRUMENTATION
caught AN illuminating glimpse OF the
fine actor who was leading man Of .\u-
gustin Daly's stock company. who
was forcefui enough To play opposite
the lamentcd Ada Hehar, and who can
chooses
Now he chooses L. play light comedy.
and Horace Annesley Nachcl!. the
prolific English novelist has provided
him. in The chief" with comedy so
light that. cNccpl for some i've min
utcs in the last act it is farce. OF.
rather. it would bc farce. if il We're
less dclicatcly played. As it is. Mr..
Drew plays more broadly than I IAN
recall ever having seen him play. nul.
being the most polished comedian on
our stage. he kc.s farce into comedy
Of 4 peculiarly happy sort.
The play < lin WaiStcd and IT.: plot
doesn't matter 1T all. MIR. Drn@ is the
Earl OF I,stcr, and he engages !: younS
woman as his secretary. lie has q
ward very young girl. and his re-
tirng secretary = = oiou"hiy rire
young man. Thcre-thc romance f"!.s
tsclf. Eut during the I'VE minutes re-
f"rrcd 10. the fare" resolves itself iuto
drama. which. in spite "f iis pb.'ious
outcome holds Ia" attention rattle.
tenscly for a not unpleasant imteriudc.
There il II GOOD deal OF .othN smart
ness i'll the dialogue. with an occ:l Sional
cpigramuatic twist nut the cpicrrmS
are never too subtle To he popular and
the SmaitncSS never stin"S on the
contrary, IN" whole Thing is thoroughly
amusing laughs ar" rs thick as seeds
in an,hrosia. nd . is all - clc.,n ana
lanto may t;,li" hcr mother ny over
her ::rauI,unthcr To soc IL without the
slightest fear OF bringing a blush "a
maternal checks
II is far from hciug = "u"-part play,
ami Mr.. .Dre,v. * usual. has surrounded
himself with . h'nSi "Ncril'ut company.
70 us OF Nro provinces ii is as JOYOUS
as il j. rare 10 watch - performance
in which every lit-par: oven 10 the
servants is PLAYED by Il real actor.
This is 10 n" found in NJ Drew's arc
sontaticn Of It'll" chief" Laura Hope
Crews. ono of ihH best comcdicurcF in
America, hc"d- the supporting cast:
tonSucl" iiHlcy T. ono inccEIr III "A
thouSanG: THAT'S I.Uwton makes AN OK
ircucly a 80 .r"ca3le part sympathet!c:
George Graham il altogether capable:
Vaughan Tr"v"r is satisfactory. as IS
Katherine stewart. aud Walt"r sober
ling has too It'll" opportunity TO do
more than SHOW how q srhnolcd actor
plays 3 servant.
Tho Chief presented by an ALL
actor east. is Il diVcrtmg farce comedy.
There Will he 'wo performances to-day
Douglas Gordon