The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1916-03-07
Louis Mann Gipen Warm
Reception in "The BubbLe'
Edward Locke Has Woven
Into Trite Little Plot an In
cessant Flow of Genuine
Humor Along with a Deal
of Homely Philosophy.
By JULIA CHANDLER.

After a ten-year absence from Wash
ington. Louis Mann returned last evening
to the Belasco Theater in The Bubble. E"
ward Locke in which he appeared for a
long metropolitan run prior to the presen-
tation of the piece en- tour.
While not measuring up to the standard
OF dramatic strength or construction
achieved by Mr.. Locke in his former
plays. The Bubble is so genuine in its
faithfulness to type; so simple in its
straight appeal to the affections of an
audience. and so admirably acted by Mr..
Mann and his supporting company that
the appreciation accorded 1t elsewhere
was repeated in its initial performance
here
Gustave Muller is the pivotal figure of
the story. Around him reyolves the ac-
ton OF the play. and upon him centers
the auditors main interest. A German
American owner of a delicatessen shop,
Muller embraces the bOmba site tendencies
Of the TeutoniC mind coupled with a sim
piiCity OF heart that makes him easy prey
for rascally promoter.
Young Joseph Mailer seeks him out
in the home adjacent to the little
shop with a cock-and- yarn in
Volving the acquaintanceship of the
Mahler-Muller grandfathers across the
big creek. With that credulity which
walks hand in hand with ignorance
the Mullers swallow the tale-hook
and line-and Gustave falls victim to
the promoters scheme to separate him
from twenty-five thousand he has
spent his life in accommodating.
Less sanguine is the daughter Rose,
whose sweetheart has assured her
that Mailer has insinuated himself
into her fathers good graces for no
honest purpose, but Richard Graham
is in high disfavor with Old Man
Muller. the principal objection against
him being his journalistic occupation
In fact, the course Of true love does not
run smooth in the Muller household
where Richard gains admission only by
inuendo when the delicatessen dealer
isn't looking. But the old man invari-
ably finds out and the fuse OF his wrath
is always fired until the end Of the story,
when he finds his bubble of wealth burst
ed, and his long-spurned prospective SON.
in-law saving him from the tottering
ruins of life and fortune, whereupon
Rosie gains the realization Of her dreams
Richard is happy in her love, while
Gustave and Emilia Muller are brought
Through the proximity of a fortune) to
realize that they are better attuned to
the quiet joys Of the simpler life.
There is no novelty in the thread
hero-in-love-with-f fair daughter to the
rescue; final recognition by irate par
ent of younger chaps real worth, and
happiness for everybody concerned.
and II that were all there was to The
Bubble" it would fall as fat as a
founder. but. fortunately for the sue
cess Of the piece, Mr.. Locke has woven
into the fabric Of the plot an incessant
flow of genuine humor which creeps
constantly up through the serious or
pathetic moments with admirable re-
lief. offering a deal of homely philos-
Ophy along with the fun.
Domineering, bombastic, egotistical
"A tyrant in his home, Gustave Null
Ter has yet a heart so simple and low
ing that even when he stampedes up
and down the place in an uncontrol-
able rage one is cognizant that I'M
derneath is well-spring OF love for
those under his protection and that
always behind the storm is a ra-
diant sky.
In his INSTALLATION Of the delicate ssen
dealer Mr.. Mann employs those subtle
lights and shadows OF comedy and pathos