The sun., 1916-10-05
This When Star and Leading
Woman Seem TO Re Sleep
walking in Love Scene.
''riling sister, 81 Maxine Eillott's
ThOtpe.
The blond william Hodge returned to

W ulVIlu III Ehoh8V
New York last night in a new play by
the elusive Lawrence whitman. who Is
tho George Spelvin Of playwrights. 1t
has of course been said that Mr.. Whit
man. who supplies Mr.. Hodge with his
plays. Is a slender and blond young man
with "A smooth face and pompadour hair.
These are also the striking physical at
tributes Of Mr.. Hodge. AS his largo fol-
lowing we'll knows. Probably for that
reason 1t has been said that playwright
and actor are tho same. At all events
they were again collaborating last night
ut Maxine Eiliott's Theatre In u play
called Fixing Sister"
Neither was quite so "hick' ae they
wero on their last appearance here In
Tho Road to Happiness" which turned
out to be "A blind alley. SO far as the
metropolis was concerned. No. last night
Mr.. Hodge and Mr.. Whitman were in
society. Which put the other there was
not made clear. but the scene Of tho new
play Is New York. there are one Of those
Louis drawing rooms - specifically the
fifteenth OF the dynasty--and "A bridge
whist party. Every theatregoer knows
that the last word in stage society Is "A
bridge party. II was shown right ont
on the stage at the Maxine Elliott Thea
tro last night.
Forced 60 Rescse sister.
II these u and visible signs OF real
society were not enough TO convince the
| most sceptical thcztregoer. there were nc
less han two persons of title In h play,
One was a lord and the other a lady.
Indeed II was to save his sister from
their Vaccinations that the young man
l 80 h,SinAgu IN, nnrf a nsa ~ pNc nif nf the
West.
IN had become obsessed with the 20
cial idea suddenly absorbed here. and be
ing still unassimilated II was likely I,
cad her into trouble. Having arrived
I from his Kansas CITY hons to rescue his
sister Mr.. Hodge set out TO do the wori
thoroughly.
| be a rather prolonged monologuc. liz
did all the talking naturally. with oc'
casional Interruptions from the othei
characters. They we're really society In
It's purest essence. They never talked
but 'conversed." They did moi leave
but departed" This elegance OF die.
| ton did not prevent the hero from flick.
Ing his cigarette ashes on h loo Of
the Louis drawing room.
The dramatic climax Of the play came
when some supposed policemen raided
the fashionable sisters bridge party
which she said was to be foilowed b,
refined dancing and other diversions
The two English impostors were exposed
quite AS they might rave been In a pla,
written as a first exercise In under
graduate dr~amaturgy. The curtain die
not fall until the visitor from Kansa,
young woman on whom his middle ives
heart was set.
Seemed Walking In His sleep.
Mr.. Hodge was As usual nasal an,
suppressed. lie was 40 suppressed dur
Ing the second act that he seemed TO b
walking and talking in hts sleep. wht
pretty and clever Miriam Collins fe
into this same mood In a love scene tn,
eject WAS uncanny. II Was difficult 70
the spectators to believe that they wer
not also falling asleep. But there Wa
more than one suggestion OF that posi-
bility. The play during it's four act
suffers from several prolonged attack
Of suspended animation.
Mr.. Hodges style OF comic acting I
said TO have many admirers n the
will md what they like In It's very bes
state In his new play. It would seem I
require 4 great admiration for Nj
Hodges personal achievements to lear
to love 'Fix!ng Sister" But It may b
possible.
when I became engaged to MARI
your father" says tho Duchess do Plaza
toros in The G%ondoliers," several G
my relatives bet me that I could neve
learn to owe him- But ! did--desper
ateiy."
So II may be possible for the sake Q
Mr.. Hodge for his admirers TO learn (
love "Fixing Sister" But would Il eve
be desperately?