Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-04-25
Belasco.

| Roi Cooper Megrue did not dig INTO
the undiscovered country for golden
material with which to frame the plot
of his new comedy. The Lucky Eel
low" which David Belasco presented so
beautifully at the Belasco Theater last
evening But with story that the
captious may describe as threadbare
he did construct one of the most anus
ing and enjoyable offerings of the sea-
SON 1t was so good that the audience
which filled the theater laughed al:
most constantly and further expressed
its undisguised opinion in applause
that kept pace with the laughter
There were those who thought, at
pecially in the opening act, nut the
audience as a whole did not give evil
dence at any time of being Wearled
with the preliminary details leading
up to rare evenings entertainment.
The play is beautifully staged. the
last act especially rejecting the Belas-
co touch in a marked degree ana
coupled with this is the galaxy of
beautiful girls chosen to represent
types of young womanhood from which
young Jimmie shannon, scion of mil
lionaire grandfather. born bach
elor'' who adored girls in punches.
them singly. was compelled to select
a partner for life. But Jimmie was
| obliged to find a wife before he was
thirty years old or lose dozen mil
lions of dollars, and he had only
something less than forty-eight hours
in which to choose the girl and con-
summate the deal. Billy Meekin. his
young friend. a bachelor, but engaged
and longing to wed. proved resource
full assistant to Jimmie in his hour of
stress. Forced to quick action. he
utilized the young woman guests at
4 club ladies night" to supply Il gal
lery for Jimmie's choice.
The manner in which inexperienced
Jimmie proposed to each and the. re-
Election furnished by each girl of the
type of womanhood she represented
the commercial the romantic, the mat
er-of-fact and even the silly school
girl: the manner of their refusal. their
own proposals. after careful considera
ton. and the final choice of Jimmie's
wholesome. sensible and attractive
friend of years. Anne Windsor, furnish
ed both the comedy and the romance,
while the bright lines of the play,
throughout, added brilliantly to its en-
joyment. Frank Craven was Jimmie in
every phase of the adventure-and in
imtable.
THE Lucky Fellow" is not great
play. 1t may not last much beyond a
season, although that is not predic-
ton, but presented it was last even
ing it is delightful entertainment. re-
fiecting credit alike upon the author,
the art of David Belasco and the very
competent company.
Carroll McComas gave a charming
representation of Anne Windsor: Anne
Meredith a realistic reflection of the
romantic young person whose dreams
are of days of old, when knights were
bold" while Beverly West was ideal as
the unconventional schoolgirl. who
dared everything for proposal from
the prospective millionaire, only to ul-
timately reject him for a young friend
back at school, who was toasting
marshmallows in silence and longing
for her return.
otto Kruger was all he should have
been as Billy Meekin. Jimmie's re-
sourceful friend. and Hayward CHM
Charles Brokate. Roland Lee Harry
Leighton and Allan Thomas played we'll
the other roles among the men. while
lone Bright, Helen Mcclellan, Marion
Abbott, Florence Desnon, Alice Carroll,
Lillian Spencer and Emily Galloway
did gracefully and efficiently their
share in making the performance gen
uine entertainment.
The play is in three acts, two of them
laid in the clubrooms and one in an
arbor outside the club. II was after IL
o'clock when the performance, which
included the briefest sort of speech
from Mr. Belasco, in response to in
sistent applause, was brought to a
close. There is little doubt that the
master hand of the producer will
quickly eliminate what there may be of
chaf and bring the production to its
best in much less time.