The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-10-31
NOVELTY At BELASCO
MAKES A REAL HIT
Offering by Washington Square
Players a Much Appreciated
Innovation.

In an effort to pay full tribute to
the altruistic efforts of the Washing
ton Square Players. the impression
that this was an amateur organiza-
tion may have been made here In
Washington.
Any ideas of such kind were elimi-
mated from the minds of.the capacity
audience at the Belasco Theater last
night upon the occasion OF the presen-
tation OF Ave one-act plays by the
Players.
Each offering was characterized by
sincere and satisfying work. amid
settings which were as much a de-
light as the cast itself
The five plays presented for Mon
day night. to continue until Wednes-
day night. when the program will be
changed. were The Road House in
Arden" "A Bear" "a Miracle OF 81.
Husband"
II the Washington Square Players
nave done nothing better than prove
that profitable. delightful evening at
the theater may be gained In approx
not lived in vain.
Evening Seemed Shorter.
For the program was presented in
about that time. and the evening itself
seemed several hours shorter. Retro
spection. either superficial or intense.
reveals no unfinished. or hasty thought
or action. A rare condition. indeed.
THE Road House in Arden" by Philip
Moeller, written for the Shakespea rian
tercentenary. was delightful bit Of
fanclful satire, introducing Master
Robin Goodfellow Hamlet, Master Ham
Immortality, Sir Francis Bacon. and
both desire Immortality, but she fiouts
them. Albert r. Tilburn appeared as
Shakespeare and Resale Matthew as
Miss Immortality.
Delightfully."- reminiscent OF the kind of
disillusioning satire which the school
boy student OF Greek history might be
tempted to write. II gifted with the
technical ability. is "Helena's Hus-
presented by the Players in New York
last season. 1t is quite worthy of all OF
the praise heaped upon 1t.
Plot of the Play.
The author. Philip Moeller. has repre-
sented King Menelaus OF Sparta as a
| fat, peace loving old dear. bored to ex'
tinction by the inanities of his beautiful
but brainiess spouse, Helena. When q
shepherd. young, beautiful, and eager
| TO see the Queen, bursts into the room
| Menelaus does not have him boiled IT
oil. No. He makes the punishment,
worse, according to his standards, anc
presents the youth to the queen. Iney
| clone, but when MenelauE discovers sha'
| the shepherd lad is Paris. son OF Prlan
King OF Troy. his new-found happiness
is swamped by the fact that distas'e
| full or not, he must fight.
| Dana Desboro appears as Helena
| Marjorie Dean as Tsumu. her slave anc
Maxwell Parry as Menelaus.
| "a Bear" a translation from the Rus
sian, and "Moondown," by John feeu
made an interesting comparison, asld'
from the delight of their satisfying pre-
| sentation.
"MoOndown."
! "Moondown" shows the capitulatior
of a young girl to the grim demands Of
a great city and her futile resistance
against them. "A Bear" shows an
other woman, trying to mourn her nus
band. but successfully ensnared by thu
| first man whom she calls "pertec
hear who breaks into her sanctum.
| "A Miracle OF st. Anthony, pl
| Maeterlinck, was very well received
employing the largest cast OF any o
| the playlets. The sincere work or TN
most minor members of the cast wa
noteworthy. The author showed I'M
Grass materialism OF waiting fanny
when confronted with the possibility o
having, their aged and rich deceased
aunt resurrected from the dead.
on Wednesday night the program
| will be changed. All performances unit
then. tonight's, and Wednesday mat
inee's. will be the same.
FLORENCE f. YoDER.