Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-06-20

DelAsco.

Peace and Quiet'-two conditions
not usually associated with the Next
can border-serves as laughably law
full title FOR Edwin Milton Royle's
three-act -"melodramatic farce" which
had its premier at the Belasco last
night, and which ranges from a Prince
ton yell in Washington to a near-exe-
cution on the other side of the Rio
Grande, with politics and romance be-
tween.
Henry Mortimer. as Thaddeus Castle
man. an impecunious Princeton grad,
who had trouble about his diploma,
provided the yell-over the telephone
to his former professor, at the White
House-and also supplied the near
tragedy which resulted from his share
In the smuggling of munitions over the
Mexica,l border. And he did 1t excel
lent!y
The President. who was present. OBJ
viously enjoyed the former students
boyishly fippant reminder of college
days. and as the political end of the
plot hinged on this countrys action in
late Mexican matters the big audience
at each criticism or Endorsement of
what had or had not been done turned
its back to the stage and looked up at
the Presidents box, to ind its distin-
guished occupant simply smlingly alb
sorbed in the play.
In the second act events have been
transferred from a hotel in Washing
ton to "Tabasco. Mexico and the hero,
with his fellow smuggler, is chained
against a background of armed SOL
diers ready to shoot when the Mexican
general, Aggrimonti. gives the word.
In this scene-a plaza, with the Next
can eolors draped over one door and
American flags guarding the United
States consuls Office opposite-the tire
mendous" instant of the play occurs.
Castieman feigns illness, and with the
assistance of his future father-in law,
Col. Buck, U. S. A., and the forever nom
chalant United States consul. totters
over to the American side of the stage,
hauling his fellow victim along. Once
there, the two are shielded with the
flag; the Mexican general dares not fire
on the national colors, and the situation
is saved
Edwin Mordant, as the Mexican Off
Ger. scored. also. and in his presenta-
ton of Mexieo.s rights in the matter
OF struggled munitions, delivered with
the fearlessness of a loyal soldier of
his country, commanded the silence
that Is akin to applause. DIR Chalmers
Whale" George Backus), in whom the
audience fancied a resemblance to a
certain prominent friend of the admin
is ton circle. was effective in a dig
nified way, and Gus c. Weinburg. as
United States Senator Cactus: Juan
NillaSand, Gen. balboa of Mexico:
Edward Gillespie, S the stolid, good
natured collector; Ivan Miller as Lieut..
Fletcher. L. S A. Harry Won WeiSer.
as the bellboy. and Harry Hadfield, aH
a press correspondent. were each as
natural as the characters they portray
. ed. Frank Nelson's "Foto Freddy"
whose ambition ran to film pictures
was probably more humorously ven
turesome than the average camera
man. which made him all the more
entertaining.
Maidel Turner. was delightfully."- in
consistent as devotee of peace, who
sold munitions. and Aimee Dalmores
lived up to advance heralds of her per-
sonal charms, as tranquility Buck.
daughter of the colonel and a some
what tyrant regarding his freedom to
marry the youthfully charming Mrs.
Boadicia Gets. Which he does.
The play was staged beautifully. and
the actors, as theatrical cast. were
entirely lost sight of and became so
manys people full of interest in their
own affairs good or bad-but never in
difersnt-who expressed themselves
with the snappy naturalness of real
life. Even the stage took on the
glamour of old Mexico, with its palms
and cactus outlined against the tropic
dusk
Measured by the endless chain of
applause and laughter. the big audi
ence bore testimony to the fact that
from start to finish the closing play of
the season at the Belasco had made
telling hit.