The Washington times., 1917-04-25
DO YOU KNOW OF
A GOOD DAIRY?
Christie Macdonald in the Role
of Mrs. Gillespie Hunts
Milk.
BY FLORENCE YODER.

Miss Christie Macdonald, musical
comedy star, she OF the champagne
personality, many musical comedy
successes, and truly exquisite soprano
voice, is a terrible disappointment OF
stage.
For then she becomes plain Mrs.
Gillespie, mother of a twoyear-old in
fant, wife OF Mr.. Gillespie, and fired
with the ambition to find the best
dairy in town, nothing more.
Memories of Half King" Bride
Elect" "The Princess Chic" THE
Spring Maid" and "Sweethearts,"
made me expect much from the dimin-
utive but brilliant star who twinkled
In them. Christie Macdonald had al
ways been a sort of symbol for all
that was modern and chic. Somehow
had pictured her thoughts as being
quite as up to date and sparkling as
her eyes.
When she came out and began to
warbIe Monday night at the first per-
formance of "The Little Missus," her
latest vehicle, she seemed quite as al
Turing as ever.
Reminds One OF Song Bird.
When she came to me across the
hotel lobby there was nothing to in
dicate that she was banal and stupid.
She tippy-toes when she walks, and
reminds one of a song bird, ready to
burst into melody at any moment.
She had on a black straw hat with
high crown, red underneath brim,
and with a row Of cranberries set
ear to ear, that is IL cranberries have
ears, around the-the perimeter Of
the brim. There was black bow
think on the hat Then she had on
a veil, and a fur, and blue serge suit,
champagne colored gloves, and black
shoes with champagne tops.
She looked very. smart, and smaller
and even more youthful that she had
appeared on the stage. Eyes, hair,
complexion, and teeth were genuine
without a doubt And they were all
very good specimens. In fact, there
was nothing to indicate that a dis
appointment was in store for me.
objects to FfrSt Night Knocks.
We sought out The corner whose
patron saint Is a painting OF two Cows
in a field, and after grinning at one an
other for a minute like two strange
babies, I apologized for bothering her
on the momcntous occasion OF a new
play.
OF course new play" was her cue.
and she rose to it nobly. We threshed
out the subject of criticism and de-
cided that the duty OF the first night
critic was to review, not TO tear to
pieces. Christie Macdonald became
very seriouS
Critics seem to take a perfect delight
IN telling US what we already know. A
play should not be really criticised until
1t is several weeks old. or until it is
formed Sometimes. It is true. We never
h,,f
the majority of successes could be
viewed with an eye to criticism after a
week or two. First night knocks are
unfair"
She seemed a little over-serious, and
quite a little high brow for a musical
comedy star. but then considered she
IS about the best there is. and she ought
TO know a lot =.
Death Blow Yet to Come.
I had not yet received the death
blow to my Illusion, although she did
seem a trihe learned. From general
izations we jumped to facts. and 1
gave her my frank and candid opin-
ion OF the other critics in Washing
ton Secure in the knowledge that
at the worst could deny having said
anything at all, spoke OF them at
length.
She in her turn gave me a portrait
OF Alan Dale.
Christie Macdonald OF the stage
peeked out at me then. She sparkIed
and shone and said many many witty
things. Then she talked of the move
ment on foot in New York to have
women in professional life care for
the families of those working for
their country, II affairs OF state come
to serious pass. She began TO look
alarmingly domestic as she spoke OF
"the preservation of the home"
/ became quite cold.
Baby Sports the Pnrty.
Some inner impulse prompted me
20 ask quite suddenly about the little
boy who appears in the last act of
the play, The Little Misses" Was
he by any chance hersss 1 wanted to
know the worst
"Oh, no." said Mrs. Gillespie in her
most mother-know-it-all patronizine
tones. Il wouldn't keep MY BABY
UP THAT LATE" She made me feel
as II 1 had accused her of being a
SD y. Then she threw the brick that
broke up my castle of illusions where
she had always reigned the fairy
princess. 1t spoiled the party.
Can you tell me-" said Mrs. Gil
lespie, voicing at last the question
which had been literally eating her
ever since we sat down under the
highly suggestive cow-picture, "can
you tell me where to find the best
dairy? I have my two-year-old baby
with me and she -" q.
But why tell the rest OF the storyi
Anybody who wants to hear II can
get II from any woman who has a
two-year-old baby.