The Washington herald., 1917-11-13
NntionnI-sLilae Time,

VIC hok sCl sout u lOub
way with our warfare. A year hence.
perhaps. we shall not SO readily en-
dure. We theatergoers, to have our
emotions artificially stimulated with
the drugs OF life and death. Just now.
however, we can still view the heart
wrenching incidents Of Lilac Time"
from the position of detached and
complacent sympathy. There was eye
watering enough among last nights
audience at the National Theater, but
most of US responded easily to the
frequently offered laughing relief, and
yielded our minds to enthusiasm for
Miss Jane Cowl and delight in her
personal triumph.
Miss Cowl and Mrs. Jane Murfin,
who share the authorship of the play,
have bravely seized upon and made
the most OF the sentimental values
belonging to the war situation en- the
Western front. 1t IL beautifully,
tenderly. delicately DONE The romance
of youth and love in conflict with the
harsh exigencies Of war. the brave de-
votion of the women of France, the
courage and friendliness OF the British
soldiers in the land of their allies.
give the play an atmosphere at once
poetic and keen with living actuality.
70 pANhNy VI luIl, lOOs
much of 1t lying in the efforts OF
the English and French to make them
selves understood, each in the others
tongue. As about everyone in Wash
ington Is studying French in these
days, the constant play of French
phrases offers more than ordinary
interest and amusement.
Miss Cowl, in the part Of Jeannine,
maid
lish with a delightfully."- well-assumed
accent and utters French phrases as
though to the language born. Other
prench characters are played by real
French players.
Jeannine lives In a cottage near the
front, where number of English
officers are billeted. She loves and
is loved by Lieut.. Philip. Blythe. Phil
ip. accused OF cowardice by a fellow
officer proves his valor. wins the
war cross, and is sent on a dangerous
mission within the enemy's lines. In
the last act, a year later, Jeannine
awaits his return. hears a report of
his death. and greets him living a
few moments later. Consider. in that
brief sentence. what an expanse of
opportunity opens for the talent of
Miss Jane Cowl. emotional actress.
The clash of feeling is violent, shock
ing. nerve-racking. If there were not
something rather machine-made about
the situation yoU could scarcely stand
it, AS it is. you are able to weep
mildly and admire Jane Cowl
An excellent cast supports Miss
CowL Orme Caldara could not be
improved on in the part of Philip
Blythe. Henry Stephenson is the per-
feet picture OF the British officer and
gentleman as Maj Holloway. Charles
Hampden is admirable as the high
spirited and comical Lieut.. SmyIie.
Emile Detramont gives pleasing
portrait of a village priest. Several
other parts are very well played,
and only two or three minor roles
are in any way lacking.
BeinscO-''Upstalrs and Down.
Highly amusing and thoroughly en-
iertaining throughout. the three-act
iarce. Upstairs and Down." delight
ed last nights audience at the Be-
lasco Theater. The play fully merits
the long New York run it has had
for 1t is one of the humorous comedies
or recent seasons, and is interpreted
by company which entries COM
pletely into the spirit of the fun.
The comedy is SO well known now
that it would be gratuitous to repeat
even an outline of the story. That
Frederic and Fanny Hatton were in
their merriest mood when they wrote
Upstairs and Down is abuhdantly
evidenced in this witty and altogether
enjoyable farce. The fun ripples along
from overture to final curtain without
break or jar. 1t often seemed last
night as if another complication in
the play as ludicrous as the last
would produce a wholesale state of
hysteria in the audience which would
call for hospital treatment.
The personnel of the cast has
/ changed materially since the play
was presented here last year prior
TO its New York hearing, but the new
members average up quite as well as
. their predecessors. with the exception
that Leo CaI.ilo is missed as the
volatile valet
ReSan Hughston certainly con-
trived to be very clever as the
| blarneying Irishman who captured
the hearts of all the ladies', and pretty
frankie Mann was the cute little
charmer who wished to be loved. Mar
Guerite Hertz was the Irishman's af-
finity. and Alexander Frank. the
saneemonious butler. who disapproved
of Ugh societys doings. Dorothy
Andrews was a bored member of
Long Islands social circles, and ].
Harry Jenkins amused as the comical
French valet.
Francis J. Gillen. Basil Lynn. and
Arthur Behrens Were impossible male
creatures of uppertendom; while Cliff
Heckinger. Mabel Troutman, Anita
Allen and Adrian H.. Roseley were
effective as the dwellers in the
kitchen. Miss Lille Leslie was the
spoiled chatelaine of the home
wherein occurred all the fun last
night upstairs and Down" The