Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-10-09
Maude Adams (above) is tho
imaginative little slavey of Bar
rie's latest fantasy, "a Kiss for
Cinderella" at the Broad. Han.
Kronold (below) is a cellist and
Keith headliner.
MANY GOOD ACTS ON
VIEW AT KEITH'S
Cressy and Dayne, and "Hallow-
Gen." an Autumnal Fantasy
Features of Bright Bill

Try to think how long it would take n
person to write 142 one-act plays. Then
picture an author who began such a task
after he had spent many years in the
Legitimate" Add to that about twenty
tivh years and you get rough idea as to
the time that Will NJ. Cressy has been
appearing behind the footlghts.
Irrelevant? Not at all 1t not only
proves that Mr. Cressy has Doctor Osler
lashed to the mast, but also indicates, judg
ing from his sketch at Keith's this week,
that this persevering author is only i'm the
middle of his career
with Blanche Dayne, Mr. Cressy presents
"A City Case" It's his 142d sketch and
is just 14l times better than anything he
has given us so far.
In bare outline, the story tells Of a poor
country girl who after becoming rich sends
Tor an old country lawyer whom she knew
in childhood and engages him to manage
her estate. The aged attorney finds that
his client possesses many traits of cruelty
and manages to transform her into a crea-
ture who is humane and charitable.
There are many filings at sharp law prac-
tices'in the course of the skt and the au-
thor shows in several instances how easy
it is to stretch the human conscience to see
only that side of case which has the best
financial attractions. Philosophy and wit
spice the story to a 1917 taste. The audi
ence laughed and applauded.
Jumping from fact to fancy, there was by
way of diversion a delightful fantasy ent.
tied Halloween" Colorful settings, beau
tiful lighting effects, together with nimble
and daring sprites who floated diaphanously
through haunted caves and woodlands, gave
a decided touch Of the mystic to this elab-
crate production.
And then there were witches who made
wishes come true and dozen pretty girls
who appeared and vanished at the dash Of
a magic wand.
The production is headed by Alice Els
and Bert French, who are ably assisted by
James Templeton and Frances French in
the leading roles. The act Is an autumnal
treat.
Pleasing follery intermlngled with good
songs brought good harvest of laughs 10
the Misses Lightner and Newton Alexander.
They grabbed the audience at the start and
didn't let go until they took their last bow.
"Who Was to Blame?" presented by
Elsie Williams and company, seems to
leave the responsibility on the author. The
sketch was well acted. The plot is based
on a quarrel over salt cellar between
husband and wife There are tears, broken
dishes and much hysteria. Women usually
laugh when newly married woman cries
and so they did last night
Hans Kronold, international cellist. Of
fered melodies of the masters in authorita-
tive style Vaughn Comfort and John
King repeated their legal travesty with
good results; Asaki juggled and skated
satisfactorily and George and Lilly Gar
den xylophoned artistically
The second episode of the German re-
treat at the Battle of Arras concluded the
show, ]. G, c.