The Washington herald., 1917-10-23

On with the Dance" owes its life
and being to an excellect cast and
pistol shot in a darkened dance
hall, which ends the mortal career
OF man who tried to prey upon
a pretty woman once too often. IL
IL does not prove something of
sensation on Broadway next week.
melodrama might Just as well give
up the ghost for good and all.
An extravagant wife. husband on
the verge of financial ruin. the lure
of the gilded dance hall. and a
wealthy young suitor who believes
the way clear to an intimacy with
the foolish wife-these are ingredi-
ents of the drama that have been
used effectively many tins before,
and Michael Norton makes good use
OF them in the present instance.
We get some good dialogue,
glimpse Of some energetic charac-
kters, and an abundance Of modern
drama told in obvious terms. amid
gorgeous surroundings. The compli-
cations that ensue during the unfold
| ing Of the story give the talented
company employed excellent oppor-
tunity to which they respond with
much dramatic intensity. John Ma
son and Julia Dean were rendered
something like an ovation upon their
return to the scene of many tril-
umphs after a long absence, but
the distinct feature of the evening
upon the acting side was the first
appearance here OF the young Irish
actress. Eileen Huban.
AS the dRnce-obsessed wife who
brings herself and husband to the
erge of ruin through her folly in
. playing with fire. precipitating a trag-
edy which brings her to her senses,
Miss Huban gives the impression of
a young actress who knows what
she is doing. Julia Dean. also, has
several splendid moments in the role
of a habitue of the dance halls.
Her recital to the foolish wife of the
means that brought about her undo
ing was graphically given by Miss
Dean.
John Mason was most convincing
as the big town roue. who endeav-
ored to lure the pretty young wife
: to her moral destruction, but he
was not bit better than William
Morris, as the clear-visioned husband
OF the dancing butterfly. The char
racter which Mr.. Morris played so
well was the only one which inspired
dience last night.
Edward Abeles. James Spottswood.
Edwin Walter, Marta Manifold, and
Corinne Barker must be given credit
for cleverly done bits which COM
plete the picture of life among New
York's drinking-dancing-s fast
set. Miss Barker is a regal-looking
creature. The three stage pictures
are quite satisfying. There have been
Few handsomer rooms shown here
tips season than the Lawrence's s
morning and sitting rooms and ''the
dance house of the third act. The
ladies' gowns will also arouse the
admiration of the dress-obsessed sex.
Belasco-"Good GracIou. AnnabeIIes
At last Washington is permitted TO
see Good Gracious Annabelle," the
play whose success in New York first
brought fame and fortune to Miss
Clare Hummer. Miss RUNNERS later
plays, "A Successful Calamity" and
The Rescuing Angel" were offered to
the Capital before the metropolis, and
nave been tremendously popular both
here and there. but this reviewer has
always been a little puzzled at the
degree Of the enthusiasm shown over
AACAA III we" 1OTh. NOW ne KNOWS
II was because he had not seen Good
Gracious Annabelle," and thereby be-
come joyfully predisposed in Miss
4kNummer's favor. To him it seems by
far the brightest and richest of the
three.
IL is a brilliant piece Of comedy,
exquisitely acted and staged. Its most
marked popularity is that the char
acters ara drawn and the lines spoken
with the delicate naturalism of high
comedy, whereas the story is one of
fGrcical absurdity, said to have been
first intended for use as the plot of
a musical show. But any thought of
criticism of this artistic ground would
be overwhelmed in laughter. 1t would
be difficult to overrate the charm
and richness of the humorour dialogue,
which kept last nights audience in
a continual uproar.
Miss Lola Fisher in the captivating
role of Annabelle Leigh is the par
ticular gem among the players. Anna
belle is a delicious little blossom OF
luxury who finds herself penniless
with a party of equally INDECENT
friends in a big. but inhospitabIe hotel,
and finds cheerful way out by en-
Eaging herself as cook in a million
aires country house, dragging her re-
luctant friends with her in the guise
of various under-servants. AmonG
other troubles she is innocently mixed
Up as correspondent in a divorce suit,
the millionaire has two shares OF
gomentous stock that she had hypo-
thecated and is eager to recover, and
she Is falling in love with a wealthy
mine owner from Montana though she
|ufas a sort Of legendary cave man hus-
and some where.
The second act. laid in the servants
hall at the country house, relates the
wild adventures of the new servants
with the real valet. their bibulous en-
ployer. and the man from Montana,
guided by the quick, but irresponsible.
wits Of the charming AnnabelIe. IN
the third act everything ends in har-
nony, and the Montana miner proves
20 be the strange cave man of a hus-
band modified by an education and a
shave.
Edwin Nicander, as the young mil
ionaire who can scarcely remember
L state of complete sobriety, gives a
wonderfully accurate and realistic
portrayal, as laughable as it is con-
gincing. Robert Middlemass, as the
Montana miner. is nkable and strong.
Harry Sotnern is excellently cast as
he INDECENT English poet. ]. Palmer
Collins, as the valet has much to do
md does it well. May Vokes gets d
rood snare OF the laughter with her
rendering of the eccentric role of Lot
he. the under cook. There are sew
lraI other characters, not one of
g(ich is taken by a player of less
San high merit.
The settings by Robert Edmond
TOnes, particularly the hotel scene OF
/ he 1rst set, are of unusual artistic
Interest.