Evening journal., 1918-04-05
CHARACTERs.

H H a a a a o. a
Mr. Nuttall, Of Nuttall Il Noakes.
auctioneers Edward BrOadley
Mr. Plunkett, representing the l.. d
O.. :. hwys. Coz. Robert Forsyth
Mrs. Grieg ........... katherine Stewart
Mabel Grieg her daughter
Gwladys Wynne
Doris Henley, the Grieg's niece,
Peggy O'Nein
Elizabeth. the Griegs parlor-maid,
Beryl Mercer
There was plenty OF laughter during
F the presentation Of THE Lauhgter OF
/ Fools az The Playhouse last night, but
% was laughter OF appreciation Of nue
comedy situations, mingled with the
satisfaction OF splendid acting. 10 is one
or those play successes from the Eng
/ lish stage with its story Of d0mesticity
and romance, and 10 was given a truly
/ Belasco presentation, which probably
/ means more than columns that could be
written TO the average theatregoer. who
has come 20 link the name Of David
Belasco with artistic perfection In
stagedom. "The Laughter OF Fools" was
secured by Mr.. Belasc0 after it had
achieved a long run at the Prince Of
Wales Theatre In London, and he pick
ed his own artists for the American pro-
duction.
II tells an amusing story Of the ef-
forts Of a pOverty-stricken household
to make front-efforts which the OLD
father takes an imp!sh delight in eX-
posing At the same time the thread Of
romance is woven into the story
through the efforts Of the proud. but
poor, mother 60 marry their daughter 20
q wealthy Englishman, who, however.
prefers a niece Of The pOverty-strickep
family He discovers his real love for
The niece wien she drops a tureen OF
soup while assisting the family TO keep
up appearances" in entertaining him.
whom the mother has pictured as a
prospective snn-in-l3w. AS the love
w00f is spun toward its end, the father
develops his Indoor sport Of attending
auction sales and making bids on arti-
cles he has no intention Of buying al
ways trusting that someone else will
make a higher bid Just when the de.
, signing wife and daughter have eau
lioned him against spending any money
so they can prepare for the weddm.
they feel sure Is TO come, the father
makes a bid that takes all the family
cash away and he gets caught with {
. mansion on his hands that he cannot
, possibly pay FOR. Fortune fayors him
, however, when a railroad company
i pays high price 20 him for the prop
/ erly, and he emerges from his difa
cultles with flying cOlors. at the sam,
time assisting his pretty niece, who has
been his only comforter 10 make ;
wealthy match with the man who has
been picked out by the designing mother
, for their daughicr.
An unusually strong cast interpreil
the play with It's absorbing story. Ever,
. character is portrayed by an artist whC
seems especially adapted 10 the part
typical or the Belasco way Of donl
things. William Sampson takes the par
Of John Russell Lrieg, the father O
U depleted riches who makes no show o
= his poverty. His description Of the auc
tion sale at which he bought the man
? sion Is a masterpiece Of acting Kath
p crime Stewart did excellent work as th
vain and schemlng Mrs. Grleg the VIII
4 and mother, while Peggy ONein a
v Doris Henley, the easygoing and swee
niece Of the Griegs. was most capabl
d and entertaining. Gladys Wynne a
r Mabel Grieg, the proud daughter, ais
b did fine work. Percy Marmont "a
Vidal, the wealthy man who prsferre
n the unassuming niece to the prou
4 daughter, and Max Leeds, as Berti
! Grieg, the snobbish son, also made th
}. most Of their parts, as, In fact, did IN
!, entire company. The play was stage
n In three acts, with two scenes o
6 "Cli1e House, the Grleg home.
8 it VIII be presented tonight and 20
r morrow night. with matinee saturday
3. The play came TO Wilmington from Al
8. lantic City, and is 10 so to New Yor
d from here.