Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-04-02
FUNNY TANGLE UNITED
NMASK AND WIG SHOW
THE Bridal Not Thirtieth An
nual Play, Possess "Zip"
and GO"
NED BROWNING, JR., KNITS
Harrison Weds Heilbron, the "Maid,
But All Ends
Well

Never was there a more p..tient bridegroom
than the hero in THE Bridal Not" the open.
Ing performance of the thirtieth annual pro.
duction Of the Mask and Wig Club last night
at the Forrest Theatre.
Never was a man more sorely tried. After
getting all "set" for his wedding and having
been instructed carefully by his best man
above all things don't argue with the minis.
ter, Just agree to everything" to have n
half -witted maid passed OF as bride instead
or his loved and beautiful blushing Mary
well. II is hard ordeal for any one but f.
Z; Harrison. the bridegroom, went through
his PAGES In the part cheerfully and even
with a touch of amusement.
The bride eloped with soldier and then
seeing her deserted husband ut the railroad
station deserted the soldier and tried TO re.
turn TO the Tilted husband only to find to
her horror that he had unknowingly married
her maid. Ned Browning, Jr, however in
the person of policeman with the adorable
ne naIne OF clarence put all that Alright by ap.
pearinE on the scene and insisting that his
Wlte behave herself There was general ioy
when 1t was found that the maid was the
poIicemans wife, and, save for few more
changes of mind on the part ot the bride at
the critical moment, the wedding to the right
man finally took place before a Justice OF the
peace and everything ended happily.
IL was an excellent performance, excel
lently well given. S. M. Heibron, who took
the part Of the maid gave a splendid in1ita-
tion or May Vokes, and S. NJ Hirsch as the
Janitor In the first act was Billy Kent over
again, AS tho head waiter in the second act
ne was quite equal to any frst-class come
dian. His acting and Heilbron's were de-
cidedly above the average Ned Browning
Jr., made a very good impression as the
mother OF the bride in the first act. He was
forever knitting and trying the specimens
OF his work on the various long-suffering
ushers, hances past and present Of his beau
tiful daughter Mary, and continually dropping
stitches
The dancing was splendid II always is IN
the Mask and Wig; Charlie Morgan takes
care of that: The music had much go" to
II. for Charlie Gilpin was responsible for
that, as he has been for most of the produc-
tions since he Joined the club in his college
days.
The chorus that met with most applause
was that led by l. l.. Houley. who stalked
gracefully out, dressed as q member of the
Emergency Aid and supported by chorus
including three base hospital nurses, three
Red Cross workers, three Liberty Loan girls
and three motor messengers These did
pony ballet. Then, the lights being lowered
effectively, each one turned her back. reveal
Ing a small square kit box on which Red
Cross was shown in electric lights. The
second time the backs were turned the au-
dence surprised to see. instead of the
red crosses. brilliantly lighted letters: I'VE
will get them" The dancing of the witches
and jack-o'lanterns was particularly fine
and the "old songs" interpreted by various
couples in typical costumes were very
pretty.
AS to the bride, she was certainly r. dim
pied darling, and it's more than likely that
many a maiden present enved her lovely
pink chiffon negigee, and. as to her figure
in that lavender sports suit there was Just
the proper slmness She was decidedly coy
when she patted her lovers hand and held |
her hands under her chin while she sang
There was little If any Of the amateur about
It all.
One of the most interesting sights OF the
opening night however, is the audience
There on the front row sat Mrs Ned Brown
ing watching young Ned he had his hys-
terics. dropped his stitches and tried 10 pre-
vent his darling child from being married
against her Will IN the second row was
Charlie Gilpin listening and watching with
right, sat Frederick Meigs and his sister
Mrs. Robert Coleman Drayton. Fred Meigs
was one OF the prettiest girls" the Mask and
Wig ever had on the stage.
Mrs. Barclay Warburton, Miss Mary
Brown Warburton and Mr. Egerton Warbur-
ton were together in the orchestra, and there
were McMichaels. Hendricks, wetherilIs,
Brooks, Bories. Merricks, Mohrs. Fraziers
and any number OF others Of the old founders
OF the Mask and Wig Club which gave its
initial performance In this city in a song-and-
dance comedy entitled "Lurline" back In
1889.
Mrs II. IngersolI sturgIs was in one Of
the boxes wearing wonder frock OF car
dnal red Mrs. Warburton was in blue and
gold brocade Mrs. Browirg had a frock
OF Alice blue velvet and tulle and Miss War
burton frOcked In gray chiffon Mrs.
George Lorimer wore a gown of soft black
satin and tulle and Mrs. Draytons dress was
black georgette crepe.