The Washington times., 1918-12-17
Attractions To Be Seen At
The Playhouses This Week
NATIONAL.

NATIONAL.
Cassius. lean and hungry looking
conspirator in Shakespeare's Julius
Caesar" truthfully remarked:
The fault. dear Brutus, is not
in our stars,
But in ourselves, that we are
underlings."
Very good sentiments. as Mr.. Bris-
bane has been telling his readers
through his editorial columns for th'.
past thirty years. An excellent theme
for a sermon, an editorial, or-as was
discovered at the National last night
even a play. Dear Brutus" gets bosh
its name and its theme from the QUO
tation. II gets its inspiration from
Midsummer Nights Dream" and IL
Mr.. Frohman cared TO. he might we'll
call the play "As You Like It." 1t is
play that is suggestive of Shakes
peare. and yet nothing like it.
In conception Dear Brutus" is de-
lightfully unusual and therefore ,ex-
tremely entertaining. 1t is refreshing
because, although improbable, 1t is dif-
ferent, and people like novelty. Lob,
a sort OF Puck, a fellow who seems
to be the reincarnated spirit Of Merry
England" a crazy old man in tight
fitting breeches and cutaway coat who
childishly makes love TO flowers, i'm
plores the ladies to pamper him. and
cries when he doesn't have his way
Lob has a party on Midsummer's Eve.
He relates to the guests a popular
superstition OF a strange wood that
mysteriously appears and disappears.
Those who enter 1t have what they
most desire-a second chance. Yet 10
one who has entered II has ever been
seen to leave II. Suddenly this wood
appears, and the members of the
party, dissatisfied creatures, one by
one enter ito get a second chance
The second act shows the wood
with all of the foolish creatures hav.
ing their second wish. their hearts de
sire. Mr.. Dearth. a hard-drinking ar
/ tist whose ambition and self-reSpect
have been crushed out by the death
4 Of his wife's love for him. now Is 8
rejuvenated young painter spending g
| happy season with the daughter OF his
/ dreams. Mrs. Dearth, who loved som,
one else better than her husband. nov
Is a forsaken outcast Of society, nag
gard. ragged. searching for crumos u
bread. Mr.. Purdie. professional phil
| anQefef, VINO IN waxing nOuTS pre-
ferred' Joanna to his wife, Mabel, {,
the same Mr.. Purdie-only now he'i
making love to Mabel complaining
| that Joanna doesn't appreciate hi
worth Lady Caroline Lancy. naughty
aristocratie society woman. now is wet
to Matey, the butler, both extremelN
happy. Every one had his seconC
4 chance-and what a sorry mess SUM
| improved. some retrograded, some Re
| mained the same old people, all de
| pending on what really was In then
! selves-not on chance or fate.
In the third act they wake. realiz'
what fools they have made OF them
selves, and agree that they won
need a second chance IL tSey only
| make the best Of their first chance
Like the first act. It is spirited. bright
! entertaining, with rapid shifting from
/ the sublime to the ridiculous IL uI'
second act were as good. the pay
would be a remarkable one
William Gillette, with his arueSsnes.
that is the highest art. with his nat
uralness and simplicity that are tbs
keystone Of effectiveness; anil lTe!er
I Hayes, pretty. cute, yivacious Issh
1 ington girl. are the redeeninS person
alities Of this act. the forme- IN Th'
role Of the artist. the latter In th'
role Of his imaginary daughter. Al
Lob. J. II. Brewer Is a delightfully."-
fantastic old creature.