The Washington herald., 1919-03-25
shubert- Garrfck-aCome-oa
Churiey."
By EARLE DORSEY.

BY EARLE DORSEY.
Specialists in color assert that vast
number of dlscordant hues blended
into a single scheme will result In
visual harmony. 1t is evident that
George v. Hobart knew OF this prin-
ciple when he concocted that dramatic
lJoseph's coat which was purveyed
over the footlights of the Garrick last
night under the label of 'Come-on
Charley"
'come-on Charley is an unaged
blend of all the types drama is heir
to. 1t starts on with something peril
ously close TO Keystone comedy; 1t
shades into sheer burlesque, and closes
in a riot OF sawmill melodrama and
penny-dreadful ghostliness. Naturally,
such dramatic cocktail carries with
it an effect and analyse as one may
the effect Is not unpleasant
It's not fair to apply the oroide
test to "Come-on Charley" at this
stage of the game. 1t labored
through all sorts OF mechanical dif-
ticulties on the drawinG-room stage
OF the Garrick last night, and this
probably threw the cast out of its
stride. Additionally, there win be
a change or two made in the per-
sonnel shortly, and until this is ac-
complfshed it is difficult for the rest
OF the help to settle down and cul-
tivate teamwork. However, Mr..
Hobart has demonstrated that II
he's not a stage carpenter hes, q
whaling good stage chef for the
than the word structure when ap-
piled to his latest handiwork. More
than that, n. Hobart has provided
shortcomings in the verify of the
vehicle, for it nothing but
dream.
William J. Drew is a lawyer pre-
pairing to pass a legacy to Charley
Carter, clerk in the One-Price Shoe
Store OF Stamford, Conn. To jazz
I'D Charleys ambition, the lawyer pro-
poses to tell Charley that 100000
awaits him II he turns his legacy of
1000 into another sl00o.0oo After
which, Lawyer Drew takes a 'Nox-
all'' headache powder and falls asleep
and there you have the prologue.
The rest OF the play is his dream,
acts to show how Charley outwits
men, CANDLES on the stock
market with a parrot as his tipster
and generally plays the devil with
the good advice of his friends. to the
end that by act three he has amassed
the 100000 OF his own and is look
ing for the other Sl.ooo,0oo.
The hrst scene after the prologue
shows Charley in the Stamford shoe
store and toward the end OF this act,
Frank Mccormack begins to score
heavily with some jay humor as
self-appointed secretary.
Dodson Mitchell. as Dawyer Drew. be-
gins to demonstrate. abou; Ills point
in the play, that he's unF for the
part and he fails 10 pro, caseN
to the contrary later. The part
OF "Come-en Charley" the mil
lionaire skoe-clerk. has been intrust-
ed to Lynne Overman, a young actor
with a style a good deal like Gre
CORY Kelly's. Charley's part is very
fat and very glib, and if it lacks a
little note of authority here and there,
it doesn't matter for he's the hero
and you know how audiences feel to-
ward heroes who begin life as shoe
clerks and turn out awfully clever
when they get a chance. Josephine
Stevens drew convincing picture of
Lawyer Drew's daughter, who loved
Charley. and outside of a newsboy
who shouts too loud, the rest OF the
cast seemed good enough.
But to get back to the play, Act II
opens with Charley pursued by all
kinds of crooks and we have a lit
tie of the atmosphere OF Someone
in the House" and something too,
OF Three Faces East" Act III,
though, brings US to the sawnill
drama stun and here we have
Charley lured to a ha'nted house
and tied to post and robbed,
though in the green bunch-light,
happens to Charley and
II proves to be his uncle's ghost who
has come to save him. That never
is quite made clear and neither is
Lawyer Drew's hatred of Charley,
but it's all a dream, as the epilogue
shows when Lawyer Drew struggles
out from under the 'Nox-all" tablets
and comes to in his own office. The
epilogue shows him recognizing his
everyday associates as characters
in his dream and here we have a
note of ludicrous improbability that
has worried, we will wager, Play
wright Hobart not a little.
ALI told, "Come-on Charley" has
just enough of the G~osphere of
ready money, just enough of the
thrill Of crooks behind the por-
there's and footsteps in the haunted
house to make it feel like a success.
But oh, how old c. V. H. will have
to use the sendpaper,