The Washington times., 1919-02-25
Washington Playhouse
Attractions in Review

Ethel Barrymore has rarely sp-
peared to better advantage than she
did last night when she opened u
weeks run in r. c. Cartons new
comedy. "The OF Chance" at the New
National.
Her choice Of vehicles could hardly
nave been happier; it is one OF the
most delicious bits OF frothy comedy
that Washington has ever seen: one
could think of no way in which her
supporting Company could be i'm
proved and she-weIl, Barrymore Is
Barrymore.
Inc story opens in the office Of Mr..
bruhson, an English solicitor. a psrs
Iaheh by T. Wigney Percyyal. NJ
hrunson has been engaged to try 10
oIhS around an understanding he
tween the Duke and Duchess OF
burchester, who have become es-
ranged. The Duke and Duchess. re-
spectlVeIy, are portrayed by William
boyd ana Eva lie GaIlienne. Their
nOuDIe lies in the fact that the
DuChess ss has been shocked by the
Isther n free and easy habits Of the
LUKE, refusing to take part in his
pIeasures' and that. as a result. ne
I turheo TO Maria de Blanca,
D,'nL (Antoinette Hansonl. The
or george Rainsford. impersonated
oy Albert Gran, who is of an ,,nFor-
tunately conventional turn Of mini
The first act finds all OF the cbara,-
Iers IN Mr.. Brunson's office. sbso-
Iutely unable to reach an under
., S,taholhg-despite the fact that tho
uuCaI pair are still thoroughly in love
with each other.
Hlter their meeting, Lady Carbon
heIl, divorced wife OF Sir George an1
mother OF the Duchess, enters, and
becomes acquainted, incognito. With
the Duke by giving him a tin on tba
as the result OF the tip. which was
SOUND, the Duke is enabled TO CON
tihue MS afairs with the dancer. and
me second act finds him dining her
:. the same hotel where Sir George.
Iiis .S wlIe and the Duchess are staying.
SlteE alteE an unpleasant scene in the din
ing room, the Duke meets his Viz
in the lobby, and Lady CardonneII
hears their conversation.
After the Duke has left. she intro-
ouces herself to her daughter Cshe
had not seen her since she was a
Daoy' When she had been driven away
from her husband by his stFait-Iaced (,
holons), and peTsuades her to allow
her to take charge OF affairs in an !
enort to bring her husband bacI, She
starts out by ordering her daughter /
to elope with Cornelius Jeffcott 1
Boyne, a millionaire American and /
An An oIu ana trusted friend (Joseph F.
The third act is in the Dukes /
apartment, where Lady CardonneII /
mas gone with the Duke Cwho does
not yet know that she is his mother
ln-law) and his friend, Major Bap-
leigh, a card sharper Edward EN-
ery). BY clever device. she rids the
Duke OF Bagleigh. and then tells him
Or his wife's elopement, allowing her
self hnally to be persuaded to take
him to the bungalow where the
Duchess has gone with Boyne.
The Duke is pleasantly surprised to
IND that his wife has enough pep"
10 elope. and his passion is famed
anew, so. after a most amusing situa-
lion. there is no trouble IN bringing
about a reconciliation between him
and his wife.
One OF the best OF the male roles
5 taken by Harry Plimmer. as Lord
Cardonnell. who lends to his part Just
he required touch.
William Boyd Is thoroughly con.
'incing as the Duke. and the rest
~ the cast is so uniformly good that
I would be unfair to mention one
Without praislng aIl-with one pos
'ible exception. Eva LeGallienne. as
he Duchess, achieves the supreme
riumph or appearing lovely on the
ame stage with Barrymore.
Minor parts, not mentioned hereto
ore. are taken creditabIy by @ Nc
can Savage. 7. NJ. Troughton, Robert
3rinton. Cecilia Radcliffe, Anita
4othe and Mary BaIfour