The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-06
MARIE CAHILL RUNS
STORE IN NEW PLAY
Coincidence Gains Triumph in
"Just Around the Corner"
at Longacre.
STEADY SUPPLY OF FUN
Audience Delights in Her
Songs-Good Company
Gives Support.


Marie Cahill. an admired coincidence
Of the New York stage for some years.
returned last night to a public which
had long been deprived OF her artistic
ministrations. The Longacre Theatre
was the scene OF this reentry into the
amusements of the metropolis and the
play she selected was "Just Around the
Corner by two playwrights.
II took no less than a pair Of them
TO prepare the prologue and three acts
into which this work is divided. The
prologue has its scene in New York,
but the three other acts pass In
country store at Wattleville. n. y.
Miss Cahill was an imprudent widow
who had been impoverished through
participation In bogus war benefit.
She was seen briefly parting from her
worldly goods as marshal carried
them away, and this Introduction was
ingenious In its start OF the story. The
rest OF her time on the stage-and she
was there during most OF Just Around
the Corner''--was passed in Wattles-
Vile. the town in which she owned
small store.
Store Blossoms Into EN- porium.
or course, she went to run" the
store, and after the manner OF all such
establishments It blossomed from
dusty corner into an emporium" al
most before the eyes Of the audience.
Miss Cahill had surrounded herself
with a stan OF unfortunates which con-
sisted Of the man who had robbed her
in New York, youthful graduate from
Elmira and a girl left behind by
stranded troup. Her optimism was
supposed to restore them all to happi-
ness Then there were some occasional
Interruptions in the way OF an inof-
fensive plot that showed Itself apologet-
.caily and not on the whole fatally.
Miss Cahills good humor and amiable
philosophy were supposed to furnish
contrast to the narrowness Of her new
neighborhood. But 1t is doubtful II the
laughing audience thought much OF the
psychology Of Hobart and Winslow.
They were most successful In supplying
Miss Cahill with humorous things to say
and do--unfortunately moe to say than
to do. She Is a most skilful comedienne
In making the most Of her opportunities.
She can accomplish much with material
that might in less adept hands be Alto
gether ineffective.
Indeed her elaboration OF a point at
times suggests the drawn out delibera-
ton o. the cat with the mouse. Her per
sonality. however. is always synpa thetic,
and the result is avery fresh and con-
:!nuous supply OF fun. even out OF such
familiar material as she had to deal with
last night.
Company with Miss Cahill.
or course. Miss Cahill sang. In her
small voice and with her clear dction
and emphasis of every point that her none
too brilliant songs contained. she cap
tivated the audience IN the second act
by her little recital OF negro and other
melodies Then her few graceful steps
Illustrated them eioquently. The audi
ence delighted in her fun and her songs
and Just Around the Corner shows her
70 such advantage that her personal sue
cess last night was complete.
There were some amusing types about
her. all friends of the country store we'll
remembered from other scenes. but in
general spiritedly played. Lorin Raker
from the Elmira Reformatory showed
himself to be an Intelligent and finished
actor for one so young and Wallace Owen
illustrated well the humors of the fatu-
Gus country deputy. Eugenie Blair as a
village leader OF society. Roy Briant and
Wilson Reynolds were other helpful fig
ures in an entertaining evening.