The Washington times., 1919-04-28

There have been a lot of premierel
in Washington this season. Especial
ly musical comedies. A good many
OF them, it is probable, have already
gone to the storehouse.
But la La Lucille" is different
Very, very much so. It's the best
thing Of its kind seen in these parts
for many q moon.
Looking 1t over any way you wish,
1t has just about everything a mu-
sical comedy needs. In the first place
nothing is overdone. There are no
strained situations. Nothing Is
forced.
The principals are evenly and splen-
didly good. The comedians are really
funny. The music is the kind that
sends you home whistling. The folks
can sing-and also dance. And, final-
ly, there is q chorus, every blessed
member OF which is entitled to the
front row anywhere.
The plot OF a musical comedy does
not matter much. usually. But in
ia La Lucille" il is carried out with
out getting lost a single time. Which,
it seems to US, Is pretty nearly a rec
ord. Briefly, John Smith narries I.u-
Cille, pretty daughter OF JohnGthon
Jaynes, an ex-juggler, and is prompt
ly disinherited by q prudish aunt be-
cause his bride once appeared on the
stage clad in a pair of pink panta-
lettes.
Comes an attorney telling him his
aunt has died and left him two mil
lion dollars provided he divorces his
wife Immediately.
The couple decided to get divorce.
get the money. and then remarry. Ac-
cordingly, the janitress Of their apart
apartment is hired to act as CO.
respondent. The following scenes are
laid in the bridal suite Of a hotel,
where all sorts of complications
arise, until finally, John and Lucille
decide they won't get divorce after
all-that they'd rather have each
other than the money.
And then, of course, the aunt turns
up. She had not died at all, but was
merely testing out Lucille. to see If
she really loved her husband. And
naturally she was quite satisfied.
This satisfaction is not to be won
dered at. 1t would take a mighty
grabbed sort OF person to be able to
Keep from loving the kind of Lucille
Albert Burton portrays. She has
everything folks down front like
and then some. Which is to say, she
is mighty pretty, mighty shapeIy, can
sing charmingly, dance daintily, and
mas that so-greatly to -be-desired quail
lty known as magnetism.
And Johnny Hines, who plays op-
postte her. as the young husband, has
the same quality. Five minutes after
he comes on, he has you with him
and you stay with him.
Charles Myers as Johnathon Jaynes.
the ex-juggling father, George W.
Callahan, as Duffy. a hotel house
detective, n. Rale as Oyamo, a jap
apese butler, and Sager MidgIey as
Thomas Brady. a henpecked and un-
happy husband Zone of those adjec-
6NesNis superfluous, isn't IT'D have the
male comedy roles. They are all to-
tally different, and all as clever as
clever can be.
Then there's Lorin Raker as Brit
ton Hughes, a Lothario from the
South, and Helen Clark as Peggy.
his bride Of few days. They don't
come on until the second act. It's
too bad the play can't be rearranEed
somehow to let them come on a bit
sooner.
And also there is dainty little Mar
jcrie Bentley. a danscuse. She tanta-
Lies you chiefly because it's impos-
sIble to look at her face and her
feet at the same time.
And. finally. there is Eleanor
Daniels, as Fanny. the janitress, hired
L" compromise herself with John.
II there can be star in a cast so
good. she probably is il.
Her humor is exquisite.
Altogether, the verdict Of this
humble scribe is that when New York
sees La La Lucille" New York will
be pleased. It's another "oh, Boy
only mebbe, a little bit better