Evening star., 1919-02-25
ADJUSTMENTS
National.

group of striking characters, a
Hooverless and Hunless, yet far from
humdrum plot: host of amusing in
cidents, lines that fairly scintillate
with humor. cast that upheld the
comedy spirit and portrayed the roles
with uniformly tasteful intelligence
and, above all. star of exquisite ac-
complishment-are some of the fea-
lures that made delightful the presen-
tation of "Ihe off Chance at the Ma
tional Theater last evening. And still
even that summary falls short in fail
ing to describe the charm of Lady
tardonnell in the discriminating
hands of Miss Ethel Barrymore. She
was in her most delightful mood in
x. 6 Cartons new play. and it was
she who insiStentlY stamped the play
as a comedy. The situations could
very easily lend themselves to meio-
dramatic apPeal-in fact, the first i'm
preston might lead to the error that
there was 4 frivolous Interpretation
of a melodrama OF deep emotions But
Miss Barrymore gave the cue to all
her supporting players that amuse-
luent and noI emotional appeal is tb-
main object ot the theme. How eX-
cellently well she exceeded was in
dicdted by the many curtain calls of
her audience.
Miss Barrymore. nevertheless. gave
evidence Of her latent abilities as an
emotional actress at tiny moments
especially when her daughter. grown
IN separation from her from a babe
to L matron of twenty years, called
her mother" 4 mention of that Incl
dent shows that in The off Chance"
Miss Barrymore assumes the roll of "A
woman not involved in the romance of
nrst love. Lady Cardonnell is a pleas
~
her sentimentality, if she has any, to
have surface play. In her youth she
had married 4 pompous and puritanl-
cal member of the nobility. Sir George
Rainsford, bart, NJ. L. shortly after
the birth of her baby her frivolity
and his serious mindedneSS led them
to the divorce court. When the play
opens twenty years later both she and
her first husband have found more
congenial marital companions. Her
by has grown to womanhood, been
married 10 the gay--but not harmful
ly so-Duke of Dorchester, has found
his instincts not in conformity with
the straight-Iaced ideals drilled into
her by her father. and has sought the
parental roof in separation from her
husband. The duke. a. companionable
sort. has i'll desperation found friehds
that threaten to make his gayety
harmful Lady Cardonpen. who has
those years through the courts de-
cree, learns of the abyss of sorrow
opening for her daughter and deter
mines to save her and lead her BACK
to the road to happiness. The oeVei-
opments of the plot have to do with
her plan of a supposed etopement OF
the Duchess of Dorchester with her
American friend. Cornelius JeHeott
Roync: the sepa ration of the Duke OF
Burchester from his fair-wea ther ano
money loving friends ana the start
of a new wedding trip for the duke
and his duchess.
one of the delightful incidents is
the scene of poker game IN the
third act when her wits are fenclns
with those of the unscrupulouS MAJ
Bagleigh. played in comedy though
the stakes are the happiness OF the
Young couple. Some of the erudenesS
of the crucial minute will undoupt-
edly disappear when William BOYD as
the duke, has gained more familiarity
with his part in it. Otherwise he met
the requirements of his role easily
and capably and with much ire
Edward Emery made very amusing
and picturesque the sporting MAJ.
Bagleigh, with past that required
the use of aliases The audience
found much for laughter in the por-
trayal of the indignant but not IN
duIgent father. Sir George. by Albert
Gran. T. Wigney Percival found a
eongenial role in Mr.. Brunson, the
English solicitor. In his legal-minded
lines the authors skill was not better
displayed Joseph Brennan was a
breezy American millionaire, ana
Miss Eva LIE Gallienne an attractive
and appealing Duchess of Dorchester,
making the most of limited oppor-
tunitieS.
The play served to introduce to
Washington Harry Plimmer in the
role of the gouty and happy-go- lucky
Lord cardonHell. a portrayal that in
sures for him pleasant reeollections.