Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-06-03
ADJUSTMENTS
"On the Hiring Line"

It was a genuine first production
on any stage" that the New National
Theater offered before a large au-
dience last night. The performance
of ION the Hiring Line" was carefully
prepared and we'll rehearsed before
being presented, with no implied sug-
gestions in the nature of explanation
or apology. The scale of prices called
for a good cast, competent stage di-
rection and also for material which
adds the gloss of novelty to polish off
proficiency.
"On the Hiring Line" did not make
an immediate lunge for the interest
of the audience that was enabled for
an hour or so to laugh away all
thoughts of problems pertaining to
weather or economics. The problem
under consideration was the servant
problem-a theme. alas. too easily un-
derstood by everybody just at this
time. The plot is so apropos that
there is not much need of its getting
far beyond a mild ingenuity in the
development of a rather slight theme.
wealthy citizen. on learning that
private detectives are sometimes in
PRODUCED into homes as household
servants, decides. regardless of ex,
pense, to hire two sleuths, man and
a woman, as butler and maid Their
profession requires them to be ex-
cellent servants and the plan prom
ises to work joyously until they be-
gin to turn up clues and suspicious
nestle f1resides. In the end their Ia
bors result in reconciliations of old
time arrangements and the detectives
participate in the happy denouement
by deciding to reform their ways and
become useful citizens and servants.
Sc
OHiggins, has contributed to current
fiction a great deal of material per-
tanning to the hardships which criml-
nails are often compelled to suner. In
this play, he succeeds in making the
detective an object of sympathy rath-
comforting intimation that an honest
heart may after all beat under po-
liceman's badge. This is the nearest
to nloralizing that the play approaches
as it moves merri1y on through COM
edy. farce and occasionally serious
drama. 1t is one of the best written
plays shown in some time. the dia-
logue being positively brilliant In
some of the scenes, yet so true TO
character that it flows along with the
ease Of natural conversation. In spite
of its underworld hint, it is a COM
petent study of the men and manners
of our own day. each parsonage OF
the cast having individuality and
viewpoint sufficient to render him dis
tinctive.
The presentation not only enter
tains for the hour but stands the
genial acquaintanceship survives with
Mr.. and Mrs. Fessenden. the latter
q retired actress and a devoted wife.
even though wearying of uneventful
existence in the suburbs. These two
roles are excellently played by Mr..
George Howell and Miss Emily
Stevens. The vivacious and alto
gether winsome daughter. Dorothy, Is
endowed with dainty buoyant girlish-
ness by Miss Helen Hayes. one of
quaintanceship with Washington play
goers won them hearty reception dem
onstrations as they stepped for the
first time before the footlights: Dor
othy's sweetheart is revealed as
handsome and nkable youngster by
Glen Hunter.
An actor busily engaged in the
preservation of health and youth is
whiInsically yet plausibly portrayed
by Harry Mestayer. The domestic
storms of Mr.: and Mrs. Billy Capron
recall the delightful interchanges of
Lord and Lady Algy themselves. as
interpreted by Mr.. Alfred Lunt and
Miss Fania Marinoff. Mr.. Lunt sue
ceeded in making remarkably
strong impression in a series OF
SCeneS WHICH duOIucu SASl oOiU
nary opportunities, leaving him de-
pendent on naturalness and poise.
And the two detectives played by Mr..
Sidney Toler and Miss Josephine Hall
fell into the drift of the story with
an unobtrusive current of satire that
never intruded into the domain of
actual burlesque.
All the personages Of the play sug-
Eested warm possibilities of neigh
borly friendship for the weak. at
least, well worthy of the hearty "wel-
come to our city" extended at the
theater last night p. ].