Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-10-11

traction, up From Nowhere, the
newest American comedy by Booth
Harrington and Harry Leon Wilson,
authors of THE Man From Home " and
other pieces. 1t will be shown at the
Adelphi.
An interesting thing about 'Thc
Auctioneer" is that there are several
players in Mr.. Warfeld'S company this
season who appeared with him when 1t
was first produced. Among them are
Marie Bates, William Boag and Louis
Hendricks.
The appearance of Mr.. Warfleld Mt
the Garrick calls to mind the fact that
he was one Of the first stars to appear
in that theatre when it was new, eight
cen years ago The actor was at that
time beginning his career ns a star and
his play was "Tbe Auctioneor,' now in
revival.
nENMAN THOMPSON, In writing
IL "The Old Homestead" probably
had Whittier's lines from "Snowbound'
in mind.
The worlding's eyes shall gather dew,
Thinking of scenes his boyhood knew.
Certainly the play in which he acted
for lifetime, though it has no subtle
ness of characterization or retnements
of construction, is not without its very
definite human appeal, and to many and
diverse elements among playgoers, Every
one is familiar with the wholesome story
the old play tells, but few facts about
its history may be more interesting
TO the younger generation.
West Swanzey, six miles below Keene,
New Hampshire, is the locale. The
original old homestead is now country
home. Joshua Whitcomb and other
characters in the play were taken bodily
from the streets of West Swanzey.
Joshua Whitcomb is a telescoped pro
duction Of two persoEages known as
Captain Otis Whitcomb and Joshua
Holbrook. Captain Otis furnished the
comedy and Joshua the more serious
elements of the combination. The orig
inal of Aunt Matilda was a sister OF
Joshua Holbrook, and known to all the
people of Swanzey as Aunt Rhody,
n tender, honest, faithful old lady.
s'Cy'' Prime was fellow townSman of
the author, who had the reputation OF
being the biggest liar i'll Cheshire
county. and Seth Perkins was com
bination of several characters. Henry
Hopkins. the city man, was an old New
Hampshire playfellow of Denman
Thompson. ,
t"The Old Homestead" is play which
in its present form was presented to the
public for the first time in the Boston
Theatre, April, 1856, and it has been
continuously on the stage.
yrrILLIAM LAWRENCE. who plays
w Uncle Josh, in which he has ap,,
peared in this city for six seasons, tel
heir to the part on Mr.. Thompson
death in 1911. Mr.. Lawrence was the
&c -
Mr.. Thompson later years Mr.. Law
renee played the middle acts, Mr..
Thonpson coming on for the opening
scene and for the climax. In the years
Immediately preceding the stars death
Mr.. Lawrence played all but the first
act, the star appearing for the first
half hour or so. Mr.. Lawrence, how
ever, in make up and personality car
ried out the illusion so well that very
few persons ever suspected the sub
stitution.
TyHE story of Cup From Nowhere
i concerns George Washington Silver,
who has come up from Nowhere to
position of wealth and influence.
About him Is gathered family bred in
the lap of luxury and the old skipper
under whom Silver served as mate.
The son of Silver seeks TO marry a
member of an old family which has no
money. Silver sets out TO prove 10 the
boy that the girl is merely fortune
hunter. In seeking to do this he is
ensnared himself in the meshes of love
and finally ends up by marrying the
girl himself All the time the old skip
per is interfering and constantly get
ting himself and his friend into diff
ficnlties, and this odd character pro-
{ yides many of the laughs which the
play affords.
TT is somewhat of a treat to find that
i Rachel Crothers has seen fit to place
upon the stage in 80 East" a light
comedy whose humor does not depend
upon the theorems of the bedroom farce
or the three angled situation of som,
comedies of more pretensions. '39
East" is a play to which any one may
go without any trepidation. Its purpose
is but entertainment, and in that mis-
sion it succeeds apparently to the salts
faction of audiences more on accoun
of its characterizations and dialogu
than of any tirmness of structure q
deftress of technique.
At this time when homes are so hart
to obtain and the necessity of living il
boarding houses is the fate of many
the average theatregoer will find tina
Miss Crothers has written a play Whicl
is realistic in depletion of the charac
teristics of the habitue of a fashionabl
boarding house Back of it all there i
found a love story that has its appea
because it deals with the affairs of {
youth and maid who occupy lodging
in this fashionable house presided owe
BY landlady who is, first, business
like, and, secondly, motherly. The mott
vation concerns the efforts of a gin
from the country to make a career a
a singer. Her meeting with O ric
Young man complicates matters. >Ther
is Just little insight into the lives q
4 ahe chorus girl and the managers, bu
the author has handled that phase {
advantage in showing that the manage
is not always sinister, as many per
sons believe.
HoUNTERPARTS of many Of th
" characters may be found in boardin
places of the kind depicted in the pla
il the playgoer will but look throug
some of the windows of the Philade
phia establishments catering to ii
lodger or 'paying guest" \ delightfl
touch Is given the opening of the thin
act when the guests are all seated abol
for the evening musicale, in which II
talented" among them participate. Al
the very opening, where there is show
the breakfast room, with its three tabl
and the quips and iests of the boarC
ers. all smatter of the real thing.
Many will recall the rooming hou
In 'aThe Passing of the Third Flo
HACK - with Forbes Robertson in d
leading part and which is now on vie
via the local silversheets. Then the
,..s 4ha fanoua city boarding house