The Washington herald., 1920-03-29
Garrlck-.Oh Henry,


GarrIck-.Oh Henry,
Bide Dudley. who enjoys more or
less fame as conductor of a column
anent Broadway doings, offered his
antidote for the Eighteenth amend
ment to friendly audience at the
Garrick last night. in the form of
three-act farce comedy called "Oh
Henry"
Any real substitute for what Mr..
Volstead and his colleagues have
banished for an indeterminate
period must have more than a 2.75
kick to be satisfying and the dia-
logue and situations of "Oh Henry
while intermittently mirthful, need
not discourage those still searching
for prohibition panacea.
Visions of hectic evening loom
with the opening curtain disclosing
a buffet in the living room of a
Long Beach summer home, well
stocked against a prolonged drought.
The action of the three acts occurs
in this setting with conveniently
timed entrances and exits for the
players furnishing the situations for
laughter.
Almost anything can happen
when a decidedly befuddled gentle
man in evening clothes staggers
calmly into the serenity of a Long
Beach home. is mistaken by Henry
the butler for his master, and after
some persuasion consents to be put
to bed in bluebird pajamas. That's
the groundwork of the plot. The
complications come because the
family rs expecting a visit from a
wealthy sister much opposed to
strong fluid.
Henry the butler persuades the
unwelcome one to leave for an ad-
jacent hotel and then it is discov-
cred the inebriated stranger may be
a missing millionaire of bibulous
habits for whose capture a reward
of $1,000 has been offered. Henry
is then dispatched to bring him
back and in the performance ac-
quires himself an uncertain speech
and staggered gait, a victim of hos
pitality. Then the aunt arrives, dis
courses on her pet aversion and
the business necessitates keeping
both of them out of sight. A con-
ventional ending with a full quota
of explanations comprises the third
act. There is a haunting dread that
at any time the stranger may tell
who he is and thus spoil tho reason
for 1t all but like most of Barley
corn's addicts he has his obstinate
streak and holds it off until the
finale.
A competent cast of farceurs in
terpret the story. Dallas Wexford.
upon whose shoulders rests the bur-
den of carrying much of the comedy
as the butler. realized his possibil-
tiles, particularly in the moments
where his alcoholic exhilaration de-
veloped a sentimental tinge. Will
lam Roselle, the stranger whose
tipsy wanderings caused all the
trouble, displays some footwork
more like the effects of tango tea
than strong home brew. but other
wise registered his share of laugh
ter. A movie-mad maid. played by
Florence Carette, has some choice
lines and one or two that are dis
tinctly blue" and add nothing to
the enjoyment.
Catherine Carroll, a Washington
girl, makes a delightful ingenue in
carrying the love theme and is
aided by the talented James Cormi-
can as her continually harassed
suitor. Perce Benton, Vira Rial and
Eva Condor. were capable in the
other important roles.
Gayety-.Bon Ton Burlesquers.
THE Bon Ton Burlesquers'' pre-
sent the two-act musical farce,
Breaking into Society,"" as their
principal Offering at the Gayety
Theater this week, commencing with
yesterdays matinee. 1t is delight
full satire on the dismay in upper
social circles resulting from the en-
forcement of the Eighteenth amend
ment. The plot is built around the
adveptures of an crring spouse who
goes forth in quest of liquid re-
freshments and remains absent from