Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-05-18
ADJUSTMENTS
NATI0NAL-"Romeo and Jaue. y

| ITS just like fairy story. the clos
ing line Of Romeo and Jane" the
new comedy romance presented for
the first time at the National Theater
last night by John Golden, describes
the play with more precision than q
ohs Paragraph. It Is a very pretty
fairy story. and, like other fairy
stories. in the end 1t is to be pre-
sumed that they lived happily ever
after" 1t is cleverly acted, and the
stage setting is artistic and pleasing.
But the faith with which 1t is neces-
sary to read a fairy story-and enjoy
it's akin to the faith with which
the auditor must approach Romeo
and Jane" il he. too, is to enjoy it.
This is by no means an impossibility
| il the comments Of the audience as it
left the theater last night are correct.
The author, Edward Childs. Car
penter. and the producer, Mr.. Golden,
It is to be expected. will make certain
| alterations in the piece, which may
| make the strain upon the credulity
OF the audience little less pro-
nounced.
Romeo and Jane" has woven into
It the most modern elements Of ro-
nance. in addition to a prince. a
Cinderella girl and a princess. who
plays the part of q fairy godmother.
There are also the bolshevist and
the red revolutionist in q far away and
decidedly mythical country in Europe
Gunplay and a couple of stabbing af-
trays enliven the action, and at times
one wonders whether the play il In
tended for melodrama or a comedy.
It is appropriate that Romeo and
Washington-for the National Cap
ital 10 the stage Of the action. The
Capitol itself looks down on the fiow-
cry garden Of DR.. Kenyon. where
All the scenes are laid. The good.
two daushters-Letty. fair Of face
and form, whose mind and DISPOSE
tioh are apparently on strike. and
Jane, whose romantic soul does not
prevent her from being the capable
member Of the family.
Prince Philidor drops into the gar
den via the garden wall. pursued by
his bolshevist friends, and Is prompt
~ dubbed Romeo" by Jane. He
starts to fall in love with Jane. who
stands of the boishevists for him. but
q new tack. His heart is really won
by the letters which Jane writes to
him. and which Lefty copies and
sends to him as her own. While he
lies wounded in the Kenyon house
Philidor learns the mistake he hes
made.
Because he is prince he may not
marry coinmoner. He Is going away
forelorn. when the news comes that the
bolshevists have done him q good turn
after sticking knife into his shoulder.
His government has been overthrown.
there is no longer king, queen or prince.
and he IL free to follow his fancy.
CASTOR Glass plays Philidor with poise
and finish, q most lovable prince. Maude
Hannaford as Jane gives TO tho part
sure touch which relieves some Of the
lines Of the charge Of siclsly, ssnti-
mentality. She is a very capable Jane.
attractive even in her plain garb. and
when she blossomed forth in butterfly
attire ripple Of applause ran over the
house. Hilda Spong as the Princess Dag
mar makes an outstanding part Of a
minor role. Others in the cast are A.
G.. Andrews as DR.. Kenyon. Florence
Fair. who gives a very real impersona-
ton Of a modern, empty headed and OK
ceedingly selfish young woman Of un-
usual physical attractions; Andre
Frankly. Bertram Marburgh and Helen
Stewart.