The Washington times., 1920-05-18
GARRICk.
The Naughty Wife,
Good Farce. Well Acted

Good Farce, Well Acted.
The third week nnds the Garricksrs
just as strongly entrenched In the
hearts OF the Warrington playgoers
as ever. In fact each succeeding
week makes the world of amusement
seekers realize that this popular
group OF players are well nigh in
dispenssble. This week they are
presenting = clever play from the pen.
or rather the typewriter. Of Fred
Jackson.
Carter. a man servant, .chss. X. FrankIyn
Everett Butternsid
Darrell Mcknight. a philsnder.r,
John Roche
Nor. GAL, a widow
Edith Campbell Walker
Thompson. a chauffeur John o. Hewitt
Bishop Kennedy. Mrs. Farrinston's uncle.
Edward MAcksy
Just imagine a man starting or on
a little trip to his country homo to
finish a book that he is writing. and
coming back Unexpectedly for a for
gotten manuscript case, finding his
wife ready TO elope with another man.
Here would be all the setting for a
regular domestic tragedy. with the
agine that a duel or a night to the
finish would be the probable result.
That Is just exactly what did NOT
happen in the comedy last night In
stead. the husband helps his naughty
wife to pack. forces the clipping couple
to spend their honeymoon" in his
country home, sends for the Tilted
sweetheart OF the "other man" and
gets to the country home before the
elopers.
Here he concocts a chafnE dish
delectation that is an especial favorite
OF his wife's, has a cory fire going.
and proceeds to show his wife just
what a mean tempered brute she Is
figuring on leaving him for. Enter,
too, the Tilted sweetheart. who adds
to the complications.
or course. there is only one solu-
ton. He keeps his wife, apd the other
woman reclaims her "he-vampire" and
the. wedding bells are again in tune.
or course, that was as IL happened
in the comedy In real life--well.
there is a big probability that II
would never have come out that way.
1t does make us glad. however, that
we are sim a bachelor.
At any rate. Fred Jackson has
clothed his theme with clever verbi-
age. There is no particular spot in
the play that calls for uproarious
laughter. That kind of play gener-
ally has as many dull. draggy mo-
ments as 1t has screaming situations.
His Naughty Wife" rather impels
one to indulge in continuous
chuckie Of pure enjoyment.
For the cast. 1t could hardly have
been better. We miss Earle FoXe and
we greet Everett Butte rfield, sort Of
"A "the king is dead. long live the
king" affair. Butterfield was ex.
trcmely good as the novelist who sue
ccssfully. defended his home and fire.
side. He Is not an exuberent actor,
a line-reading mannikin, but a thor
oughly natural person.
Anne Morrison resumed her place
as the leading lady this week. Nor,
winsome than ever. she was delight
fuI as the misunderstood wife. We
have no hesitancy in prophesying
mighty success for her this summer
Jack Roche measured up to his part
as the wrecker of homes. He makes
a successful side to the eternal. or
as ss, the old lady said the 'infernai'
1t is always a pleasure to see Ed
ward Mackay. His part last night
was but slight. but Mr.. Mackay en-
uOWS even a 1eW lines with Cnarm
that makes us glad he is one OF the
Garrickers.
Edith Campbell Walker. completes
the cast Of principals. Hers was .
part that could easily have. been
spoiled. but in her capable hands. the
role was well sustained every minute.
All in all, the play Is an antidote
for the usual triangle horror that
has been so rampant Of late both on
the stage and in fiction. c. A. Lab.