Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-10-07
GENEWEvE TOB|N
CHARMING AS PAT
Little Old New York" Takes
Playhouse Audience by
Storm.

The most, entertaining comedy that
has come 10 the local stage for a long
time was seen at The Playhouse last
night, ans was enthusiastically re-
ccivedsby a large audience.
Little Old New York" Is the title,
the scene being laid in that city some
thing over a century ago, and the
personages introduced ar. the for-l
bears of families which have become
prominent and made history OF va
rious sorts In the intervening years.
With n very vivid grasp Of the. vital
spirit of the epoch. the dramatist, Rida
johnson Young. has so assembled her
materials as 10 pass this on TO the
listeners, while INTERVIEWING the
scenes with motif that would have
done credit 10 the real Washington
Irving. This is the by no means new
device OF the Irish colleen In boys
costume, who is moved at length to
explain. I'm not meself but me sis
ter" when the emotional stress
grows too great
This later-day prototype OF Shakes
pcares Viola is most engagingly por-
trayed by Genevieve Tobin. From her
first entry on the scene she was in
stantly taken 10 the hearts Of every
woman present. and not a small pro-
portion of the less romantic sex Her
arch artlessness In contact with the
registering crew amongst which she
nnds herself and her real devotion
10 the doddering father and her newly
found protector awake sympathetic
chords, and deserve high encomlums
for artistic achievement.
Indeed the whole cast Is excep-
tionally efficient. Such group of
manly young men as the half dozen
who personate the young bloods OF
the day, all with "a leg for a stock
ing and a foot for shoe" is all too
rarely seen gathered. OF these Harry
Benham as Larry Delavan carries the
chief role with easy distinction.
Albert Andruss has made n real
creation of the part OF the first John
Jacob Astor. Paul Porter as Bully
Boy Brewster" and Rollo Lloyd, as
Funny Waters, "comicai constable. '
made genuine hits OF their not incon-
siderable bits. and the work Of All
Helton as the querulous Michael O'Day
Is notable
or course Patricia O'Day, otherwise
Pat" and Genevieve Tobin, has
brought n fetching feminine period
costume tied up in her immigrant
handkerchief. and wears Il charming
ly in the last scene. Others who stick
to skirts throughout the cast ar,
Alice Southern as Betty Schuyler
Pauline Whitson as Arlana d,
Puyster. full OF airs and graces after
n season In London. and Margaret
Nugent as Rachael Brewster.
The plot OF the play is the imper.
sonation of a dead brother by Patricia
I'm order TO claim the Deiavan patri.
mony at the expense OF the expectant
heir, Larry. Repenting OF the deceit
but entangled by her initial success
the heroine schemes to abdicate her
claim in his favor. but is foilcd unit
her ringing Of a false fire alarm. tC
break up a boxing match which
threatens to break" Larry financial.
ly, precipitates a melee among firemen
citizens and hackers, and makes hei
amenable TO the strict local laws. Ar
elopement TO Europe with Larry is tn,
way out-a weak ending. dramatically
considered. but eminently satisfactory
to the spectators. and presumably t
the principals.
In view of the somewhat sombr,
outlook for a brisk dramatic seasor
Of speaking plays, the chance to enjoy
this choice and wholesome entertain
ment cannot be too earnestly urge,
on the public at large. There will b.
performances tonight and tomorrow
night, with the usual Saturda
J matinee,