Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1923-01-16
"BLACKMAILERS"
IS RIOT OF FUN
First Night Audience Grip
ped by Melodrama, Come
dy, Farce Situations
BOARDING SCHOOL
GIRL IN ELOPEMENT

The Playhouse - THE Black
mailens." a new play by Barry Con-
ners. Staged by Hal Briggs.
The Cast.
Wilson. the butler. Purnell B. Pratt
Mrs. shannon. housekeeper at the
Colgate home. .. Louise sydmeth
Rufus Colgate. a novelist,
George Pauncefort
Bill Grips. alias DR.. Arnsman.
alias Mr.. Cozzens. Louis Morrell
Peggy Colgate. the daughter,
Claiborne Foster
wally Spencer. an agreeable young
man ................. Hal Crane
Cousin Jimmy Rawlinson, an at
torney. ....9.... Irving Mitchell
Captain Hines. Of the police,
Louis Frohoff
First policeman. ...,. John Hancock
Second policeman &c. Harold Nibar
Mrs Obediah Eads. a country no.
tel Keeper .,... Blanche Latell
Billy Crandall, alias the Rev. VIM.
Worthipgton. ... William Foran
Obediah Eads, constable.
Herbert Haywood
Kennedy, Of the Indianapolis po-
hce...... A. Francis LEM
Mclodramh, Comedy and Farce.
The Bldckmailersr which began
a four day engagement at the Play
house last night can claim title to
one or all. three OF these classified
lions. Plays arc usually catalogued |
with one or the other, but not so /
'The Blackmailers The final analy- |
sis. however. depends largely upon
the point OF view OF the auditor.
one individual says comedy. his 4
partner labels II melodrama: both |
nre right.
The play which IS IN its infancy. /
having been presented for the first
time at Easton, Pa, last week. is
riotous comedy in our estimation.
with the exaggerated effects and in
cldents that belong TO the farce. In
addition the "meler-dramatic" stu
atoms must not be overlooked. There
are a number OF the latter ranging
In intensity from sandbagging the
william to making him confess his
'rmes at the point OF an unloaded
revolver.
Withal It Is a captivating play
without any tendency to be radically
different from others. The audi
nee IS not required to fall back on
Is sagacity TO keep track of the
blot, even though an undercurrent
" intrigue Ia suggested and limited.
Of course the dark deep intriguings
ire necessary or the title. THE
wouldn't mean any
hing.
Each and every member OF the
,ast makes the most OF the comedy.
II it was anything but THE Black
one would say they were
overplaying each incident and sltu-
alton However Il seems TO flt In
With a telling effect inasmuch as It
teeps the audience laughing nearly
IN the while.
The whole plot centers around
couple OF Opponents OF which a
BOARDING school heroine is a COM
lonent part. In the first affair,
which is only suggested, she married |
criminal lie disappeared and she
ais in love with her girlhood lover.
hese two plan an elOpement and
o through with It. Fate, or cir
nuisance. whatever you choose to
all II. cause them to meet a GER
ain arch-villian who resembles the
erolne's criminal husband who is
opposed to have been dead. This
where the Matchmaking process
arts. The young hubby" Is not ac-
TAINTED by his bride that the william
her husband. This IS followed by
umerous situations, ending in a
appy manner.
Purnell r. Pratt. as Wilson the
utler and one time crook trying to
o straight, is one OF the outstand-
lg members OF the cast. Miss Clai-
,rne Forster, as Peggy Colgate. the
oarding school heroine. plays her !
art as the author intended 1t TO be !
Iayed In n dainty pair of pajamas