Evening star., 1926-10-11
BELASCO-"Taf aft That Off"


At the Belasco Theater this week is
one of those little honey, heart-touch-
ing comedies which make you chuckle
one moment and resent your lachrymal
glands the next. as you surreptitiouSly
wipe away a tear or two. 1t closely
follows along the line of most Ameri-
can comedies since the day of The
Old Homestead with. of course, q
change of scenes, which necessitates
change of characters. But the pre-
scription rarely varies, with half and
half of tears and sunshine. well mixed,
and served in generous doses. "Laff
That OFF, runs true to form. The play
is not adapted from the French. There
IS not a fluffy bit of lingerie, a naughty
word nor Louis XIV bed in the en-
tire three acts. 1t is strictly an
American-made comedy for American
consumption-and long may 1t wave!
Even with the entire company on
the stage at one time the play does
not give the impression Of one OF the
mob scenes from "Ben-Hur." There
are only seven persons in the cast
four men and three wonderland they
are sufficient for q pleasant evenings S
entertainment. The piece was tried
out in New York for an entire year
before it's producer was satisfied that
It was ready for Washington audi
ences.
The story runs something like this:
Three young fellows--boon com
panions and all that sort Of thing
have rooms together down Eighth ave.
nue. way. Pledged to stand together
through thick and thin, through Win
ter and Summer. they are jolly trio
until disturbed by the advent of the
girl. one Of the lads, suffering from
enlargement of the heart or some
such ailment. which aftcrward Keeps
him out Of the draft. brings into the
happy household the adorable young
lady, who has been haunting theatrical
agencies and slowly starving to death.
This reads dangerously near the
line OF conventional morality in the
telling of It. but the play isn't at All
that wavD The adorable one poses as
-he sister of her benefactor, and every
thing runs along smoothly until two
OF the boys cast their lots with the
forces who are aiding to make the
world safe for democracy. Then the
adorable one suddenly leaves for parts
unknown, carrying with her the cof-
fNe-can savings of her three lovesick
housemates. Business Of much bitter
ness and faith lost in mankind-or
womankind)
The time shifts, but the scenes do
not All three acts have the same set
ting-the inside Of the Eighth avenue
6nuEgery. ne DOyS nave CoilIC iiiehl III
ing home again. and 1t Is Christmas
eve. The lad who stayed behind with
his ailment and probably sold Liberty
bonds has aided materially In the edu-
cation Of the house slavey. His was a
task almost equal to that of his com
panions, who downed vim blanc and
the enemy.
A reunion laughs explanations
more laughs. And three weddings just
over the horizon. Curtain.
Don Mutually, the author. has typed
O clever little play, and 1t is produced
in a thoroughly entertaining manner:
Larry Oliver, Norval keedwell ana
William Gargan. as the Three Man
haitian Muske eteers. leave not a thing
wanting. Marion Wells. as the ador-
able one. who turns out to be queen
of the fickers," is, indeed. adorable
and queenish, while Pauline Drake, as
the slavey who obtains the night
school erudition, draws a large share
Of the laughs. Hattie Foley, rs Mrs.
,,onnelly, and Jack Matthews. as Mike
representing the realtors who hold
first. second and third mortgages on
the rooming house,. complete the erl-
cient seven.