Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-15
From the Front Row
Reviews and News of Washington Theaters

Burton Holmes travelogue round out
an excellent bill.
Dorothy MackaiIl Play
Shown at Metropolitan.
"ONCE A SINNER" the story
of a marriage which barely es-
capped going on the rocks, is pre-
sented for the first half of the week
at the Metropolitan, with Dorothy
Mackaill in the leading role. 1t is
production In which the emotional
incidents alternate with the gayety
of might life and a gambling es-
tsblishmsnt with emphasis on the
superficial character of those in
fluences which threaten to disturb
the course of domestic affairs. In
ability Of husband and wife to under
stand each ether because of the lat
ter's indiScretionS in an earlier period
furnish the dramatic background of
the play. and the final solution is
reached just as the woman is about
to return to her former mode of
living because of the family discord.
1t is one Of Miss Mackaill's effec-
tive roles and she is assisted by
cast which includes Joel McCrea,
John Halliday and G. Henry Gordon.
The Metropolitan also offers some
intensely humorous short subjects
and the news reel.
Mrs. Wigs Appears
At Wardman Park Theater.
THAT immortal character Of fic-
ton, Mrs. Wigs of the Cabbage
Patch" once more came to life, and,
from the stage of the Wardman
Park Theater yesterday morning,
entertained and amused a highly
appreciative audience of young peo-
pie and grown-ups with her original
and sunshiny philosophy.
Kate Conway, as Mrs. Wigs,
brought to her role depth Of real
ism and sympathy for which one is
DESTROYS of congratulating both Miss
Conway for her delightful interpre-
tation Of the part and the National
Junior Theater upon It's diScrim-
mating selection Of player.
The play, adapted from the story
by Anne Caldwell Hogan. brings in
all those characters which fer two
generations have made Mrs. Wigs
Of TIE Cabbage Patch" one CT the
most popular humorous bits of fic-
ton known to the American reading
public.
Lovey Mary, Miss Hay Mr.. Stub
bins. Miss Lucy and Mr.. Bob, all
the Wigs children, Asia, Australia.
Europena and Billy, Little Tommy,
Mrs, Eichorn, Chris Hay, Mr.. Hun
derdunkus Jones, Mr.. Bagby and Mr..
Evans, all appeared upon the foot
boards to help in the portrayal of
that human, poverty-encumbered.
lovable little community Of the Cab
bage Patch.
OF particular note were the inter-
pretations Of the parts of Miss Hay
and Mr. Stubbins. as played by
Christine Ramsey and John Shellie.
One Of the most amusing scenes in
the plav was that in which Miss
HAY attired in her curtain we'd
ding veil. awaited the arrival Of her
prospective bridegroom. Mr.. Stub
bins, and after his arrival. to the
singing by the company of March.
ing Through Georgia" accompanied
him to the altar.
Mary Buckner made a wholly
lovable Lovey Mary. sufficiently
solicitous of the welfare of her little
orphan Tommy. Master John King
took the part of Tommy, and, al
though there were no spoken lines.
the young man brought lovable
little personality to the role. Ar
mand Backshian, Harriet Haig and
Ruth Hartrick, as Asia, Australia
and Europena, were thoroughly at
ease in the young. happy parts Of
Mrs. Wigs daughters, while Cliffe
Adams, as Billy wigs. was delight
fully funny as the long climbed, awk-
ward son of the Wigs family.
Others deserving of mention for
their creditable playing were Amy
Veerhoff as Mrs. Eichorn. David
Fischer as Chris Hay. Martha H.
Marshall as the pretty and char
table Miss Lucy, Kurt Nothnagel as
Mr.. Bob, Mason Hardy (Mr. Bagby),
Morgan Delman (Mr. Evans) and
Robert. de Lany as Mr.. Hunker-
dunkuS Jones.
The scenes both inside and out
side of Mrs. Wigs home in the
Cabbage Patch we're unusually wen
done, and the costumes of 80 years
ago were convincing and well car
ried out. @. S. 3.