Presentation of Comedy-Farce by Americans The Ame'ican Woman's Club is especially fortunate in having secured for the first dramatic offer-the comedy-farce "A. Full House" which was played so-successfully in New York number of yews ago. This play, given on Monday at the Carlton Theatre, is admirably suited to an amateur production, providing does the requisite proportion of acion, comedy, mystery and thrills to sustain the interest of the audience throughout until the final curtain, The actors were well cast for the characters which they portrayed. Mrs, Gardner Crane who, as Susy, the Swede from Sioux City, was well supported in comedy situations by Mr, Bratten who gave a realistic portrayal of King, the Bowery tough yeggman and self-styled detective, The lead was ably taken by Mr. Gardner Crane as George Howell, the lawyer whose mysterious trip to Boston on a secret mission and his mix-up in a train wreck caused unexpected coniplications.
The scene is Inid in a New York apartment occupied by the Howells, Mrs. 'Terry is most charming as Ottily, the distracted bride whose husband has been mysteriously absent since the day following their wedding, She is horrified and her aunt's worst suspicions are confirm. ed when they discover in Howell' bag a set of yeggman's tools and the stolon jewels pembroke, mother of Ned Pembroke' who has Just become engaged to Ottily's young sister, Daphne.
Ottily is determined to be loyal and is bent on reforming her lit band. Her first step is to notify Mrs. Pembroke where her jewels are, but Susy, who is anxious to obtain the reward offered in order that she may return to her beloved Sioux City, manages to get possession of the jewels and then notifies the police to come to the apartment and arrest a thief, Meanwhile the real thief comes to claim his bag. which Howell had mistaken for his own during the excitement of the train wreck. Howell is forced to make the ex char of bags but he is anxious to recover his own which contains letters written by Ned Pembroke to a chorus girl who threatens a breach promise suit. The appearance of the police complicates the situation fas they suspect Howell of being an imposter and a thief and a guard placed round the house, but not until King escapes with, as he supposes, the jewels. Howell and King soon discover that they have each been double crossed and then the fight is on to obtain possession of the jewels and letters.
Many amusing situations arise from the fact that no one who enters the apartment is allowed to ar in. the words of Officer "Ye can go in but ye can't get out,' and soon all the characters are placed in hostile pro Trong played to perfection the part of Vera Vernon, the jilted chorus girl, who came to claim her stolen leters or effect " substantial settle.
Daphne, played by Fleming, whose' sole concera was for a wonderful wedding. Mr. Hastings took the part of Ned, but was rather a backward over. Mr, Andrews, a8 Parkes, failed to maintain the traditional dignity of the English butler and became delightfully human on various occa sions; his acting, and that of the Bratton's, the burglar, was the most finished and effective in the play. Mrs. Kingsbury was admirable as Ottitty's conventional and thoroughly disapproving aunt. Others who helped to make the play a success were the three police officers pla by Messrs. Wentworth, Giovanni and Carey, Mrs. Clapp in the role of Mrs. Fleming, owner of the apartment, and Mrs. Emens as Mrs. Pembroke.
The charming cotting which was carried out in ivory and black was designed by Mr. A. F. Jebsen. A most striking effect was obtained by the use of a wide black border with flower basket insets round the Ivory tinted walls.
Several gorgeous gowns were worn by the principals and were of, particular interest to the feminine portion of the audi ence. Ottily appeared in a handsome tea-gown of cherry and gold brocade, over a. drop skirt. of metal. cloth: edged with.: brown Bs
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.