THE PLAYGOER

A criticism of the Boston Stock Company's performance of "The Gold Diggers" must necessarily begin with a comparison of the acting of Miss Ina Claire and Miss Elsie Hitz, who plays the part of Jerry Lamar in the current presentation. Miss Hitz is capable but by no means up to the standard set by Miss Claire. During the play the interest of the audience shifts from Jerry Lamar to Mabel Munroe, her chorus girl friend, played by Miss Olive Blakeney. One is tempted to forget the rest of the cast and to eulogizo Miss Blakeney.

After having seen her play in succession an old maid, a stenographer, and a chorus girl and interpret each part admirably. I cannot fall to give her due credit as an actress of merit. In "The Gold Diggers" it is she who carries the house with her. When she is off the stage the play is good, but when she is on the stage the play is excellent. For comedy parts there are few better in New York, let alone Boston.

Houston Richards, Bernard Nedell, and Roy Elkins play the chief masculine parts quite satisfactorily, al hough the two latter in playing the parts of elderly men fail to hide their own youth, and give somewhat the impression of a prep school performance of "Grumpy".

The play itself, for the benefit of those who failed to see it in New York, centers around the idea that all women, and chorus girls in particular, are chiefly interested in making their "Gentlemen friends" spend as much money on them as they own. This, the man's point of view, is presented by Roy Elkins, in one of those heart to heart talks between bachelor friends which are so common on the stage Miss. Blakeney expounds the feminine conceptions in one short line, "Men are brutes, Lord how I love 'em."

It is the sort-of play which is suited to the talents of Manager Giles' company. Although Avery Hopwood wrote a weak third act for his comedy, the two acts preceding it are more than sufficiently funny to make the whole a fine evening's entertainment.