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Show Theatres AT THE ORPHEUM. Any person who went away dissatisfied dissat-isfied from the Orpboum theatre last night, after seeing the production of Georfie M. Cohan's "A Prince There Was," deserves a worse fate than the present critic can prescribe for him. From all appearances there "ain't no sich person,'" at any rate the applause ap-plause and laughter during the per-lormance per-lormance indicated a crowded audience audi-ence fully enjoying itself. The play is written from Rarraprb Aldrich's story, "Enchanted Hearts," and deals with the recovery to a normal nor-mal life of decent ideas, healthy ideals and constructive work, of Charles Martin (James A. Gleason) who has gone all to the bad since the death of his young wife and child. A publisher friend, Jack Camithern (William Slider) calls on Martin at the hotel Plaza in New York shortl after Martin's arrival from California where, according to the butler, the population is composed of moving picture stars and Americans are seen only on the trains bound from the east to Los Angeles or from that point towards the east- For four yenrs Martin has had no interest in lite other than that which ran be supplied by liquor, has cared nothing for time, , occupation, pleasure, business or l i.-jure. i.-jure. He says himself that it wou'd I be too much of an effort even to at-I at-I tempt to waste his own life. Carruth-era Carruth-era does his best to arouse the spirit of Martin by reminding him of what a prince he once was, how, although he silver spoon in his mouth, he attacked a huge business proposition and made ja success of it. Carruthera' entreaties I are met only with cynical and witty J sallies, all indicating that Martin has j no use for life nor any of its Interests. Inter-ests. As a last resort, Carruthera of im Martin an assistant editorship on his big ninguzine if he will quit dt inking. ink-ing. Martin turns the proposition down. During the conversation b j tween the two men the butler. Bland. (John Bedouin), attends the phoiie and reports that tbe telephone oper lator informs him that there is a little girl, very precocious and bright, inquiring in-quiring for Mr. Carnithcrs He is told to report that Mr Carruthera Is busy After Carruthcrs has left the hotel the little girl phones again. This time she is instructed to come up to the apartment. Thereupon enters Comfort (Muriel Nelson), a little girl of ten. i looking sadly neglected, who informs Martin that sho lives with her ''P mother "Not my real stepmother,' thought. Stepmothers a r r-1 mostly most-ly women that marry your mother's husband when your mother is dead." Both her parents par-ents are dead and she is being "cared for" by Mrs. Prouty (Josephine WH Hams) whose "caring for her" consists con-sists in making the child a sl.iv. ot the boarding house Comfort does not need much encouragement to tell her story. Under the kindly influence influ-ence of a dish of Ice cream she tells of a young lady at the boarding hcuse. Katherin Woods (Ena Lewis WlHey), who is an authoress whose stories are returned. She knows Miss Woods is poor and she had heard of Mr Carruthera Car-ruthera and thought that he might "intercept" for Miss Woods if Comfort Com-fort came to seo him and tell him how wonderful her stories are The result of the vivacious visit of Comfort Com-fort is to make Martin resolve to accept ac-cept Carruther's position as assistant editor. Comfort had told him how clever Miss Woods is at fairy stories and the little girl had left him with the hope that ho might be the prince who would make everything all right for Miss Woods. Martin moves over to the boarding house much to the disgust and discomfiture of Bland. B- ing a handsome appearing gentleman and an equally handsome forehanded payer for his room he Is a delight lo the heart of Mrs Prouty. There he mixes with a hererogenous collection of human beings which can only bo supplied by a really shabby genteel boarding house in any metropolitan city of the world. There is Short (James Bradbury'. Jr.), who thinks himself a moving picture star, but whom Mrs. Prouty calls a "soop." meaning a super, and Gladys Prouty (Lucile Webster), the proprietress" daughter who works in a department store and, at work, at home, chews gum with a vigor worthy of a hotter cause. There is Mr. Crlckctt (John E-Sanders) E-Sanders) an old lawyer with a very small practice and a large heart whoso present sympathies are for Comfort and Miss Woods Tho ding hoarding house soon knows the prince is there because Miss Woods sells a story to him, and a little while after Mr. Crickett sells an article on International Inter-national law. However, Short and Gladys Prouty suspicion Prince, report to Mr. Carruthcrs. Car-ruthcrs. and since Short thinks he is a detective because he has played the part of a detective In a "movie," Carruthera Car-ruthera humorously tells them to go to work and shadow Martin and Miss Woods. Miss Wood-;, so il (urns out. i ; no poor authoress, but a highly efficient writer for the magazine who believes that the only real way to write a great story is, so far as possible, to live the lives of the characters depicted in it and that is why she is living in the boarding house. She wishes to write of the struggles of a young authoress. The whole srheme of things is for the benefit, of Martin. After four years of daily drugging with drink ho awikens to a working interest in hit. in. m beings with tho result that h tails in love with Miss Woods w3 adopts Comfort. Mar 1:1 l. ioraej 4 'i ! oi Cai linking hall 4 million in the husine.-s 10 make it tbe ' 1 . 1 ' .' 1 1 - 1. 1 nd 1:1 1 !. slate.-. Interesl in 1 rickett introduces the laui ter to the attorney general who useij lil iuon tho great matter of the loagut him on the great matter of the league! of nations. i So the story ran tl much three wcrj I'd scenes. Mr. Gleason, who fl 1 saved the part taken in Now York bf George M 1 ohan. had an exceedingly iiiii ult role which he Managed wiiaj distinction. Bland, the valet, ptayeS by John Bedouin, was a servant of the faithful type, a little too obsenuln3 out ior tne most pari nnoiy pued, William Slider, as Jack ( arru'iiers, portrayed an nctie. healthy, arabM tious and friendly business man with out any shade of over actfng. j To Miss Muriel Nelson ns Comfam belong groat honors. The temptatioal which child actresses 1 neounter prj eoclty and adult ways- had no su&reii for her. She was a child all the way! through, winsome, heart winning and 1 clever. The best tribute tha critic an pay to Josephine YilllaraH Is 'hat she depicted the metropolitan boarding house keeper of the "shabby J respectable'" type true to the life. John E. Sanders as Mr. rickett, tfl poor old lawyer, was the ideal old maaj whom most health;, young girls aJoraJ His ai ling was the as, natural aofl With a fine understanding of the ref quiremonts of the part. James Bratf bury, Jr.. as Shrot. was a perpe'ui scream and Lucile Webster as Glad Prouty was as cleverly commonly vtlH gai as her part demanded The smaller parts iu the play veffl all well acted Ogden lovers of the "legitimate drama are grateful to Mr. Goss f4B the Incentive shown in bringing a pin of such great and wholesome distiafll Hon 1 The applause, good humor, and flfl appreciativeness ol the audience proJ ed again thai Shak ipeare knew wtefl he waa talking about when he slH "The play's tho thing. ' 1 |