Mary Goes First

Performed at the Playhouse.
A comedy play by Henry Arthur Jones.
Opened 18th September, 1913 - ran for 152 performances.

Starring: Marie Tempest.

Editorial and Photos all as published in 'The Playgoer and Society Illustrated' Vol IX, No. 51 (1913).

Cast		The principal players in this production.
Review		Review of the play.
In the Boudoir		Costumes worn in the play.
Scenes from the Play		A selection of scenes the play

THE CAST

Principal performers in the play.

REVIEW

The highly respectable town of Warkinstall was in a ferment. A state of war existed between the two leading families merely because one lady had referred to another as an "impropriety." Mary Whichello was one of the best-hearted persons in the world. But Lady Bodsworth, whose husband had just secured a knighthood, got on her nerves. Moreover, her ladyship's rank secured her precedence in the social functions of the town, and she was taken in to dinner by the head of the house.

Lady Bodsworth was a little more than plump and had false hair and aggressively-painted face. She took her newly acquired dignity very seriously, and when, listening behind the curtains, she heard Mrs. Whichello, referring to her personal appearance, declare that "with her powdered cheeks and yellow hair she looked like an impropriety," that dignity was outraged.

An apology was demanded by Lady Bodsworth, and her husband seconded the demand with all the pomposity that a bloated town magnate could command. Mary said she was sorry, but that was not enough; the apology must be in black and white, and Sir Thomas commissioned his solicitor to draw up the document in full legal form. Mary flatly refused to sign it, and brought dictionaries to bear witness that the word simply meant "unseemliness."

Lawsuits were threatened, and Mary bid her opponents do their worst. Not so her easygoing, peace-loving husband, a leather merchant, who had long since succumbed to the lure of the links. Sending Mary into an adjoining room, where he begged her cousin Felix to keep her quiet for a few minutes, he sought to effect a compromise. He invited Bodsworth and his solicitor out to dinner at the club, but they declined with virtuous indignation. Then he went so far as to offer to withdraw his opposition to Sir Thomas over the question of tramways on the local council if he would keep the case out of court.

Mary, on the other hand, was eager for the fray. Whichello's cries of distress had little effect on her, and she went on playing bridge serenely. She briefed her friend Felix, a struggling barrister, to act as her legal adviser, threatening to withhold her consent to his engagement with her ward Ella if he failed to get the better of the Bodsworths. Meanwhile, the young couple in their simplicity marvelled how such things could be.

Mary was likewise determined to make an assault on Lady Bodsworth's social supremacy, and went about it in a novel way. Sir Thomas had secured his knighthood through giving a sanatorium to the town; Whichello should give a crematorium and stand for Parliament, in order that a baronetcy in the family long since allowed to lapse might be revived. Whichello was not enthusiastic over the proposal. So long as he got his golf it was a matter of supreme indifference to him who "went first" in Warkinstall. He gave way to his wife's persuasions, however, and though he was in favour of tariff reform provided the leather trade got a look in, he consented to turn Radical in order to win the seat from the Government, and thus gain the baronetcy.

He made feeble speeches and won the contempt of a colleague a very Boanerges of an orator, and was ignominiously denounced as a deserter in the local papers. The consequence was that he refused to be "Boanerged" into Parliament, and threw up his candidature. Coaxing, entreaties, and tears were all in vain; he resolutely declined to change his decision. It is the first recorded instance of the wheedling of woman failing to achieve its purpose, but Whichello remained firm.

What did Mary do? Did she accept defeat and settle down to a secondary position in society? By no means. She simply handed over the Parliamentary responsibilities to her friend, Felix Galpin, who accepted them with alacrity, and made her husband contribute a sum of money to the Party sufficiently large to secure him the baronetcy. There was some haggling over the proposal, for a merchant and his money are not easily parted, but he gave way eventually, and Whichello's smile when he was told that he might go off and play golf till after the election was beautiful to behold.

Lady Bodsworth had by this time begun to show the white feather, and after an attempt by her wily solicitor to exact a much modified form of apology from Mary, which met with no success. Lady Bodsworth definitely threw up the sponge. Mary's triumph was now complete, but the victor did not press her advantage. The enemy, having capitulated, at first feigned indisposition in order not to face her opponent, and when they did meet there was a profusion of tears from the vanquished. All ended well, however, for when dinner was announced Lady Whichello gave her arm to Lady Bodsworth, and they went in together. Peace was proclaimed, and the whole assembly, from the butler to the baronet, rejoiced.

The foundations of the story are laid in the following extract from Fettleworth's "Credentials of Merit" (1764) (Chapter on Titles) with which the author prefaces his play. "Thus it appears that the Honours and Dignities adjudged by the State serve often but to varnish the Stratagems and Pletences whereby they have been obtained; and the Claim to Precedency is shown to be the Claim of those who have no other Claim to our Admiration and Esteem."

IN THE BOUDOIR

A merry Christmas and a very happy New Year is the sincere wish of the writer to all readers of these columns in all parts of the world. Furthermore she does hope that a plethora of pretty frocks, frills and furbelows may be the portion of all devotees of La Mode, as there is nothing which makes members of the weaker sex more at peace with the world. As every one knows, Miss Marie Tempest is endowed with the unique gift of wearing her raiment. It places her attire on a plane alone, and all women of understanding endeavour to emulate her in this respect. Never has she been seen in more beautiful toilettes than those on which her choice has alighted in "Mary Goes First," at the Playhouse. She first appears in a dinner dress of black mousseline velvet. The draperies of the skilt are carried up to a point on the corsage, caught with a pastel-shaded flat velvet rose just below the bust, the scheme completed with a black osprey springing from a diamond tube.

A STUDY IN GOBELIN BLUE.

Standing out with special prominence is the afternoon dress worn by this talented actress in the second act. It is fashioned of Gobelin blue velvet, the skirt being of the pannier persuasion; the salient feature is the wide belt of gold tinsel and blue embroidery. The corsage is of chiffon relieved with a large pink rose, the foliage being of an almost magenta nuance. A few words must be said en passant regarding the 1830 mantle which accompanies it, carried out in old gold brocade, its charm enhanced with embroidery in which gold, peacock blue and tarragona red divide honours. Neither must it be forgotten that it is bordered with sable and lined with Gobelin blue chiffon, and that a white tuile Medici collar is also in evidence. Dust-coloured ostrich plumes are requisitioned for the adornment of the charming toque, as well as black moire ribbon.

THE IMPORTANCE OF FUR.

Certainly no one could contest the charm of the dress worn by Miss Tempest when she interviews the lawyers. It is of mole-coloured accordion-pleated charmeuse. The tunic is hemmed with skunk, the corsage being of ninon. The most pronounced characteristic of this gown is the Polarian sash of pomegranate crepe de Chine draped round the waist and over the hips. A cute little coatee of charmeuse edged with fur is seen in alliance with this, lined with pomegranate-coloured crepe de Chine, the picture completed with a muff to match and a velvet toque embellished with an osprey. Last, but by no means least charming of the gowns is the one seen in the epilogue. It is an evening dress of oyster-white poplin pattermed with gold, while falling from the shoulders is a drapery of cream lace of which the sleeves are likewise fashioned.

It will be recalled that Miss Margaret Bruhling is the debutante of the piece, and very charming she looks in her gowns. Perhaps the most effective of all is the one of Virginia creeper red velvet relieved with fur, although it must be confessed that the evening dress of charmeuse of a Devonshire cream shade is equally becoming to her. It is supplemented with a gold lace tunic and pale blue sash. Her dinner dress is a study in rich malmaison shades.

SCENES FROM THE PLAY

Click any image for a larger view
Mary Goes First	The Butler 'Throws up' the Title	A Powerful Inducement	A Tall Order	A Compliment to the Candidate
A Family Jar	Planning a Court Case	Mrs Tadman brings an Apology	An Appalling Prospect	Lady Bosdsworth Solicitor seeks an Apology
Mary Whichello (Marie Tempest)	Lady Bodsworth weeps with vexation	An Amicable Ending