The Other Girl

Other Girl, The (1903), a comedy by Augustus Thomas. [Criterion Theatre, 160 perf.] When the world boxing champion known as the “Kid” (Lionel Barrymore) is taken under the wing of a fight‐mad minister, Dr. Bradford (Frank Worthing), he decides he would like to marry into society and live the good life. The girl he decides to marry is Catherine Fulton (Drina De Wolfe), ignoring the fact that she is engaged to Reginald Lumley (Joseph Wheelock Jr.). Catherine proves so susceptible to his magnificent physique and rough charms that she agrees to elope. Recognizing that such a match would be a disaster, Catherine's brash friend, Estelle Kitteridge (Elsie De Wolfe), contrives to take her place. In their haste the young couple accidentally run over Reginald. Good sense prevails in the end. This broad, somewhat preposterous farce, produced by Charles Frohman, owed much of its success to its performances and to what one critic called Thomas's ability to inject “a wealth of accurately observed and truly felt character.” Elsie De Wolfe (1865–1950) became for a time a leading set designer in her native New York, after which, as Lady Mendl, she was a well‐known author and interior decorator.