Augustus Phillips and William Wadsworth want to change Edna Flugrath's name and arrive at her house bearing proposals. However, when downstairs maid Alice Washburn hears Mr. Phillips practicing his proposal, she thinks he is asking for her hand and accepts in this amusing Edison comedy.
There's a very nice assortment of stage business between the actors, but it's Miss Washburn -- who played comic spinsters for Edison in this period -- who steals the show with her man-hungry act. Everyone falls into a clear type and plays it nicely; Mr. Wadsworth's sneering dislike when only the audience is looking is funny, as is Richard Ridgely as the Latin chef, Miss Washburn's jilted lover.
Edison was still using its style of pantomime and editing that allowed its movies to get along with very few titles. Here's a fine example of it in a lighter mode.
There's a very nice assortment of stage business between the actors, but it's Miss Washburn -- who played comic spinsters for Edison in this period -- who steals the show with her man-hungry act. Everyone falls into a clear type and plays it nicely; Mr. Wadsworth's sneering dislike when only the audience is looking is funny, as is Richard Ridgely as the Latin chef, Miss Washburn's jilted lover.
Edison was still using its style of pantomime and editing that allowed its movies to get along with very few titles. Here's a fine example of it in a lighter mode.