The dramatized version of Joseph C. Lincoln's Cape Cod novel, "Shavings", has been so successfully presented by the Boston Stock Company in the past that it has become the regular Thanksgiving-week play at the St. James. If it has always been as skilfully done as it was Monday night, its popularity is not surprising; as a pleasing, easy-going, rather placid performance it was entirely satisfactory. As everyone knows, there is little or no excitement involved in "Shavings"; there are several passages of not too heavy pathos, but on the whole it runs along at a charming level of quaint humor and light philosophy, "Shavings" himself, the kindly, absent minded toy-maker, is usually engaged in trying to unite the village feudists, Captain Sam Hunniwell and Phineas Babbitt, and eventually he succeeds when Leander Babbitt and Maude Hunniwell decide to be married. There are several other parallel themes, but the plot is not important, nor is it intended to be.

The Boston Stock Company showed itself thoroughly at home in the various parts, from Miss Theresa Kilburn, who played the child part, to Walter Gilbert, who did more than his usual good job, as "Shavings". Mark Kent and Harold Chase, as the inveterate rivals, Hunniwell and Babbitt, were especially delightful, and Ralph Remley was a most realistic Gabriel Bearse. For once, Edward Darney was excused from his customary role as villain,--probably because there wasn't any,--and enjoyed a comfortable romance with Miss Bushnell, while Houston Richards paired off as is his fortunate habit, with Miss Middleton. The only really difficult part was Walter Gilbert's: a character part is never easy, and considering the variety of roles which Mr. Gilbert is called upon to play, his interpretation of "Shavings" is remarkably good.