Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-16
Am u S & M E Mt S.
Belasco

The nroduction of For Better, For
Worse" at the Belasco Theater last night
served to place Mr.. Cleveland Monett on
a secure footing in Washington esteem as
one Of the writer's of current plays from
whom a steady and interesting product
may be expected. His previous WORK.
The Battle" which, like this. was shown
in this city In the initiative of its career,
vas marked by a strong didactic inclina-
tion coupled with much resourcefulness
in comedy, emotion and plot device. IL
seemed a question whether Mr.. Monett
would establish himself as moralist VINO
used the stage as a vehicle for his opin-
ions or as a dramatist content to interest
the public without laying too much stress
or any messages" that might be within
him struggling for voice. The announce
ment that divorce as practiced IN TINS
country was to be his subject left the
question still open. To show the compi-
cations of divorce in all their grewsome
possibilities would be task that might
stagger the morbid genius OF an lbsen.
Cold analysis of the subject pushed TO us
furthest conclusion would be more of
social chastisement than a popular en-
tertainment. The author. while setting out
with certain threats OF refOrmatory pur-
pose, becomes interested in his own charac-
ters and has not the heart to leave their
view as horrible examples.
1t Is evident that Americas divorce
system is disapproved OF. And the ad-
mission is just as evident that without IL
some very worthy people would have out
a slight chance of happiness. A woman.
finding her husband. thriftless dreamer,
SO indignantly untrue that divorce or at
lease separation is required by self-re-
spect secures a decree. Soon after man
Of substantial qualities both as to for
character
marry him. The first husband returns
and by an appeal to her pity persuades
her that she is still bound to him by ties
of honor and sentiment. She informs her
husband of her determination to return to
the man with whose life she believes her
own is irrevocably linked, and second
divorce is agreed to. but frustrated oy
her discovery that her first husband rs
as weak and mercenary as her second is
strong and generous. So bold an outline
can give no idea of the fine psychology
the author has introduced in his delinea-
tions. The study is not one OF general
sociological standards, but of individual
types. The question in this. as in all good
plays, Is that of the influence OF personal
temperament upon motives, the struggle
of conscience and character with the re-
strants and difficulties of habit and en-
vironment.
The type of womanhood, nervous. inn
questionable. self-exacting, yet all-for-
giving, upon whose moods and manifesto
tons the play depends, is convincingly
exemplified by Carlotta Nilson. She
has emotionalism without excess and
poise without constraint. Her realiza-
ton Of the part shows broad intellectual
grasp, as we'll as an artistic equipment
for the expression of its most delicate
phases.
The company is an exceptional one.
Conspicuous in it is Miss Eugene Blair,
whose we'll known abilities are addressed
to the role of society woman who
takes divorce as a matter of course. This
character is quite as human as the
central role, and serves to emphasize by
contrast the twice-married woman's SEN
sitive intrOspection. Janet Waldorf as
a matchmaking friend Of everybody Is
earnest in her methods, and Conway
Tearle, as the first husband, by his good
acting makes a difficult and unsympa-
thetic role entirely plausible. Dudley
Hawley is a dashing Juvenile, who made
a good impression despite traces of over
zealousness, and Frank Monroe has a
series of humorously cynical speeches,
which he delivers for all they are worth.
Second only to the personal triumph Of
Miss Nillson was that of Arthur Byron,
who played the second husband. He is
an actor of splendid quality, both In
scenes of animation and repose.