The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-05-06
ADJUSTMENTS
'.wHAT EVERY WOMAN KNOWS
BY MAUDE ADAMS PLEASES

That Maude Adams and Barrie play
are an uneQualed combination is more
than ever the opinion of ali who saw
the popular actress in What Every
Woman Knows" at the Salt Lake the
atre last night. The haunting, elusive
charm of Miss Adams portrayal of
quaint little Maggie Wylie captivated
the audience from the beginning. Her
elfish yet feminine temperament, with
its marvellous humor and sweetness
find expression in a character typical
of the Barrie plays. Miss Adams suits
the part and the part suits her, and the
two together are irresistible.
What Every Woman Knows" is
satisfaction to women and a profound
study to men II it reveals women to
themselves it also reveals them to men
in a light that requires an adjustment
of their preconceived notions They do
not really believe it true, what the play
reveals, but they are afraid it is and
it will take some days of self commun-
ing and of skillful fIattery on the part
of their womankind to restore them to
serenity What every woman, or at
apparently her husband does a mans
work in his own way, in reality 1t is
she who by believing in and encourag-
ing him, fits him to do it.
Little Maggie knitS in her corner and
John -ShaDd achieves a great success
in the world. But she does two things
most skillfully- She makes her hus-
band believe in himself and she gives
him the assistance OF ner WHIMSICAL
humor and imagination without his
knowing il. One line of the play re-
veals Maggie's attitude He likes to
think he does ii all himself" she says,
and she lets him think it, When the
revelation comes only Maggie protests
against it's being made, for John, with
his whole-heaTted honesty, is glad to
know the truth. That is the point at
which the play ends, but the impress
sion comes that in future they supple
ment each other. When she succeeds
in making John laugh at her Maggie
believes in his love and is no longer
afraid to come openly to his assistance
But if the story were Continued she
would doubtless still be found lulllnS
his supicions of her cleverness to rest
with a skillful exhibition of that same
cleverness.
other things that Maggie Shand
knows are that she need not be afraid
of the heavy, dull, conventional Lady
SvbiI Or at least she dares risk her
own wit and imagination and charm
in competition with Lady SyplI
beauty. One of the most delightful
touches of the play and Of Miss Adams
acting comes when she learns from the
countess that John is bored with Lady
Svbil She stares and then throws her-
self into her friends arms. half laugh
ing and half crying in the lnlmltaole
Maude Adams way
Believing herself an unloved wife,
Maggie's humorous, brave peaThS'
ton, is a touching and pathetic pic
tl1re When John admits his love for
the other woman she excuses him by
saving HE is Just my child" Through
out she laughs at John in the tender,
maternal. but clear-visioned way or the
woman in love. Her abiding humor is
her chief charm and ii wins. To the
Barrie character study Miss Adams
adds every attribute OF Imagination
and delicate fancy and charm, and the
result is a distinct addition to ones
of human nature and OF
woman's nature.
Throughout the play there are mo-
nents of pantomime that are fully as
ENJOYABLE as the dialogue. Many play
wrfohts and actors seem to be afraid
of uantomime, that ii will not hold the
attention. But IL was not so in this
The game of chess between
two of the brothers with which the
plav opens is an example. 1t continues
for some minutes, and it was almost
with regret that one heard the first
spoken words
Ably seconding Miss Adams is Rich
ard Bennett in the role of John Shand-
II is said that he has made a distinct
success in other parts he has played,
hut that his work in this play, which
Is characterized more than ever by nat
urainess and unaffected force, is easily
the best thing he has done As of all
Frohman productions, the company is
excellent throughout, and the perfor
nance one of the most delightful that
has ever been seen on Salt Lake
stage