The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-10-20
The TheQteTS
"THY NEIoHeoR's WIFE,"

TO the finale and amuSes with its gen
utne humour rather than through par
adoxes and suggestivness. is an unu
sual spectacle nowadays but that was
seen at the Gennett last night in the
presentation of Thy Neighbor'e
Wife" by one of the Daniel Frohman
companies.
Here is charming little comedy
that can box in the lightweight class
and never once nit under the belt
The play does not need to be sus.
tanned by players nor bolstered up by
artificial theatrical devices. 1t can
stand alone.
1t has for its basis one of those far
cical situations which, according to the
things you read in the newspapers.
might easily obtain in real life," but
which people think could only be evol-
we'd through the medium of a play.
wright's fancy and the stage
1t concerns the doings of two sets
OF young married people living side by
side in the suburbs-a domestic man
and frivolous woman, on the one
hand, a domestic woman and frivo-
,1ous man on the other; of their mu-
tual realization of their seeming mis-
matedness and of their agreement to
trade round II. after trial engage
ment" of week in each others hous-
'es. all still continue "of the same
xmind"
The men enter into this semi seri-
ously. The women played them off
against each other in order to retain
their respective husbands whom they
really cared about. The resultant COM
splications were. naturally, ludicrous
and Astounding in absurdities.
. The charm of the play lay. however.
IN its really comic spirit In that the
action was the result of the situations.
mot the latter of the former; that the
comedy was involved in the fabric Of
the story and was not logged in by
those working out the story's details.
"a play with this technical merit is
rare in this day of conglomeration of
anomalies and little of everything
thrown in to raise laugh" or get an
effect. The laughs and effects in a
ecomedy should follow just as logically
,, as the arguments in premise.
The play as seen here was admira-
bly, presented, with Mr. Arthur Byron,
IAN agreeable and we'll known Ameri-
can actor. and Miss Pamela Gay
rthorne, an English actress. first
Drought to this country by the New
TTheater Company, in the leading roles,
Mr.. and Mrs. John Robbins. They were
ably complemented by Miss Alice
John and Mr.. Frederick Tiden as Mr..
and Mrs. Harry Miller.
Mr.. Byron is an actor who is funny
in a natural way-seemingly natural.
Its the perfect illusion Of naturalness
and that is. of course, perfect theatric
art Both Mr.. Byron and Mr.. Tiden
are delightful comedians and interpret
the American spirit.
Miss Pamela Gaythorne is versa
tile young woman of much histrionic
and physical charm and gave her role
q theatric elat it might easily have
lacked with less experienced player,
her clear enunciation being not the
least attractive aspect of her presen-
tation.
Miss Gaythorne was run close Sec
ond by Miss Alice John, whose person
al charms are compelling to a very in
sistent degree. Miss John, in short, is
q beautiful young woman and can real
ly act, a gift possessed by very few
of her alleged confreres. Both Miss
Gaythorne and Miss John betrayed
their nationality in their quality Of
voice and infection and while their
enunciation was clear and distinct-in
conspicuous contrast to the slovenly
and affected manner Of speech of
many American actresses-there was
Just a shade Of monotony in the read
ing Of their lines.
Miss Kathryn Keys took the small
part Of a newspaper woman very we'll
although newspaper people on the
stage are rarely convincing-and
Richard Klein and Frank Elton as the
Chinese laundryman and the bakers
boy sustained minor roles we'll
However, what's the matter with
this town.
1t Is known among theatrical peo-
pie as a rotten show town" and with
reason
Mr.. Murray says, and we'll. that he
lisnt out to educate the people,
that he's in it for business. Mr.. Son.
Mers' experience during the past three
years when-especially last-he
brought leading plays and players
here at a continued loss-has convinc-
ed Mr.. Murray that only an occasional
''good thing" will be patronized.
This was illustrated last evening
when a small theater the size of the
Gennett was only fairly filed.
Nothing better this or any other
season will be seen in Richmond than
'Thy Neighbours Wife and it's pity
the town can't get out to only one of
the two decent plays we've seen so far
this year. r. G. w.
Paris has a wood block pavement
(which is used exclusively by automo-
biles. After three years, during which
time It has never been repaired, the
wood Is better than ever.