Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-10-29
ADJUSTMENTS.
New National.

Many interesting suggestions were Of
fered and followed up in an argumenta-
tive way by the play Our Wives" at
the New National Theater. The most
important conclusion that was demon
strated was that a comedy may take it
self quite seriously and still be brisk1y
entert aiming. 1t scatters ridicule, but it
is ridicule restrained by solid German
philosophy and tempered with warm HUI
man sympathy. The heart affairs of
average young people are dealt with by
the authors Miss Kraft and Mr.. Man
del, In Internationally sort OF way
that gives assurance at the outset that
no serious sentimental wreckage will be-
fall the course of true love into which the
characters are sent adrifts
The principal character is played by
Henry kolker. He is Benedick modern
lied. He theories with Darwinian ex-
pertness on falling in love as an incident
of natural selection and lays the founda-
ton for some spirited scenes with the
Beatrice who subsequently appears and
with woman's wit forces him first to a
compromise and then to a capitulaton.
If the speeches have not the sparkling
repartee and the poetic grace to enable
them to hold their own in the face OF
classic comparison, they have a warm,
foundation of common sense that make
the ado about nothing a pleasant even
ings diversion.
The story is simplicity itself. A woman
hater derides his three friends for falling
In love. They marry young women whose
good looks are accompanied by difficult
dispositions. When they become discour-
aged and decide to rebel against matri-
mony. they seek the old-time champion
of celibacy for a renewal of comradeship
nrvy To fv,l kI-A h. ii IL -l~
tonic friendship into uncompromising SEN
timentalism. The final comedy scene is
his proposal of marriage, after he has
sent the recreant husbands back to their
homes with ringing speech.
The pretext for bringing the woman
hater into the companionship of the lady
who destroys his resolutions is the most
| imaginative element of the plot. Mr..
kolkers role is that of librettist who
takes fancy to a melody which he hears
floating through the corridors of the
apartment house The auditor, having
heard it. may wonder what he wants
with it, but that has nothing to do with
the case. He becomes so infatuated with
the strain that he decides he cannot
write without it as his inspiration. and
accepts the lady who composed 1t and
who adroitly holds out for terms as a
cola borator
The play is an excellent example of the
effect that splendid craftsmanship can
secure, even when the idea Is not one OF
| noteworthy force or originality. TIE
scenes in which the main thread of the
story hangs are sustained with vigorous
interest by Mr.. KOlker, who made a mem
orable impression here in the title role OF
Don" The one danger in his present
characterization lies in the temptation tC
try to get more out of a part than the
author has put into it. Miss Pamela Gay
thorne. an actress of unusual personality
accompanied by agreeable repose has
the principal role. Three stunningly
gowned women, representing the auburn.
the faxen and the petite brunette types
OF feminine charm, are in evidence as the
wives of the fat husband, the thin. angu-
lar husband and the husband built on
ordinary. well proportional lines.
John Ffndlay plays the butler In a way
that recalls his performance of wait
er in You Never Can Tell" and there
can be no higher compliment
The stage settings include only two
scenes. both interiors OF remarkable
beauty.