The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-26
TOO MANY COOKS"
AN AMUSING FARCE
Frank Craven Writes and Then
Acts in . Very Clever
Novelty.
SITUATIONS FULL OF FUN
Story Of Prcnuptial Woes Told
at Thirty-ninth Street
Theatre.

Frank Craven won double honors at
the Thirty-ninth Street Theatre last
night when he played the leading role In
a new farce OF his own composition called
TOO Many Cooks" Mr.. Cravens little
play possesses some novel features. In
the first place its action takes place be-
fore the site Of a new house which a
young man IL building for his bride-to-be.
Thithsr come all the characters. The
superfiuous Cooks happen to be the large
family Of his betrothed. 1t 10 to the
vexauons which they cause the young
hero that the piece owes Its fun as well
- its title
All the humors of the young man con-
tempiatinG matrimony and brought into
contact with his wife's large family are
adroitly exhibited. So adroitly Indeed has
Mr. Craven contrived the succeeding incl
dents that the audience never grew weary
OF them. although It's only fun lay IN the
humor OF these conflicts between the be-
,toth.d on one side and the future hus-
band on the other, with not only their
families, but their intimate friends urging
the claims OF one side or the other. Inc
maiden aunt of the wife, who had planned
to occupy the spare room, mas IL claimed
by the rich uncle Of the husband 70 be.
The climax OF the family's interference
comes at the close of the second act. when
the father OF the girl who Is the secretary
OF "A labor union, orders the Norknen TO
quit their job because a strike OF whNh
they had not heard has been declared.
Then the audience sees the desperate nus
band starting TO finish the house himself,
IL had grown from the brick foundations
In the first act to the second story.
Author Acts Delightfully."-.
Mr.. Craven, who acted with his usual
deligstfu, naturalness throughout the
whole play and had trained his actors
to the same skilfu, method, deiineated
some OF the phases OF life for the newly
betrothed His bachelor friend. who did
not seem To- the future wife at all an
advantageous associate for her husband :
her interfering friend, who proved always
| too much for him In any struggle of wits.
| the oificious relatives and their sugges-
| tions-all these features OF the little play
were most amusingly portrayed. The en-
| trance # the family OF the young girl
/ did suggest occasionally comic opera
| chorus But the actors were fortunately
| without eNaHgtTatiun except IN one or Two
| cases NJ their share in the humor had It's
| influence in contributing to the success OF
| the evening.
| As foil to these and their innocent
| vulgarlty there was the rich uncle. who
no sooner laid eyes on the house than he
| wanted TO come and share il with his
| nephew and even good ndturedly gave up
his plan OF having the young man marry
| the daughter OF "A business rival in order
| to receive the young woman into his
| heart, until he got "a taste OF the quality
OF her family. No characters In the play
were better drawn than the two intimate
! friends OF the lovers. Eva Condor acted
with delightful scorn OF mere man the
/ part OF the girl friend, while the bachelor
unalterably opposed to matr!mony at first
| was played with just the necessary com
| posure by John Cromwell. This young
| man. whatever he may be in other roles
| certainly showed himself an admirable
! l!ght comedian last night