The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-12
ADJUSTMENTS
'fhe Spendthrift'

The connubial infelicity OF two misfits-
or a man and a woman equally weak ana
foolish--was the unhappy story contained
in 1.-The Spendthrift.' drama at popular
prices, at the Jefferson theatre last night.
While there have been stronger plays
presented and stronger plays more ae-
ceptably presented. "The Spendthrlft
pleased. The man whose house is also
home, and whose wife is more than
gown and a pretty face, was delighted.
For he sat for several hours congratu-
ating himself in the wisdom of his selec-
ton. And the other fellow was pleased,
too. For he beheld on the stage the pic
ture of his house and his wife, and he
took advantage of splendid opportunity
to say to his wife, 81 told you so.'
The story is very simple. A man mar
ries a woman who is the fool of the av-
erage magazine story She is pretty and
lazy and vain and brainless. She driveA
her husband to the verge of bankruptcy,
and then, in order to save him-or to
guarantee for herself continued luxury
--she borrows froN millionaire rogue,
$4,000 Her husband. according to the
story, learns of the deal, and is SUSPECT
Gus. He forces his wife from her bed
to the telephone. He forces her to invite
the millionaire to her chamber. This act
furnishes the dramatic climax. While the
audience is still in the moment of ex-
pectancy, the millionaire comes, anx
faces the drawn revolver of the husband.
The millionaire explains that he was ''ex-
perimenting," and that he had secured
in return for his money, nothing save the
mental joy of attempting to solve an In
teresting problem. "A woman like that,
he says, lis either a mans wife, or an
other mans" But he doesn't get the
word out of his mouth, for the curtain
falls. The concluding act shows the
woman "up against the word" She has
run away from home. She has endeavor-
ed to earn her livelihood She has learned
that there is suffering. She has learned
that in children there is joy. So when
the husband, repentant in that he had
suspected, finally finds her. he finds a
new woman, one who is willing to under
take the serious burdens of life. one who
is willing to become "a wife and amotner
before becoming a DOCTOR or lawyer or
a suffragette." Thereafter, the path of
true love is smooth, and with everybody
ostensibly happy, the final curtain de-
scends.
The play as presented at the Jefferson
last night was saved by Laurette Allen,
In the role of the worldly-wise and world
y rich old aunt. She played natural
part, that of an old woman who has oneA
leg in Wall street and the other in the
grave, of an old woman with an exterior
rough from having brushed up against
the realities of life. and with a heart
within which bears true. The others of the
cast were acceptable. Elsie Gresham, as
the frivolous wife, but for drawing
manner of enunciation, would have bet
ter pleased. Frank III. LaRue as the
weak and outraged husband, was trifle
too stiff in his bearing. But inasmuch as
the play was unnatural in its essentials,
the unnatural manner acquired by the
players is to a great extent pardonable
The play, itself, contains a wholesome
lesson which could be told without such
prodigal waste of words. The lines put
INTO the mouth of the aunt We're bright
The aunt as a matter of fact and not
the wife was the better half'' of the
play.