The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-19
ADJUSTMENTS
Maude Adams

Last night at the Jefferson theatre Sir J. M. Barries whimsical humor was ex- emplified by Maude Adams in two plays
 The first and more ambitious effort was entitled 'The Legend of Leonora'' and revealed Barrie in one of his most topsy- turvy moods. There never was a humor- ist, probably. who knew how to conceal his cynicism under such a gentle and altogether charming coating of humor quite so we'll as Barrie and in this short play he is seen at his best. Nothing more droll could be imagined than the court room scene when Leonora's feminine ir- responsibility is made the theme of the most captivating comedy. Many times have courtrooms and ponderous machinery of the law been treated with levity in burlesques, but it remained for Barrie to cap the climax with his absurdities, which literally put judge, jury and court officials at the feet of Leonora, who tells the truth at all costs. And at the close of the play Barrie. with his usual gift for doing the unexpected. pays his re- spects to a very woman who is not, we fear the ultra modern sort
 Some idea of the plays whimscality may be gained from the fact that Leo nora pushed & man out of train to his death because he refused to close a win dow which exposed her daughter to a draught. The child had cold and in Leonoras mind the justification was ample.
 To see Miss Adams and her excellent cav s~. |. ..r- perience It has often been said that no other player could interpret Barrie quite so well as Miss Adams and no doubt that is true. Player and playwright are indeed well met in every one of the Barrie comedies in which Miss Adams has appeared. Her gifts as a comedienne are given the greatest latitude in "The Legend of Leonora." She was never seen to better advantage and was never more thoroughly feminine.
 The members of the company gave ad- mirable support. Arthur Lewis as the susceptible MT. Justice Grimdyke, Nor ton Selten as Sir Roderick Peripety, who thinks he understands women and even- tually proves that he does; Charles Ham, mond as Captain Rattray, quite an im- posing stage lover, so far as physique is concerned, and the earnest attorney for the defense; Fred Tyler as MT. To- vey, R. Peyton Carter as the diverting Mir. Ledbetter, stopping at nothing to free Leonora; Elsie Clarense as Lady Peripty and Leonore Chippendale as Mrs. Tovey were all conspicuously good.
 The Ladies' Shakespeare" came as an after-piece to "The Legend of Leonora." In this play, consisting of one act and three scenes, MT. Barrie has taken great liberties with a famous comedy of one Master Will Shakespeare. He has turned ''The Tanning of the Shrew'' into such comedy as the immortal Will himself never dreamed of and presented it from strictly feminine point of view. In this piece also Miss Adams has full scope for the display of her powers as comedienne and as Katherine has no trouble what eXer in getting what she wants by mere- ly pretending that she wants something else The sequel proves that woman rules the tyrant man in spirte of him. self.
 The play is airily insubstantial. It Is but a trif1e, so written and so acted. "The Legend of Leonora'' is itself the lightest form of comedy, but "The Ladies' Shakespeare shows Barrie in an even more Irresponsible mood.
 Miss Adams will play a special matt nee this afternoon and will conclude her engagement with another performance tonight. presenting the same pieces given last night.