New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-10
By HAYWOOD BROUN.

She was n girl reporter and he was
n crook. Naturally they married and
the play ended happily. Better than
that, 1t began rapidly and progressed
entertaningly. Max MARGINS new play
Ia amusing and exciting.
The author has described Cheating
Cheaters" as satiric farce melodrama,
but since little emphasis is placed on
the farce, and still less on the satire,
the play fits neatly enough into the
melodrama class. The author probably
added farce TO the title to defend him
self against any criticisms Of improba-
bility. No such defence is needed. The
play moves along so rapidly that no
one has time 70 ask the reason why.
He would be carpinc spectator, any
way, who would seek to cross-question
so rollcking a story.
Better still, the chief character was
played with delicate touch of dis
belief. II might almost be said that
Majorie Rambeau had her tongue in her
cheek. Her confidence was infectious.
IL was reassuring to know, even though
only systematically, that, no matter
how dark the night or how desperate
the plight, no harm could come TO the
lovely heroine. Miss Rambeau was
much too charming heroine to lose.
The play seeks and Gains interest by
means Of surprises. We will assert that
some little time before the end we had
almost guessed which Of the characters
would prove to be Ferris, the great and
mysterious detective. On the other
hand, we will confess that the big sur
prise of the second act took us un-
awares, and II seemed to take the rest
of the audience that way, too. AT that
moment the house paid the play hign
tribute. The sob is hard to get and the
laugh more 80, but Cheating Cheat
ers" gained gasp.
Since the play is built upon sur
prises. and since we recommend that he
who reads may run to see 1t, we VIII
not give away the plot. OF course, our
natives are not sincere. Ii is easier to
dodge than to describe. However, II
may be said that Cheating Cheaters'
is about thieves and more thieves, but
the adage concerning too many crooks
fails to hold. II is a fine broth of a
play.
Probably it Is not difficult TO act
such play as Cheating Cheaters,
but that does not alter the fact that il
is extremely we'll played. Marjorie
Rambeau has just the sharp, fast, sure
touch required, and she could do more
if there was need. II IL pleasant to see
a lady engaged in gainful occupation
who is not straining herself. There
are times during the evening of an
emotional actress when the chiyalrous
spectator feels inclined to rise and say
MADAME, take my seat" Marjorie
Rambeau can 20 through Cheating
Cheaters" for thousand nights with
out mussing her hair.
Robert McWade has a nice sense OF
the comedy values offered him in the
mart of Steve Wilson, the toughest OF
The crooks. His best moment comes
In the last act, when he and the other
criminals are set to penning their con
fessions at the behest of Ferris the
detective. Sleeve munches his pencil
discons olately and then inquiries How
many DIS are there in MURDER"
william Morris is excellent as the
suave George Brockton and Anne Suth-
erland amusing as Nell Brockton
Frank Monroe does a lawyer in suffi-
GENTLY villanous manner and Cyril
Keightley is a pleasant hero.
Our only complaint about the play
is that it does not end quite as in
geniously as it begins and progresses
! Still. it is good enough Some may
argue, if they wish, that the heroine
should not have married the hero, for
there was no gainsaying the fact that