New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-16

acts nv Cyril Harcourt. Presented by
the Messrs. Shubert at Maxine Elliotts
Theatre.
Franklin ........................M Mrs syhil fnsoy
Mabel Nero. dsltt
us,,5 pr.v Lillian CaVsnssh
Gerald vantage. ..s.''s ~ -, It.rrlnn
Adams. GRAHAM Browne
Nr. Halnes ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS DAISY Belmofe
Margaret I,,S w.rce,
i;.ia.iy pird .............. Harry Lambsrt
s.n, B,nticyl ................ Agernon Grelg
Vaudeville and duo of musty re-
vivals having proven unworthy me
diums for the exhibition OF her high
slents as coincidence, Miss Marie
Tempest last night at the Maxine ~
lott Theatre took unto herself "A
Lady's Name" To the glory OF all con-
cerned- and particularly Miss lem
nests sit is to be recorded that she
did not take it in vain. "A Lazy
Name is a highly improbable put
sparkling comedy of the Engiish
school and yet not so English as 70
be utterly un-American. indeed IL
gives indications that Cyril harcourt'
its author, has been taking Few looks
at the American stage since ne wrote
"a Pair of Silk ,'tockings.' HIS new
play, while still entitled TO be called
a high comedy, has its low comedy
moments as well, and now and then ~
flirts quite successfully with larce'
One cannot peal potatoes, discuss ost-
urday night additions and have an atn.
letic woman knock man down wllhoul
straying an inch or two from the pa'n
Of high comedy ,,,. ho. %
launch into a discussion OF Lazy
Name" before paying due tribute 70
Miss Tempest-and that fact is by no
means a reelection upon Mr.. Harcourts
comedy. The latter is excellent, bu.
Miss Tempest is better. II is she who
vitalizes the whole, contriving more
than once 10 bridge over a situation
which might otherwise have strained
tho probabilities. Fortunately, MISS
Tempest was on the stage for ma
iority of the evening. and one hence
had hut little opportunity to look Tor
weak spots in the plays structure. Mr.
Uarcourt. also. did his shore TO cover
N. slight technical defects by writing
dialogue that was bright TO the poin'
Of sparkling. Once one has accepted
the main situation, Miss Tempests
acting and Mr.. Harcourt's knowledge
Of his craft make "a Lady's Name" one
of the most enjoyable comedies OF the
year.
With the rise of the curtain one was
called upon TO believe that Mabel We're
would really be aided in her mover
writing by advertising for husband.
II was Miss Vere's theory that an m
snection OF those who responded would
spire her to deeds of best sellery,
whereas she could have met types just
as interesting and perhaps more so IN a
far more conventional manner. IL was
hard TO understand. too, why she should
carry the matter further by accepting
Mr.. Adamss invitation 10 tea, except
that one already suspected-that MI
Adams was Mr.. Whatyoucallits butler
and that Mr. Whstyoucallit, who would
presently answer the advertisement
himself. would discover her tealng IN
the kitchen.
And for a time it was desperately
hard TO take the proper interest IN Mr..
Whatyoucallit- Corkoran. his name
was. In the first place, the fellow not
only liked rice pudding, but was down,
right crazv about il. Secondly, he had
never in his life been in his own Kitten
en-until the second act OF the play
There is something wrong about man
who never goes into the kitchen, even
whom the man is a London clubman VINO
keeus bachelor apartments and -FOUR OF
Eve servants. Mr.. Corkoran and other
matters having reached the Kitchen
bowever. the comedy got under way IN
fine stvle. A dangerous first act was
csuoht M and forgotten in whirl OF
Isughable events -not the least OF
which was Miss Tempests attempt 70
nrepare a dinner-and the result OF
Il ali was that "A Lady's Name was
swont to undoubted success. Mr.. mar
conf might have strengthened his case
bv omitting the second act COOKBOOK
I'm. a cookbook always has been so Ger
tain A source of comedy that ne may be
forgiven. ud
dinp-loving clubman with fine skill, ana
a domestic trio was completed py Ihe
presence in the cast of Lillian cav
anaugh. Miss Tempest's daughter-ih-
law. Miss Cavanaugh was exceedingly
attractive as suffragette OF the rec
ognized stage variety. Despite hei
nTowess with the Indian clubs, how
ever. il was a bit hard 10 believe ina
she could have hoored the huge Jonh
Sharkey with so great case, ouV Pc
hans Mr.. Sharkey was not trying us
hardest. Daisy Belmore and beryi
Mercer made good impressions as
cook and a kitchen maid, respectlVely,
and Stanley Harrison PROVOKED huthot
by his Interpretation OF the hlhd o.
butler that one expects TO encouhteI
in English life. The play, lndeed'
abounds in familiar types only MisS
Tempest's role being a bit unreeogn!Z-
able.
roteworthy' although the kitchen set
~ tho second act doubtless looked all
right to a man who had never been IN