New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-31

By HAYWOOD BROUN


gerous theatrical commodity. We must
own that a sinking sensation seized US
upon reading the programme last night
and discovering that "Old Lady 81" by
Rachel Crothers. was set down as "the
sunshine comedy" Il isn't. Partly
cloudy is far more accurate. Miss
Crothers has handled her sentiment
and her sunshine with such rare dis
erection that she has written charm
ing comedy Of character.
Chiefly her success may be attributed
70 the fact that she has defed the con-
ventions Of the theatre in the manner
in which she has depicted the aged. As
a rule playwrights have dealt with only
two sorts of old persons. They have
been divided sharply into the grabbed
and the sanity Somewhat more roughly
the women have been the saints and
the men the crabs.
Miss Crothers has done much better
than that She realizes that grand
fathers and grandmothers are much
the same as the rest of us, only older
She has savOred the sweetness of years
with the acidity of age, and so the
folk created by her are true and alto
gether admirable.
High praise must'be accorded 20 an au-
thor who has devised a comedy IN which
10 is necessary 20 single out no Fewer
than eight actors who should be con-
graduated for exceptionally good work.
Praise is due 10 these actors, but only
after a realization of the fact that they
plav well because the author mas al
lowed them rare opportunities.
Emma Dunn was Angie. Her beau
tiful and rarely sympathetic voice has
never been employed to better advan-
tage. So completely did she win her
audience that sam Bernard wept at her
curtain speech. Fortunately one may
cry at the Thirty-ninth Street Theatre
without losing an atom Of MS selt-re-
spect. Perhaps that is bit extreme,
but surely one can cry without losing
her self-respect.
In fact. we are inclined 10 believe
that the person who does not smile
lust a bit when Angie and Abe leave
their home should have mis- heart re-
strung. As like as not the CUTS gone
- q
sufficient restraint. That is easy for
her. since wish word or two Of her
so eloquent voice she can thrust home
mood.
Reginald Barlow as Abe scored not
only in his own right, but his team
play with Miss Dunn was excellent.
Before going on 70 tell OF some other
brilliant acting in the play, notably
that Of May Galyer as Blossy, 1t Is
fair TO say that Mics Crothers has
brought a new plot 70 the theatre.
Abe and Angie are forced in their old
age 20 move out Of their house IN favor
of the Sheriff. All that is left after
the wreck is 500, which is sufficient TO
gain admittance 70 the old ladies' home
for Angie Abe must go TO the poor
farm The separation Of the couple Is
averted when the old ladies decide that
10 would be pleasant 70 have man
about the place. and Abe is allowed 70
take up quarters with his wife IN the
home.
The lot Of the only man IN an old
ladies' home is somewhat eXacting.
The play tells how Abe became the
most popular member Of the commu-
nifty and then, through the ravages OF
gossip. the least. Eventually, we are
sorry 20 say. a most preposterous happy
ending is tackled on. This IS so spu-
rioug. however, that Il mars the total
effect Of the play in only the slightest
degree.
If anybody can name a more humor-
Gus act in any play this season than
the second act of "Old Lady 81" let
him speak. And II ne speaks he must
be prepared 70 debate with one whose
enthusiasm. for the moment at least,
is rampant.
Miss CrOthers has written an inter
esting play. not because she IS partieu-
larly skilled IN the tricks of the thea
ire. In fact. we don't believe she IS.
A more adept playwright would have
realized the somewhat irrelevant nat
ure Of the last act and the fucility Of
bringing back 20 life the stock Of de-
funct gold mine. This ten-cent-a-share
stuff was worth 5000 in the last act.
As Angie said. il was the work OF the
Lord. However. that makes no differ
Cnce. Miss Crothers. despite her igno-
rance o. the ways of the curb market,
knows much about life, and she has not
been in the least afraid Of bringing u
into the theatre with her. She mas not
asked every real person to pause at
the stage door and wipe the mud of his
boots.
There is an indefnable, appealing
quality in the best portions OF "Old
LADY 81" The comedy, the farcicality
and the tragedy of old age have all
been realized and blended in this play.
To borrow from recent article by
George Tyler, 1T makes dimples TO
catch the tears"
Now and again the play is bit
talkv. but that is hardly a fault when
the talk is excellent. We have had
numerous plays about folk who lived
in the present and the future, but Miss
Crothers mas brought To light the
poignantly dramatic possibilities OF the
people who live in the past. IL is IN
evitable and. perhaps, proper that she
should contrast the old folk with a pair
Of Young lovers, but the scenes for
the girl and boy are not written so
well as the rest Of the play, and are
acted much worse.
After Abe and Angie in merit comes
Blossy. This is corking performance
By NAY Galyer. The httenish woman
Of more than due share Of years has
almost always been a low comedy hg-
IRE. Miss Crothers and Miss Galyer
nave treated the type more kindly. We
love every little founce and bounce
which Blossy takes upon herself Some
what more conventional, but rarely hu.
morous for all that. IS the Nancy OF
Viva Ogden's Maud Sinclair. woman
With rarely tragic face. covers wide
field in an exceedingly capable charsc-
terization Of Sarah Jane. Others who
sbould not 20 unnoticed are Anna
Rates. as Abigail; Edward O'Connor.
as Mike, and Mary Davis, as tyranny
Al last we are willing 70 play tnat
cussed game OF Pollyannas. lhere IL
something IN the present thehtrlcal sea
son 20 be glad about.