New-York tribune., 1917-11-27
TIE CHARACTERS
By Ralph Block

"Art and Opportunity at the hniek-
erbocker Theatre, on its positive side
is two songs and a comic situation
One Of the songs Miss Eleanor Painter
sings prettily in the second act. The
other song Miss Painter sings prettliy
in the third act. The comic situation
is bounded by four men of varying
social stature and supposedly tascl-
mating and shrewdly naive widow. The
widow starts out to marry one OF them
and after bouncing up and down the
social scale in the intervening space
with the next tVo, lands in love at the
bottom with the fourth. These several
facts about "Art and Opportunity
contain most Of the potential oppor-
tunities the comedy by Harold Chapin
offers for enjoyment. The debit side
Of the ledger offers a more EXTENDED
list. proving at least that we can
have everything and that the aged la"
Of compensation is not so old but what
IT, can still get in its deadly work IN
the theatre.
The comic idea Of "Art and Oppor-
tunity" is so good that, sent out 10
forage for itself and grow up as II
nleased IL ought to have been strong
eno7,gb 10 carry the characters along
N 8 smashing finish. But II langulsnes
for want Of sustenance. It IS fed on
nsllid milk and bread, when II ought
Ia have the raw red juice OF socla!
satire. a perfectly proper and genteel
treatment u gets. u departs on NY
tbree-act Journey all dressed up IN plhh
ribbons and its hair neatly brusheu'
As an idea u wants 20 be shocklng'
wants 20 be improper, really wants 70
EXPOSE all the reasons why louf Ien
ehould be bsttv. az the vernacular mas
!. sbout a clever and fattering WIDOW
gut n never has one moment IN Whieh
i, can stretch It's legs, let out lus'y
abou. and show what 10 can 40.
All tbis restraint passes for suotlety;
hu. dn not anv one be deceived. CyFli
Hsrcourt's "A Pair Of Silk Stockings,
in which Edward Douglas, OF the cas-,
A. the Knickerbocker, played one OF
the first production parts, was an eA-
tremely subtle comedy headed IN the
same direction, yet u had some mo
nents that could be appreciated 1uiiy
only BY screaming laughter.
Algernon George Frederick Gossa'
more. son Of the Earl Of Worpiesdon'
meet Pauline Chevorelle. An American
widow, AZ the seaside, is persuaded he IS
in love with her, and she is invited down
"a Surrey for q once-over by the lam
iy. Mrs. Cheverelle, posing as the
sinplest and most naive Of ladies',
Sensi.ive 10 the point OF boredom. en-
,nares the earl. fools his sister. breaks
az with his son breaks oT with the
earl. convinces AIgsrnon Horstio Cos
,.more, third Duke Of keels. that he
;s trs game the huntreas Is after, and
then captures the poor but clever sec
retary 70 the duke by falling IN love
with him.
This ought by rights 20 be esptivnt-
ing. That 10 IL not IS not quite the
fault of the playwright. Harold Chnpin,
who Incidentally, fell fighting at the
Rattle Of LoOs. Marie Tempest, ] be
iieve the reports have IL. played the
widow In London. and no great effort
h necessary 20 picture how fascinating
he could have been In the part. miss
Painter somehow Is kittenish rather
tban fascinating, her eyes are owlish
80, abe means 20 have them IN
oennous. and DO not believe oven 80
tnnocsnf a creature as an earl, or an
~syi's son. or any other of the landed