Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-12-26


krt 9''Tui i%in Mrs. Bascoms hSs% $ Kitchen. That
Act iT--outside Mrs. Bascom's Kitchen
later
Elements Of popular appeal have been
tudiciously compounded in TINS hlThlN
successful comedy. which broke t"otlglt
records in New York last season. 1t IS
a favorite fable of stageland that coun-
try life is sweet and virtuous and metro
poltan existence corrupt and foul Few
plays developing this assumption nave
ever failed to win the public favor W.T.
ness especially. "rhe n!d Homestead
with the sentimentality Of that offer
ing Is mingled in Turn to the Right
the comic .unscrupulousneSs which em-
phatically touched American stmn''o'"S
in Get -Rich-Quick Wa'lingford. Native
audiences seem unable to r"S'St the
charm of ingratiatng CROOKS VINO on
counter such extraordinary runs ~ co"'
luck that their steps are eventually dl-
rected into paths of rectitude. Pecca-
tlloes and sharp practices are geher-
ously forgiven when evening dr'SF Is
punctilliously donned In the maj scenes.
The Mugs and ,iilly of Winchcll
Smith and John T.. Hazards play PASS
through all the well-liked phases ot dra-
matte deye e'opment. Fully as "shifty as
the hypocritical Deacon Tlllinger. whom
they so tfiumphantly fleece. but far more
winning of personality. their gradual dis-
covery that honesty Is the best policy
is attained in hunRrous episodes TINT
for more than year have elected hearty
applause.
II Is incontestablc that in the present
instance these two characters are anus
ingly drawn and capitally acted. IheN
furnish the chief comic motive III II
piece which otherwise relies directly on
the sentimental material long the MAIN
stay of the "revivalist," Joe Bascnm
abandons his gray-haired mother Tor the
maelstrom of metropolitan life He Is
caught in its eddies. is sent to jail and
ultimately released. quickened with the
desire to go straight
Maternal prayers are rewarded when
the prodgal reappears at the critical
time when the old homestead is about
to be sacrificed to the chcancry of a
small town maEnatc. The cnntritc
youths efforts to save the situation are
at first embarrassed and later potent
abetted by the aforesaid pals OF ms
prison days, who follow him to ms ma
tive village. turn the tables on the
Deacon and so energetically expand Mrs
Bascom's peach jam business that pros
concerned.
Given primitive plot structure of this
type IT is eXigent that keen attention
must he devoted to characterization
breeziness of dialogue and expert act
ing. These ingredients have been skill
f,llly emp'o in "'rurn to the Right
Messrs. Smith and Hazard have acute
senses of fun. The former drumatis'
has previously revealed his talent IN
such agreeable offerings as THE Boom
erang" and THE Fortune Hunter Mr
Hazard is a comedian whose apprecia-
ton of intelligent mirth serves him ef'
fectively In the literary field. As a
result. triteness and conventionalty OF
theme are embroidered with lively laugh
provoking scenes.
Clever histrionism enhances theil
value. Forrest winant, as Joe Bascom
be handles a rather mawkish role will
taste, and William T.. Meehan and pe
Witt Newing are decidedly diverting as
respectively Mugs and Gilly Thai
peach jam stage personalities are wei
come with Il large class of theatre
gocrs is attested by the spirit In whici
Ruth Chester's performance of the sac
charlne Mrs Bascom has been generally
received. Samuel Reed contributes al
entertaining character study of the tight
listed Deacon. Al the auxiliary role:
are capably handled and the piece |.
staged with unpretentious but convincing
realism. II II. &.