The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-10-26
FARCE OF FINANCE
HAS GOOD MOMENTS
"Not With My Money" Bap-
tized at Thirty-ninth
Street Theatre.
HAS A CROOK THEME
Story Deals With Schemes to
Get Fortune of Philan-
thropic Girl.
"Not with Ny Moncy"-At the Thirty
ninth Street Theatre.

Not With My Money" is the evocn-
tive title OF four act Crook comedy"
By Edward Clark which was baptized
with the calcium at the Thirty-ninth
Street Theatre last night. MT Clark Is
known 60 fame chiefly through his dra-
matte version Of "De Luxe Annie" He
has audaciously called his new play by
such a name In spite Of the prevailing
hard times in the theatre. But he Is
daring Mot With My Money suits
50 many awkward situations.
The obdurate hacker buttoning his
coat over his check book. the doubling
manager from Missouri, the actress
shrewd-all these and even the dramatic
critic deep in his literary seclusion
might be tempted to grow commercial
and express his dlsapproval IN a repeti-
ton Of the name of the piece. All sorts
OF inconvenient possibilities might
threaten In the case OF such titillating
title.
source Of the Play.
1t was rumored In the Hobbies last
night that the basis OF Mr.. Clark'e new
play was a short story. Face Value"
by Edgar 8. Franklin but the specta-
tors were more concerned with what
they saw on the stage. The four acts
pass In the Office OF a New York hotel
and at q country estate. The theme on
which the author has built Is the desire
of q very young woman and foolish
heiress 60 get rid OF many thousands Of
dollars for the good OF her fellow men.
Two OF her fellow men-both croolSs--
approve highly OF her plan. One even
secures the post OF manager OF the es-
tate and sets to work to disseminate the
thousands by founding a town called
Angel City. His old pal cannot prevent
the plans from really working out so
succe ssfully, however. that the young
woman, with the assistance OF her
equally youthful admirer. succeeds in
saving her fortune--at Least from the
hands OF the crook who sets out to
get II.
Mr.. Clark's play contains some anus
ing scenes. especially in the third act. In
which a meeting OF the committee to dis
pose OF the vast fortune Is held. But
there might have been greater enterta ain
naent for the spectators had Mr.. Clark
handled his material more expertly
There were also in this third act some
striking "situa TONS" such as the acci-
dental meeting OF the crooks, since, I'M
known to them. the young philanthropist
had engaged all OF them for her board
But these minutes which should have
been highly diverting episodes passed for
nothing Then Mr.. Clark devoted two
acts to LAYING pipes which little dex-
terity might have put in place In single
scene or two.
Promises Greater Things.
There was 5ome amusing slang Of the
crooks and the third act met with real
success Mr. Clark as a dramatist does
some things so well that II rather exas-
perates his audiences not 10 have every
part OF a play as good as It ought to be
When this some day happens he will
make a real play with all his good quail
tiles at their best. Get Rich Walling-
ford" was the obvious inspiration OF
Not With My Money
Lowell Sherman, again slim and
youthful In appearance. played well the
leader Of the band that disappeared in
a wave OF reformation. William VII
son. as his old associate. had the best
of the slang and was comic at times In
spite OF his tendency to overact Car
roll McComas played inteiligently as
woman victim. later an accomplice to
recover her losses. Beverly westInore
was sufficiently saccharine as the heir
ess who wanted to give away all her
money. 1t is possibly this extnavsgant
theme which more than any other fac
tor that interfered with the complete
success OF the farce.