The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-20
PLAY BY DANCER
y BROWN Is DROLL
"A Very Good Young Man" Is
Well Produced at
Plymouth.
EAST SIDE LIFE SHOWN
Hero Gamers Wild Oats Before
He Marries Beauty Prize
Winner.
"A Very Gosd Young Nan"--At the
Plymouth.


into the discard and popular hooters Of
the Broadway stage had begun to keep
step to something more martial than the
music OF jazz band, Martin Brown had
disappeared from the scenes Of his ar
tistic activities. These had usually been
the theatre under the shubcrt egis, for
In various musical plays under their
direction the dancer had appeared.
II was whispered In the corridors OF
Punch and Judy as an explanation OF
his retirement that Mr. Brown was in
the process OF changing from dancer to
dramatist. and in that state OF meta
morphis, had written not one play but
several. Just low much stranger than
truth fiction may sometimes be was
proved last night when Arthur Hopkins
offered q play by Mr.. Brown at the
Plymouth Theatre. The other play, II Is
said, will be seen later elsewhere.
Comedy Of New York Types.
"A Very Good Young Man" is the title
Of the new piece, which Is comedy OF
types-stage types more or less but
nevertheless constantly amusing The
very good young hero who IL engaged to
marry the winner of a beauty prise 10
in one respect like some OF the young
men who In the past have made their
appearance in French farces. He Is too
moral to be trusted in his innocent con-
dition.
He must garner some wild oats, al
though he has in the enterprise the au-
thority Of his betrothed and her family.
Acquisition OF this experience presum-
ably necessary to follow successfully
the career of a husband makes up "A
Very Good Young Man"
This search for the fruits Of the tree
Of knowledge not only carries tho limo
cent so far as Sheepshead Bay but
oven 10 the heart OF a lady who might
have gained permanent possession Of
him but for the domestic recognition
Of this Sir Galahads adventure. Quail
fed at last by his traffic with the world,
however. he lands in the arms OF his
betrothed, so the event OF the crusade
IL happy.
Martin Brown acknowledged on the
programme the assistance Of Robert
Housum In 'the ecompletion' OF his play.
which had its scenes IN those humble
quarters OF New York that formerly
sheltered the men and women that came
from the brain OF Edward Harrigan
Indeed. a play SO completely identified
with this same phase OF metropolitan
existence has not been seen IN Years f..
Scenes of the Play"
While not always on Manhattan ISL
and, the dramatic action passed in
such adjacent quarters as Greenpoiut,
Sheepshead Bay and East New York.
Inevitably the characters were Irish,
German or Hebrew. They were well
drawn. spoke n language racy of the
wit OF their world and kept near enough
to earth never 20 become mere figures
OF burlesaue.
+ 1t is useless OF course to deny that
with background OF moro tang BILE
fiction and with some degree of sus-
pense in its revelation Mr.. Browns
humor would have been vastly more ef-
fective. And the occasionally impend-
ing danger OF ennui would have been
averted.
Arthur Hopkins. who had provided
three characteristic backgrounds for the
play. also selected interesting actors.
Ada Lewis as a widow who had inherited
an undertaking parlor in East New
York was dellciously droll. and Lydia
Dickson, who played her designing
daughter. was equally amusing They
were the best OF Mr.. Browns studies.
Alan D!nehart. long a popular actor
n tho varieties, WAS a melancholy vocal
list compelled to act as a waiter. and his
dry humor added variety to tho second
act. Ruth Findlay, who was the per-
picked betrothed Of the good young
man, added note OF girlish loveliness
to the scenes. She acted with intelll-
gence and charm.
Josephine Meyer was the hara sss d
head OF the Han,1dn family, whose
members were amsAngly characterized
by Fannie Bourke and the juvenile
Frank Longacre. wallace Eddnger
played the hero with every necessary
quality but the Indispensable youthful
ness, and this was a fatal deficiency to
the success of his performance.