New-York tribune., 1918-01-01
CHARACTERS
By J. Alexander Pierce

Out OF the mouths Of babes and cr-
rand girl. when portrayed by Laurcttc
Taylor. comes wisdom. SO it. is not
surprising that the secret OF happiness,
which has cludad so many searchcrs.
should be found by Jenny, the blthe
messenger Of a dressmaking cstab-
lishment. Happiness" concerns the
heart, and it goes right to the mark.
How much credit for the hit belongs
TO Miss TAYLOR herself is a matter tiat
she undertook to settle in pretty cur
tam speech by resigning the lions
share to Ihc playwright
Miss Taylor was glad that the audi
encc liked the play, which they GER
tainly did. She recalled that every
body said what he liked in "rhe
Wooing OF Eve was herself and that
the play ran only three weeks. Now
she believed her happy home WAS as
sured because. as Shakesncarc re-
marked, tho plays the thing Miss
Taylor was very modest Few &C
tresscs. perhaps none, could make rs
much Of her new part as she did. Little
Jenny charm was sovereign. but much
praise must also be awarded the play
4 ne story is en- interesting one, some
OF the situations provoke keen expcc-
tation and the development Of the ac-
ton is c]evcrly handled. The play pro-
crosses by skips and jumps, with
number of unlocked for turns Each
new phase is introduced in a way that
s.rouses curiosity. 1t is always obvious
Gt that m rCo
the relations of the characters. but a
lew minutes always eiapsc before the
rev situation is fully revealed
The wisdom revealed by Jenny is that
happiness is found in looking forward
to things. and particularly to the
achievement of worthy ambition
through ones own effort. The secret
appeals with all the shock OF novelty TO
q self-centred society woman. Mrs
Chrystal~Pole, to whom tAe errand girl
brings a new hat and gown. Mrs
Chrystal-Polc becomes interested in
Jenny's views and in the courage and
independence which are such surpris-
ing possession for one earning Sc
week.
Jenny has found the movies very dis
couraging. for they invariably show the
girl on S6 week going wrong. And
most discouraging of all. perhaps. is
men who have big stomachs and no
hair. From personal observation at the
modiste's she was inclined to think the
girls preferred the good looking ones.
When Philip Chandos drops in Jenny
informs the hostess without hesitation
that its "fellers in evening dress. like
him, that give girls wine and dance
with EN-, and IN the next reel they're
ruined"
@l,o
giving that Jenny entertains concern
ing this insipid young man, who has
inherited more money than is good for
him, but a sophisticated audience has
ITS own suspicious, which may be indi-
Gated by alusion to the sins Of the
fathers Whether the impeachment is
justified in any measure must be left
for vestigation by future audiences.
1t is possible that Jenny's instinct is
sometimes wrong. but it is unerring
in her instantaneous liking for young
lrlsh electrician, who sings a capti-
waiting song.
Miss Taylor's study of the little
working girl had a sure touch. She
had the old smile that warmed the
cookies of the heart, and as many be-
eulling little ways as in Peg o My
Heart" Her scenes with her lover kept
the audience so thoroughly entertained
that they never stopped TO think that
the action of the play was failing off
toward the end to fine thread An
other part that delighted the audience
on its merits az a specially was Lynn
Fontanne's portrayal of Miss Perkins,
light headed and vivacious society
girl.
Violet Kemble Cooper played the
blase Mrs. Chrystal- with a grand
drawing room manner, and her blond
beauty and ability to wear costly raj
ment effectively added greatly to tho
success Of the impers onation. Chandos
was rather a stick, a sort of walking
stick, ono might say. with the handle
depressed obiquely, by way of nose
and bit Of gingery mustache stuck
beneath. That was the way the author
made him. Of course, and not the
choice Of O. P. Heggie, who did the ut
most with the few human moments al
lottcd to him.
A part that was far from snowy, but
was handled with much taste and skill
by Catherine Proctor, was that of
Jenny's mother. Subdued and always
subordinatod. the role was neverthe-
loss very effective. Pathos served to
offset comedy at the end Of the third
act. when the house was dotted with
hits of white cambric, some of them
mans size. Throughout the greater
part of the play humorous lines kept
lat ghter bubbling.
A notice Of "The Cohan Revue Of
1918" will be published tomorrow.