New-York tribune., 1919-09-30
Drama
''Moonlight and Honeysuckle'
Has First Performance at
Henry Miller
By Haywood Broun


Moonlight and Honeysuckle," an
agreeable and facile light comedy by
George Scarborough was produced at
.he Henry Miller Theatre last night.
he name suggested sentiment no end,
but the play proved to be mildly Gym
ical and thoroughly entertaining
The comedy concerns a young Wash
ington belle who decides TO test her
suitors by confessing to an imaginary
past Two wooers Immediately shy off
while the third, not abating his love
one whit, causes all sorts of complica-
tons by setting out to shoot the ficti-
tious seducer Although we were
amused by Mr.. Scarborough's play it
did not seem to US profoundly true
We are of the opinion that the major
.ty o. young men in love would have
reacted rather differently to the girls
confess on than did the suitors in the
play. We think certain number of
young romanticists would have re-
marked, How interesting." and an
equal number of young realsts would
have sair, "W hat Of ito~
The men OF the Scarborough play
seemed 10 us more caddish than usual.
-wo Who withdrew their suits were at
east within their rights, whatever IN
dication i gave Of TIE depths of their
affection. but the worst cad OF all. in
our opinion was the young man who
held that It was his personal business
TO respectabilize the sirl ne adored by
shooting her lover. However, the
heroine thought differently. This was
the one she married In fact, we found
ourself quite unable TO comprehend
her point Of view. She was angry q.
her young men not so much at what
they thought OF her confessed indis-
cretion, but because they believed It
a. all. And yet 1t Is not an impos-
sibliity that a thoroughly presentable
when she tells OF one she is entitled
to hoNef
But : we were not altogether in
Sympathy with the character OF the
Successful lover as drawn by Mr. Scar
borough We found him most attractive
as rlaged by James Rennie. This
Young actor has had only a brief Broad
way experience previous to his present
engagement and has spent most Of his
tine in small stock company, but last
night ne romped away with the honors.
ssibly he played the part Of for
wer aviator With q certain assurance.
because he was q captain IN the ROYAL
wing CORDS during the war. bat more
han that. he brought an unusual grace
~ the stage and quite EXCEPTIONAL
ability 20 stay in the picture while
'.steuing to somebody else. His first
performance WITS marred little by an
unusuai gruffness of voice, which prob
ahly is not habitual. but for all that
ae gave performance rich in charm.
He seems destined to be ranked among
me most promising Of our young lead
ing men
Ruth Chatterton not only has a play
which suits her better than ANYTHING
n many seasons. but makes more use
NJ hor opportunities. She is still too
insNnored but much easier and more
natural than in her last two or three
performances in New York. It seems
10 Us tha. she is ironing out her fanlts 'i.'
among which we number decreasing
oui sN!l distinct, aggressiveness when
ever sne Is called upon 10 be arch She
: also in error. we think in farcing
700 broadly the scene in which she
frst makes her confession. On the
other hand. she played with spirit and
humor and was generally attractive.
Miss katherine Emmett was also
among The highly successful members
o. o. an excellent cast. a 8 was Miss Lucille
watson. one o. our crispest comedi-
cnnes and Charles Trowbridge also
added 70 The evenings enjoyment
Lawrence Eddinger did great deal
with a small bit as negro butler.
indeed The players do their sabre most
maufuilr
o. course If must be said that Mr..
Scarborough has given them excellent
material to work with He has ac-
ccomp'lshec she difficult feat of telling
ms story I'm one set and with no time
breaks. The act division IS almost
purely arbitrary Moreover. he has put
himself under the necessity of making
several o. his scenes run in parallels.
MS heroine, for instance has TO make
ner confession three times In spite Of
'Als the eject of repetition is almost
entirely aosnt, SO cleverly has the au-
NOR differentiated each scenes by slight
lwlsts ~ the action The story. al
'hough slight moves briskly and has
suihcient number OF surprises 20 hold
me attention. though the final solu-
ION Is always q foregone conclusions
me iaiocue Is excellent and only oc-
caSionaliy epigrammatic
Moonlight and Honeysuckle seems
10 US another ndcation that at last
9ignt comedy has become a native IN
austry. And II also seems to US that if
me promise Of the present season, with
us brilliant "Clarence' and its lesser
out amusing Adam and Eva" and
Moonlight and Honeysuckle," is full
ahed Light comedy may prove to be
an infant industry which needs no
protection