Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-06-10
ADJUSTMENTS
MADE of Money"

Added to the interest in "irst-on-
any-stage" production, keenly manifest
at the New National Theater last
night by gathering worthy of the
winter season at its height, is the fas-
clnatlon or studying players for traces
or that admirable, yet almost extinct
attribute, versatility. In the first act
OF Made of Money" four-act COM
edy. by MeSSrs. Child and Browne, it
was delight to observe the transmu-
tation of last weeks bettle-browed de-
tectlSe, into the village ancient who
diScoursed with lovable egotism on the
1ollles OF the present as compared with
the wisdom. Of his youth. The plot
abandoned him with the descent of the
frst-act curtain. Though gone, he was
not forgotten, even though characters
more vital to the story relentIessly
relegated him to a histrionic past
The trim little chauffeur and lover of
The Hiring Line" came forward with
one trouSer leg in his boots and de-
liberate by-gosh accent that might
have suggested Will Cressy at the age
OF sixteen. The somewhat sedate aris-
tocrat of last weeks suburban home
becomes dashing wine agent with q
bubbling humor typical of his wares.
SO on through the long list of PLAYERS
that tell the quaint little story which.
IKE the seed in the magician's palm.
blossoms miraculouSly from a farce
into a philosophy.
The first scene is that Of a black
SMITHS shop. into which four rich men
are forced. by the collapsed tire to wait
Some exceedingly brisk motor talk be-
comes appropriate. In fact the smart
ness of the incidental dialogue is an
element of wonderful value in holding
amused ~: attention throughout the play.
This group OF miliionaires turn to "suc-
cess as topic of idle conversation I'M
III Dan Hardy. the iron king of Wall
street, with characteristic cynicism.
turns II into cold sporting proposition
and bets hundred thousand dollars
that he can make a success of the first
person who steps across the smithy's
threshold Some moments of pleasant
comedy suspense present themselves as
several characters come to the door,
ana by falling TO take the one additional
step forfeit the big chance Of a lifetime
At last the lucky one arrives, a quiet.
sell -elfacing girl. played by u new ar
rival In the company's personnel, Miss
Lynn FOntanne.
manner, which makes more impress
sive the depth of sentiment that the
character typifies. Into this party Of
WORKINGS; measuring life by super
fetal standards. she brings the poise
of calm intellectually, and when the
plot courageouSly reposes its hone of
survival on an ethical bubble as to
what Go constitutes n,t,, success" she as
taches inevitably TO clear honest
thought in any human association The
role is an interesting one. Miss Fon-
tame proved a most attractive expo
nent of ii. despite the fact that nerv-
BUSINESS asserted itself among the play
ers in some of the scenes to a degree
which apparently cut the cables be-
tween author and actors and left
the latter mOmentarily to their own
extemporaneous resources. Alfred
Lunt, week ago SO easy and natu-
raj, took the cynicism of Dan Hardy
so much to heart that in some phases
of his portrayal he appeared to be
coveting the sinister laurels of the
traditional heavy villain.
MIR. Lunt is a fortunate man in the
fact that strive as he may he cannot
render himself disagreeable. New
clothes are, of course, necessary to
make the Lynn Fontanne girl the big
success that causes reporters stealthily
TO haunt the fire-esctpe. moving pic
ture mag nates to ofrer fabulous checks