The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-13
NEW SUMMER PLAY
COMES TO NEW YORK
"Thc Lady in Red'' Arrives at
the Lyric Theatre to Remain
Through Hot Season.
ALL SORTS OF DANCING
Adele Rowland and Franklyn
Ardell Appear in Chief
Roles of Comedy.
THE Lady In Red'-At the IS,

Tie summer shows are arriving In
serted ranks and incidentally keeping
well ahead OF tho summer weather.
There were undoubted signs OF q back
ward spring in the demeanor of the
audience at the Lyric Theatre last
nisht But even the coughing was tenn
pororily hushed. the sniffiing grew faint
and the sneezing seemed to come TO a
dead stop In the face Of The Lady in
Red" There was not opportunity Cor
anything else to DO heard in the
theatre.
John Slocum takss the responsibility
for the new piece which was written
BY Anne Caldwell who called 1t q rnusi-
cal comedy. Robert wintsrberg COM
posed the music. There were three acts
OF the combined talents Of these col
laaorntors One took place at an art
gallery, one in the house OF a man OF
wealth who fancied various things, art
among others and the last in a studio
SO there was moro or less an atmos-
phere ut art about the proceedings
Miss Caldwell knows a good plot when
SIZE sees one. even IL II has been stareo
st for long time. She has a good
memory. 100, and last night there was
when she had her artist hero paint the
portrait OF a beautiful girl he had seen
at Palm Beach. There was indeed a
rumor in the Hobbies that alien property
had been used this time. Like other
details of the landscape at Palm Beach,
she was never 20 be forgotten. But It
was unconscious cerebration that led the
hero 10 put her on canvas and entirely
conscious and maidenly reserve when she
saw herself as he painted her that led
the young woman to object even II
she did consent to love the artist after
a while.
There was a tremendous amount OF
action chiefly in the feet and calves to
put this story before the audience Nu-
merous chorus girls danced in many
ways. OF the shivers and shimmers
there was an endless variety. OF course
the chief actors in the story danced too.
Franklyn Ardell. the discreet but not
too boisterously funny man OF the occa-
SION was observed at the close OF the
second act to indulge in motions that
showed he TOO had fallen a victim to
the prevailing mania to jass. A dis
consulate group Of chorus mon seemed
10 forget their troubles only when they
Joined in ehs riot of vigorous steps.
Only Ruth MacTammany. q very SYM
pathetic and agreeable personality. and
Tom Richards refrained from the craze
that swept over everybody else in the
troup. But these two did the singing
OF the love duets and other impa ssioned
numbers and that seemed enough TO
occupy their energies.
Adele Rowland. who was in the story
as subsidiary prima donna, danced
with remarkable composure in view Of
the frenzy about her. But it did not
hnr
any of them although her humorous
interludes seemed uncommonly dry.
Bertee Beaumonte danced with the
abandon a vampire might be expected
to show IL she took off the time to
step to a rag. Donald Macdonald. who
played his scenes with humor. did some
Of the more familiar drawing room
hoofng of yesteryear. and the two
Glcrias shot about the stage with the
uncontrolled vehemence of escaped pin
wheels
Tom Richards sang vociferously and
created a genuine laugh unsupported by
he author when he said smell for
sell 1t was the most spontaneous
'un Of the evening. Louis Christy
showed that there are other comedians,
Incredible as II may seem, Of the school
Of Ralph Herr.
But The Lady in Red" Is not all
dancing. by no means. Mr.. Winter
herg's score moves unfiagsingly. Per-
cussion dominates. but the necessary
strongly marked rhythm il there. Then
the sentimental members flow melodi-
ousy. 1t Is not alone the sense OF
sight that is dazzled In The Lady in
Ped The ear gets its share OF at
ten,ion 1t Is al lively and prestissimo
and IL is not in the least different
lnaeed the lady might be in any color
and she would still be easily recognize
able as A familiar friend.