New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-09-28
By Rebecca Drucker


| dulged himself in an experiment. He
was in possession Of play so dishon-
est in substance, 80 sbject in it's bid
for favor that it scrupled at no trick
Of the theatre. 1t was economically
compounded Of all the shavngs that
had dropped off in the building Of
"Pollyanna" and Seventeen" and
Turn to the Right" 1t WAS fimsily
glued together with the cheapest senti-
ment. There was not line or
figure in 1t to command respect. The
traditional way to make such a play
succeed would be to cast it with a
company resourceful and experienced
enough to guard it at all its weak
points. But Mr.. Tyler had a deeper
guile than this. He cast it with actors
too young to know the strategy of de-
fence. Donald Gallaher, Alfred Lunt
and Helen Hayes, investing it with the
glow of their youth, suddenly made
it invulnerable by their charm. It's
gush became eagerness. its ineptness
wistful inarticulateness, it's mawkish-
ness something at least forgivable.
They carried the play over on fresh
wind of high spirits that stirred an At
lantic City first night audience out of
its heavy after-dinner torpor.
Then. having scientifically demon
strated point to his own satisfaction,
Mr.. Tyler put the play on the shelf
and produced "Clarence."
clarence" stands in no need Of such
deception. Here, for once in a great
many seasons, is play that adds more
than fair share of artistry to the
theatre. Nevertheless, the gift Of
youth which Helen Hayes. Alfred Lunt
and Glenn Hunter have brought to it's
leading parts is q good part of its
charm. They are, all three Of them,
really, genuinely. young, and their
gayety and dash and high spirits come
out Of an abundance that they have
not yet learned to husband. Helen
hayes at eighteen. Glenn Hunter at
twenty-three and Alfred Lunt at TWEEN
ty-six have not had time to ACQUIRE
much OF that overrated thing called
experience. They have not yet learned
to substitute technique for intuition.
found Alfred Lunt in his dressing
room reading "The Young Visitors" and
felt that here was an extension of
Clarence. The Clarence who could
Withstand the tempestuous Onslaught.
OF Cora's young alteration, who could
listen gravely to Bobby's sentimental
disclosures and who could keep his
courtesy and tact in that distracted
household would be sure to like Daisy
Ashford. 1t is wrench to admit it
but at this point Clarence and Alfred
Lunt part company.
Alfred Lunt is from the Middle West.
He lived in Wisconsin until he was
fifteen. and then the family fortunes
took him to Europe where he STAYED
until he was twenty. When at twenty
he returned to this country he elected
the stage, and being tall and per
sonable. got a job as leading man with
Mrs. Langtry on twcnty-six- week
vaudeville tour His next o portunity
came with Margaret Anglin in her
Shakespearian repertory. After two
years with the Castle Square Stock
Company in Boston, where he under
went the discipline for which stock Is
famous, he made his frst METROPOLITAN
appearance in Booth Tarkingtons pla,
1.-THE Country Cousin" His work
pleased Harrington so greatly tina.
when he wrote "Clarence" it was with
Lunt in mind for the leading role. And
that is all the stage biography that lies
behind that subtly shaded, restrained
and charming portrait he makes vivid
at the Hudson Theatre.
Glenn Hunters experience is even
briefer. He arrived in New York ?
shock headed youngster Of eighteen
revote from the tyranny Of an up
state high school. He had phastl7
two months Of it in New York. hun
CRY boy tenaciously determined not /
be forced to homeward retreat The
somehow he wandered into The Even
ing Mail" Office and into the protecting
friendship of warm hearted Zoe Beck
ley, then q feature writer for that
paper. She took young Hunter under
her wing and introduced him to the
Washington Square Players, who were
then a. the most impecunious stage of
their experiment at the little Bandbcx
Theatre They gave him a warm wei
come, unlimited friendship, and $40 q
week. And he got his first part with
them, the young spy in "'The Clod." He
followed the varying fortunes Of the
Players for two years, and then de-
termined to test his quality as a pro
fessional." During the next two sea
sons be played in the road companies
of "Magic," "Pollyanna," and "Pen-
rod" and then the war intervened
This is his first part since he was mus
tered ont Of the army. and. incidental
~, his first New York profec ional APP
pearance.
Lew Fields is so fond of children that
he can bear even terrible performing
infants. In fact, he has a special ten
derness for them, and there are a dozen