The sun., 1919-10-09
FINDS WIFE MARRIED
TO HIS BEST FRIEND
Officer Reported Killed In War
Makes Startling Discovery
on Return Home.
IT'S ALL IN A NEW PLAY
"ToO Many Husbands" Scores
a Success at the Booth
Theatre.
IT'S ALL IN A NEW PLAY

w. Somerset Vaughan, who has been
absent from the New York stage since
"Our Betters," has not been unheard Of
in the meantime, since his latest sue
cess as a novelist had added more TO
his reputation than any Of his recent
works for the theatre. Probably those
In the audience at the Booth Theatre
last night who had read '"T.>e Moon and
Sixpence" decided that the author OF the
book was quite another person in lit
erary way from the dramatist of TOO
Many Husbands" That was the farce
that A. H. Woods had brought from
London to refresh the public knowledge
Of the authors work.
Mr. Maugham's three acts may be
said to form a war play OF a kind, since
the work is quite inconceivable without
the incidents which the worlds struggle
has supplied. Then there are in its
humor characteristics, which IL they
have not come into the works OF the
English theatre since the war. are at all
events much more emphasized than they
ever were before. The wife Of an ON
Ger who was reported killed consoles her
self by taking his best friend. But the
reports were false. Husband No. / was
quite well enough to return. and more
over, to express his emotions at the
changed domestic conditions that con-
fronted him What Is the way out?
Therein lies the play Of TOO Many Hus-
bands"
The wtfe's Dilemma.
The wife is for a divorce from both.
Among other conveniences OF this solu-
ton is the possibility that she may still
take a third TO insure the happiness of
which she has been robbed by fate. AT
all events professional correspondent
is called In to clear the situation. But
the play ends on an unresolved chord.
The complete willingness OF both hus-
bands to retire each in favor of the
other has served to strengthen the idea
Of the wife that marriage with a rich
civilian who Is close at hand might
not be the worst thing In the world.
There is, moreover. the intimation that
possibly something Of the kind might
happen In the future.
Mr.. Vaughan has embroidered this
slender theme with much witty dialogue.
Then much Of the incident is most d.
yertins. There arc times when the but
ter is spread so thin that there Is scarce
ly the SAVIOR OF II to please the taste.
Yet there are many stenes which are de-
licious in their Gllbertian humor. The
author has been uncommonly resourceful
in devising the Incident over which the
dialogue so nyitingly trickles. The diff
Guilty In making the first husband un-
derstand the exact status Of his old
friend in the household. the companion
ship Of the two men, who cannot con-
ceal their delight at meeting again, their
willingness to surrender so great that In
the drawing Of lots the second uses
marked ballots. All these variations
zxA
travagant farce, but they are neverthe-
less quite delightful entertainment Mr..
Maugham has rarely of late been 50
spontaneous. and what is more to the
point, rarely so free from obiter dicta
on all subjects in the realm of human
knowledge. The text flows along, keep
ing close to its theme. Nobody has the
time to pontihcate so full is their time
Of the action of the play.
Many Laughable Scenes.
Mr.. Maugham's humor in its frankness
Is typical of the note that has been
found in afl English comedy since tho
war. or course, its difference to W. S.
Gilbert is In a measure reactionary.
There were several scenes. notably one
between the wife and her two husbands,
which were exactly in the spirit of that
satirist. 1t would be unfortunate, how
ever II the content of the play should
prove so out OF proportion to its length
as to lose to the public scenes 80 politely
ridiculous and SO constantly laughable
as most Of those in '"Too Many Hus-
bands"
Clifford Brooke produced the piece
admirably and Mr.. Woods's actors were
able to reveal its spirit faithfully. which
was a spirit of insincere. rather casual.
banter without any emphasis Of prob
ability or seriousness. Kenneth Douglas
Is an easy. natural comedian. He and
Lawrence Grossmith played most enter
tainingly the two husbands. Estelle
Winwood was the purring wife. feline
in instinct and manner. Fritz Williams
a popular comedian, played the possible
third, In his familiar style. and Miss
St John was an amusingly perturbed
dowager. Beatrice Millers manicure
added verisimilitude to the opening scene
OF London life