New-York tribune., 1919-12-23
New Comedy by Jas. Forbes
at Henry Miller Theatre
Proves To Be One of the
Best Comedies of Season
BY Haywood Broun

AS rule the smart and skrewd plays
are artificial, while those which have
some measure of humanity are either
dull or sticky. But last night "The
Famous Mrs. Fair" by James Forbes,
was produced at Henry Miller's
Theater, and here at least is an excellent
comedy, which has style without af-
fectation and homely wholesome at
mosphere without an overdose of senti-
mentality. 1t is, in fact, one of the
best entertainments of the season, and
probably one of the few truly note
worthy comedies by American authors
We do not think we would be likely
to overestimate the proper estate of
"The Famous Mrs. Fair" for the play
tramples ruthlessly over most of our
personal convictions and prejudices.
NV omans place is in the home" is dis
tinctly the motto of this new play but
the author avoids any such offensive
phrase and pleads his case much more
cleverly. OF course, we have no fear
that any true feminist will backslide on
account of Mr. Forbes's play, but, on
the other hand it may prove persuasive
enough to disturb a few no are on
the fence. And yet we must recommend
| the play. After all, didn't Virginius
stab his daughter and somebody else
send his own son to Jail? Just so we feel
that we must stand by and see Mr..
Forbes hurl himself in the face of
progress without stepping down from
the judicial dignity of dramatic
CRITICISM to hurl him to one side If
possible Still, we are minded to say
that we cannot agree that a wife's
craving for a career may in any
that husband should have the right
to be unfaithful simply because his
wife accepted an opportunity to 60 to
California on a lecture tour. How
ever, perhaps we state the case of Mr.
Forbes too badly to be just.
HIS play concerns a certain Mrs.
Fair, who was a major in a recon
struction unit abroad and who won a
medal for bravery while serving
America overseas. Her husband was
no more than a stay-at-home captain
IN the quartermaster's department, and
ne was just a little displeased when
tended to lift her out Of his life The
dissatisfaction was a trifle at first,
but it grew as she became more and
more absorbed in public functions.
Mr.: Forbes has traced the gradual
widening Of the rift between husband
and wife with great skill in the first
two acts. These are largely light
comedy. In the third act the mood be-
comes more serious, and we find that
Mrs. Fairs long absence from home
on her lecture tour has set the husband
to phllandering and the young daugh-
ter OF the house to intimacy with a
rather gay set. Indeed, only through
the joint effort Of husband and wife
to save the girl from a grave danger
IS the harmony Of the house of Fair
again established
Naturally. this brief and crude out
line Is not intended to convey ANYTHING
more than the toughest sort of sketch.
for Forbes has managed with singular
~ few slips to avoid obvious theatrical
tricks and situations. He has afforded
splendid opportunities to the two stars.
Henry Miller and Blanche Bates. Both
nave scenes of light foolery and other
scenes OF tense emotion. Mr.. Miller.
we think, is not as good in light comedy
as IN more serious moments, although
his performance last night was well
sustained throughout. Miss Bates first
showed that her light touch was sure
and delightful, and then went on TO
play heavier scenes with a wealth of
emotion. Mrs. Fair is among her very
best performances.
Everybody with half an eye or car
mas come to expect good performances
from Miss Bates. so perhaps it is not
unfair to say that the sensation of last
night was not the playing of either
star, but the work Of a young actress
named Margalo Gilmore She gave a
truly extraordinary performance, and
not creation merely Of static cfarac-
ter, but of the DEVELOPMENT and change
from act to act It was fine, full work,
and the audience gave Miss Gilmore a
volley Of cheers after her splendid
scene in the third act
There were also good performances
by Jack Devereaux, Robert Strange and
Kathleen Comegys.