The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-16

THE PLAYHoUsE-"TIIY NAME rs WON
an by Carl Schooner and Benjamin +.
Glazer
woman. ................M Miss Mary Nash
man ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. Jose Ruben
~ soldier. -....-.. Curtis Cooksey
frontier guard. .......... Edwin Maynard
Thy Name Is Woman" the Spanish
play with the somewhat inappropriate
title that was disclosed at the Play
house last night. was a combination OF
suppressed desires and smuggling, Of
babies and Benavente. Those who en-
JOY passion in the raw will be glad that
It's hectic by heck Theatregoers who
prsIer maternity under a cloak Will wish
Tor something more substantial than the
Castillan lace mantillas that cover 1t In
this piece.
II was William A. Brady, who espied
the crook drama on it's way and who
has otherwise been known for the keen
eye with which he detects the latest rip
pies in the dramatic current, to whom
belongs the credit for adding to the
drama that has been more redolent of
Spain than its onions of late. Perhaps
Mr.. Brady had heard that David Belasco
was preparing to present a new version
of Carmen" and wished to erect d sign
post to point the way
At any rate, this drama by Carl
Schooner and Benjamin r. Glazef had
more than one point of resemblance with
the operatic classic, since It concerned
itself with smugglers. and, like Bizet's
work. follows the classic pattern in end
ing with the death of its feminine CO.
duette, while Mary Nash even sings.
CdTita, like Carmen, is set by her hus-
band to enchant a frontier guard while
her husband smuggles French lace across
the border. but with the difference that
it is the husband who stabs her in the
end, and that this Carmen falls in love
with her victim after she discovers they
share common liking for children.
1t was rather puzzle to understand
why this soldier should turn out to be
huldng, witless OK of a man after show
Ing such a flash OF discernment as to
discover the young woman's frustrated
iongings But then, Curtis Cooksey pre-
sented a contradiction in playing the
part, since he filled the role physically
with splendid proportions but acted
mainly with his eyebrows. suggesting in
stead of a simple minded Spanish SOL
der a New York policeman trying to
break into society.
Miss Mary Nash in the stellar role Of
the girlish wife showed that she has
grown in artistic stature during her tr-
umphs in London and looked regally al
Turing at times in gowns that the Mon
day shopping crowd shouldn't miss. She
suggested the varying moods of the
woman admirably, huctuating more rap
idly than the stock market Her emo
tional appeal was always definite and
powerful. though the mental processes In
the character leading up to them weren't
always easily traceable-at least not on
G,is side of the Pyrenees and the foot
lights. But perhaps the authors should
take this curtain call.
Jose Ruben. who staged the play,
played the cunning. physically contempt
ible husband in n way that suggested
the cold chills he was repeatedly having.
Edwin Maynard gave a slight sketch OF
the only other character in the smallest
cast of The season. Livingston Plat de-
signed a most effective set for all four
acts in the tanners house in the Pyre-
nees. and while the tragedy has uneven
merits it's final act is gripping. with a
realistic rainstorm that actually brought
coughs from the spectators.