The Washington times., 1920-11-30
THE CAST


THE CAST
sylvia Fair ........,.....M .Margola Gilmore
AiAh t, fAlr '''''''.',',.... Jack Devereaux
+: dudley Gillette ....... Robert Strange e
Ahgenca Bries Virginia Hammond
Nancy Fair .....~..........B Blanche Bates
Nh rs 'yIvy.,,.,'' yv, ''..'''' Henry Miller
Mrs KSIinnn ksIIa,, RMynne '''''''' Dallas Tyler
Mrs. stuart Perrin ......... .Maude Allen
Mrs Leslie Converse ,.......Alice Baxter
Pesgy Gibbs. kathleen comegys
There Is a wonderful combination
In 'The Famous Mrs. Fair" and one
few Washington theater patrons VIII
care to miss. First. there are Henry
Miller and Blanche Bates, neither of
whom needs introduction here. and OF
whom II Is sufficient to say they
are at their very best. Next, Is a
skilfully constructed. weil-baianced.
logical and convincing play by James
Forbes. author OF such successes as
The Chorus Lady" and "The Travel
ing Salesman" Finally, there is an
opportunity 10 sec Margola Gilmore
as sylvia Fair, give one of the best
delineat!ons OF adolescent character
ization ever seen in this city.
Mr. Forbes has not sacrificed the
verities to the end his characters
might say smart things-though there
are many bright lines. bright even to
the point OF the epigrammatic. The
purpose of the play Is to show the
erect or the war on an average WELL
to-do American family, the members
OF which participated in the struggle
in varying capacities.
Nancy Fair. ambulance driver In
France, Is the member OF the family
whose outlook on life experiences the
greatest change. Nancy has had a
taste OF freedom from the restraints
or domesticity, and seems unable to
slip backO into the old routine, while
her husband and son endeavor with
every means except physical violence
to persuade her to take her old place
as one OF the pampered, sheltered sex.
1t Is the struggle Of Mrs. Fair to
continue an independent career which
leads to misunderstanding and mis-
fortune in the Fair menage, though
1t appears TO the audience that the
exercise of a bit OF common sense
by the contending parties would easily
smooth out the difficulty.
Mrs. Fair returns to find her home dis
organized in her absence. Blinded by the
fattcry which is heaped upon her, she
remains ignorant of what has hap
pcned while she was away and al
lows herself to be persuaded in un-
dertaking coast-to-coast lecture
tour.
While she is away her husband be-
comes involved in a dangerous affair
with n pretty widow, her young
daughter, with no one to advise her.
embarks on an unwise love AFFAIR and
her son becomes engaged to a girl
whom his family have never met.
Mrs. Fair returns home just in time
to adjust matters.
So certain is Mr.. Forbes that there
is no danger to domestic existence
in the emancipation OF woman, that
his audience Is inclined to take
rather humorous view of the troubles
OF the Fairs. though there was last
night a touch OF acerbity in the ap-
plause from the school marms and
bachelor girls in the balcony when Mrs
Fair hurled defiance at her husband
and signed n contract for lecture
tour when expressly foxb hidden to do
so.
So Tar. the modern notc failed to
elicit other than an amused tolerance.
1t was not until the happiness of the
young daughter was at stake, a situa-
ton old as civilization itself, that the
nrst touch OF tragedy crept into the
play.And in this tragic bit, the author
PROVIDES the answer to the whole
business of woman's place in A re-
constructed world. The Famous
Mrs. Fair" fresh from distinguished
service on the battlcf"lds OF Europe.
decorated for bravery under Are.
petted. admired. nattered. the successful
lecturer throughout the States, was
the first to see it.
Jack DcvcrcauX as Alan Fair,
Robert Strange as Gillette. and Vir-
sinia Hammond as blonde widow.
who tempts the elder Fair. arc all
capable actors in important roles.
The staging. by Mr.. Miller is in keen
ing with the high level of excellence
set by author and cast.