New-York tribune., 1920-12-09
By Haywood Broun

Maagc Kennedy, who has been A. ".
o. l.. all too many seasons in the
movies, returned to the spoken drama
last night at the Astor Theater in Cor
nered.' Just for good measure, there
were two Miss kennedys. for the new
trick play is one OF those in which the
star darts off stage now and again to
change her dress ard accent aud re-
turn as quite different person. 1t
seemed q bit of pity that with 50
many Madec kennedys on the stage
not ore Of them was the Madge Ken
redy of Fair and Warmer" Even two
roles did not serve TO give The star 4
chance to SHOW her abilities in farce.
form in which she stands at the ton
or theroabouts.
However. "Cornered" Is none TOO
Aorous. An interesting and cuthralling
melod drama, 1t is at moments so cX-
tlaYaQant that Miss kenncdy'a dcft
comedy sense was q great factor FOR
success. To be sure, Dodsol. Mitchell,
the actor, who wrote the play is quite
conscious OF scme Of the comedy ex-
cursions OF his piece and definitely
.abels it Il "comedy- me lodrama." Miss
kennedy's art lay in taking seriously
intentloncd absurdities and sottening
them oy q delicate touch cf banter 1t
IS q method which is dangc,ous If not
deity done. even IN Melcdram&. 1t
was deity done
Although not quite as ingenious as
'Thc Bat and certainly less technic-
ally expert. "Cornered' has marked ad-
vantage over the best melod.ama in
1 .
and naturally from the central figure
There is no need Of an extrancous ics-
,ci to provide a contrast for the mo-
ments of excitement. On the whole it
seems 20 us an agreeable end enter
taining trick play, and even the ;ildest
improbah hilities which crop cut arc
&musing rather than painful, thanks
to Miss Kennedy.
Naturally one Of the young hcroines
entrusted to the star is q lady Of spot
less fame and position. And just as
pretty spotless for nll that M. Dod-
SON has followed the we'll accepted
tradition Of the American ,hrcater that
thieves are just about the most dc
iightful aud charming persons II The
world if one is only willing to accept
the fact that they Win steal
Taking advantage OF the resemblance
between Mary Brennan, thief. and
Margaret Waring, hoircss, Two master
craftsmen plan 70 steal tho Waring
jewels Mary gains access to the
house and pretends to be Margaret,
end everything gees smoothly until
Margaret suddenly returns and IS Shot
by one of the cracksmen. This inci-
dent Gistresses the soft-hcarted Mary
so much that She refuses to make her
cecape but romans in the house. Even
With the rapid advance of fcminism
there seem 20 be certain professions
rot suitable Tor women.
Nevertheless, everybody except ono
boiieVes that the wounded hcircss is
fhc thief and tho thief the heiress.
For time Mary is able to keep up the
deception, and the Gcene in which the
suspicious police inspector is turned
eff the track is ingenious accom-
plishcd by the aid Of two effective al
thougn hardly brand new tricks.
Eventually the hero discovers Mary's
identity, but he is TOO noble 10 tell
he finds that it is the thief he loves
instead Of the heiress. In the end
every hing Turns ont all right, because
the t,Yo GIRLS prove 20 DC long lost
Twin sisters. The play ends with
Mory's expressing tho wish that her
new discovered relative VIII like her
when she RECEIVERS from he, wound
Probably she did after getting over
some temporary annoyance ut being
snot IN the head.
one thief IS captured. but though the
dramatis; does not reveal his fate il is
10 be presumed shat the Judge turned
out g. lie mis- missing grandfather and
let hm oil.
Mss z or sdy gives a delightful