The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-09
Madge Kennedy Is
Welcomed Back, but
'Cornered' Is Slow
Star Returns From the Films
in Dodson Mitchell's
Crook Comedy.

Miss Madge Kennedy (herself) was
welcomed back to the stage of the Astor
Theatre last night with ecstatic delight
by the audience which had gone there TO
see her in "Cornered" II Is amazing
TO observe the emotion which the return
OF these prodigai daughters invariably
arouses There was Miss Elsie Fergu-
son (herself), who came back to the
spoken drama TO the immense approval
Of her admirers Then Miss Theda Bara
(herself) was met by a large audience
at the Shubert Theatre last spring.
Even if the thermometer did not rise so
h gh, hoop-la. there was quite as much
as a more important incident would have
justified.
And in this play by Dodson Mitchell
which Henry w. Savage selected for
Miss Kennedy the actress is not her
self half the time. She is at least
two persons off and on all during the
whole evening. First she is poor girl
Of the slums of Chinatown. Then she
is wealthy visitor to that quarter who
so resembles the derelict that the in
vention of two men OF the underworld is
stimulated. They will put the poor girl
into the place of the rich one.
Miss kcnnedy's Charm.
AS the more polished of the two VIII
lians might have remarked had he been
born TO melodrama a score OF years
earlier, no sooner said than done. So
the spectators saw the girl translated
from Chatham Square to the house OF
her modish double. She even wore her
Clothes to make the confusion complete.
What did she do in this home of wealth?
Let the first class in melodrama answer.
Why, she let in the thieves Who had
thus moved her simultaneously uptown
and up in the world.
Miss Kennedy is such an attractive
young person. so gentle and alluring in
manner that nobody seemed to mind the
way In which she quietly assumed in the
household the place of the young woman
who was obllgiugly put out OF commission
by a wound in the forehead. The real
heiress was too positively incapactated
to do any Of the old tricks that the
Mercy Merricks Of old had to confront.
Even the ethical disarrar cement which
made the impostor appear to be the
heroine made. after all. no real differ
enc. No part of Mr.. Mitchelrs play
was to be taken seriously.
Old Machinery Employed.
All the old machinery seemed to be
employed in "Correred." but, It proved
strangely futile to provide the necess 'ry
excitement. Tho play is too long. Con-
densation may accelerate the hating ac-
ton Whether or not anything Is able
to impart vivacity TO the worn out ex-
pedients Of the story seems less certain
There IS a singular suggestion Of the
not remote past about Mr.. Mitchell's
play.
1t seems to date from the day a. IN
dominating police official and the adroi'
criminal heroine But It would not be
easy to find in any play of that period
n posture of circumstance, 10 use the
hallowed phrase which giorified the i'm
postor at the cost of the wholly inno-
cent heroine. But there Is always Mis-:
Kennedy with her smile in ever scene
but the mechanics of the piece are unim'
portant: so are its ethics Hers is a
smile 70 conquer even playwright like
Mr. Mitchell. Morgan Conan gave a
picturesque sketch of q drug fieud. ant
MIS- Natalie Manning added the decora'
tive quality OF rich brunette beauty tc
the opening scenes. Leslie Austen wal
a hero of more than usual distinction