The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-02
The Half Moon,"
With Mr.. CaWthOrn
as Pilot, Arrives

1.-THE Half Moon." which came into the
Liberty Theatre last night. was not, like
THE Night Boat" into whose berth 1t
slipped. a seagoing musical comedy.
Hudson's famous vessel was propelled
into the piece by Joseph Cawthorn at the
end of a family tree. From that family
tree hung many troubles. but also
bright trinkets In the way of pretty cos
tunes and tunes and some pleasant sit
uations. which may help to make 1t a
Christmas tree.
The piece held more than half an idea.
ust as 1t displayed 4 power OF lustrous.
lazy light for charming love scenes
which came from something more than
half moon. The story, in fact, Is of
he type naturally interesting tc- Ameri-
cans, for 1t brought to the scrimmage
oint two conflicting elements-pro-
visions VS.. positions And in addition
10 several dainty dancers and engaging
principals it held Cawthorn, the star.
Who had a broadside Of humor as effec-
We as the old Half Moons guns
Brought to the front for a curtain speech
ne said:
II am very glad that Charles Dilling-
ham produced this play. that William
lie Baron wrote IL. that Victor jacob
composed 1t, that Fred G. Latham staged
II and that Allan X. Foster made 1t
Dance
The audience appiauded to indicate
that here was one man before the people
whose words met unanimous support.
Those who hadn't read their programmes
thus had all the regu ar announcements
neatly ladled out to them by the come
dian.
For his presence they were contin-
ually grateful, AMI the scenes in which
ne appeared. with his humor more mel
low and ingra tiating than ever. sparlsled
SO that one felt the old combination OF
Julia and Donald and joe could hit as
heavily on one cylinder as on three.
Cawthorn was hard to recognize at first
without his dialect, but Identification
was aided because lie Baron had fitted
him with a characteristic role OF pro-
vision merchant without much education
but with heart and a bank account as
EOOu as BOfu.
In his effort TO sprout culture when
occasion demanded he emphasizes his
descent from Henry Hudson sand
erapples with grammar, and some OF
the most amusing scenes Of the play
revolve about his desperate attempts to
impress every one with random facts
culled from an encyclopedia about
Guatemala, even though he doesn't
know where 1t is. II is at such moments
that Cawthorn shines, and his deft
method of slipping In a jest almost
b, ore one Knows Il startles waves of
laughter from the house.
Joseph SAntley played the role OF the
merchants son and dances attractively
with Miss Ivy Sawyer as his sweetheart
In a quartet for which Oscar Shaw and
Miss May Thompson provide the ballast
Of the other romantic couple-a num-
Der that Is Just sample OF the way in
which Cawthorn's brilliant array of las
sociate counsel" back him UP. Charles
Lawrence as a rough diamond and Miss
Maude Ebarne. moro entertaining than
ever, are other hr'rr. spots in a stellar
cast.
lie Barcr's ..7-b does not always rise
above the &C. or being simply pleasing
but Jaco! =, melodious music carries II
along with the ease OF a we'll fitted sys-
tenn of Jo!nery The costumes are az
dalntily ailurlng as the girls who wore
them, the settings are handsome. and all
In all THE Half Moon" is full round OF
gaiety.