The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-01-09
WHEN MARGARET LAWRENCE CAME BACK TO BROAD
 WAY

Broadway has the reputation of be- ing the fckle jade with most unre- liable memory. Her darling of today is easily supplanted by her darling of tomorrow. She makes no effort to stay the celebrity who turns the cold shoulder to her. Yet, even so, she has a forgiving soul, and is too busy in her pleasures to harbor resentments.
 To those of the theatre who have deserted the famous thoroughfare Broadway offers no remonstrance if they afterward think better of their decisions and come back to take up the pattern of professional life where the have left off. In fact she's even inclined to hold out the thread that they may grasp it.
 No better illustration of the latter comment may perhaps be found than in the experience of Margaret Lawr- ence, whose blond loveliness is one of the charms of the Selwyns' pro- duction of 'FWedding Bells" in the Harris Theatre, New York. When last year these artistic producers an- nounced their production of '@Tea for Three" the brief statement was vouchsafed that the cast included
 
 Frederick Perry and others. Arthur Byron was, of course, we'll known, He had played for two years con- tinuously in t"The Boomerang" Fred erick Perry, too, was well known. Ho had been in numerous Broadway suc- cesses.
 But Margaret Lawrencei
 Who was Margaret Lawrence?
 Where had Broadway heard that name before?
 Figurative1y the Gay White Way sat back and thought, and as memory travelled the road of the yes teryears Broadway was able 10 vis- ualize a lissome blonde of Dresden china daintiness who some six years ago had fitted briefly on the theatri- cal horizon, only to disappear like a comet out of sight
 The lovely picture was of Mar garet Lawrence. She had made her sudden appearance as the heroine of a farce called "Over Night" It had been 0 pretty, amusing, farce, too, but the best thing about it had been the | acting of Miss Lawrenre. In fact she had achieved so great a personal tri- umph that Broadway had then and l there marked her for favoritism. But | just as pedestal had been erected for the new 1urninary Miss Lawrence | disappeared Considerably peeved, | the famous street decided to forgive | the lovely lady, however, when it was announced that the theatre had been i forsaken at the call of Cupid, and that the erstwhile player had be- come the wife of Orson Mum, who was at that time an Ensign in the | United States Navy, but who is now l a Lieutenant Commander.
 Six years went by with new players ! coming an going, but Broadway i heard no more of Miss Lawrence. One could not have blamed the old street i had she utterly forgotten. But she 1 hadn't
 Memory recalled too charming a l picture of the girl she had meant to i fdolize for Broadway to De quite in- different to her reappearance in the i theatre. And it must be recorded that her generosity was supreme, for ! seldom has there been such a vel come accorded any actress as that which was given to Miss Lawrence when she made her reappearance ir the Maxine Elliott Theatre, New York, last season in '"Tea for Three Broadway was happy to see her re- turn to the footlighIs and it took that way of letting her know it. The gladness was increased when the gay old street was told that the return o1 the lovely lady meant no cloud or her matrimonial sky, but rather thai she was unwilling that her husband should be giving his all to his coun. try while she gave only through him So It was that Miss Lawrence came back to Broadway not only because the Selwyns offered her wonderful opportunity for lf-fulf1lmen, 1T
 t'Tea for Three,'' but because shs wanted to help the devastated lands