New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-09-25
Ina Claire and
The Real Truth
Concerning Her
Bluebeard's Eighth Wife Is
a Charming Person if
Not a Charming Wife
By Harricttc Underhill


start off with ''you know everybody"
Now this was not strictly true and
whenever we got chance we told them
80, for there was one person we did
not know-she was Ina Claire. Some
how. it happened that We never had
not especially anxious TO, for we had
heard tales of her bad temper, her up
stsginess and general cantankerousness.
If we think people are going to be dis
agreeable to US we just avoid meeting
them, for we never can think of any
caustic and clever retort until about
week afterward. Oh, am not reveal
ing any state secrets. Every one knows
OF Miss Clair's idosyncrasies (alleged),
and then last week there was a detailed
account in "The Tattler" which every
one read. But Miss Claire isn't in the
least like that, and although we have
confessed to her and received absolu-
ton, we, somehow, have keen desire
TO tel! the world.
We Meet the
Female Dragon
When we went 10 call on Marjorie
Rambeau at the Plymouth Theater last
week we walked into her dressing room
and the first thing she said was "Here
is Ina Claire" So at last we we're face
to face with this modern Kate who
had not yet been tanned. We sat down
resolving not to be squelched, no mat
ter what happened, and this is what hap
pened: We discovered Miss Claire to
be a piquant, charming girl, with a keen
wit and silvcry voice.
"The Circle" claimed our attention
the night that "Bluebeard" opened with
his eighth wife, but the next night
found us sitting out in the front of the
Ritz Theater and the final curtain
found US back stage in Miss Claire's
dressing room. Barry Baxter, who
plays Albert. the rather stupid but
much harassed pseudo lover of the
play, greeted US in the corridor. Barry
is an old friend, Sc VIC were not sur
prised when he said that he had a mil
lion things to tell us, adding, "Come
to Room when you leave Miss Claire.
Oh. but you'll love her."
Barry's Predictions
Come True
Now, Barry is one Of those frank
people VINO, as Dulcy says, "tell the
truth and shame the devil" If Barry
happened to be working for David Be-
lasco and he didn't like him, and you
went to interview him nc would say, AZ
Go not like MIR. Belasco" Yet here he
was telling me that l should love Miss
Claire, when he was purported to be
the especial victim of her bad temper
and her rapacty for attention. As
soon as | went in Miss Claire said: ~
heard you talking to Barry Baxter
isn't he wonderful in tina. scene in my
boudoir in the third act Did this in
ina seem ap,bitiouso
He is" we replied, "and so arc YOU
L. is one Of the smartest plays We have
seen"
''And did the people seem to like it?
Did you hear any ono say anything
atcut it? The critics weren't very
kind, but then l know that /, for one
did not give a good performance last
night"
The Verdict
Was Unanimous
"The people out in front to-nia'. It
were ready to eat out of your hand -
We replied. Tho woman in front of
us with the diamond tiara which went
all the way roand her head said that
she was coming again tomorrow night,
and the woman with her who wore the
three strand pearl necklace said that
she WIS too. Lillian Russell sat in
the stage box and she laughed all the
time. Perhaps it was not alone tho
play, but the idea Of mans having
eight wives that amused her. At anv
rate, the rest of the audience loved
your play and that makes it unani-
NOUS" And here our conscience hurt
US SO as we remembered what our idea
OF Miss Claire used to be that we made
q. full confession. "Of course YOU
thought that. Every one thinks am
terrible person, who eats alive the in
offensive actresses or actors who are
unfortunate enough to be in my com
pany. even read it in the paper YES
tcrday. And what can / DO? I can't
issue proclamation saying that am
good-natured person, who has been
working on the stage ever since she
was thirteen years old and who never
mas any fun at all--always acting in
one play or rchearsing for another
play. l can't put that in the paper.
can II"
mo, but can and by Sunday after
noon all the world shall know inst
what you are like"
That sounds like a threat. + hone
it isn't"
mo, it isn't; but I want my revela-
ton to be complete. Now, what is the
proper way to pronounce your name
Eua or Ina?"
.~-a," exclaimed Miss Clares moth
er, who came in just as we were leav-
ing, and "Ena," exclaimed Miss Claire
simultaneously. She laughed. "you
see. house divided against itself cam
mt afapl 7 s,,,noea e,,ot, 9,