New-York tribune., 1921-03-03
Nice People, Given
AT the Opening of
New Klaw Theater
s'The Wild Young People"
Might Have Been Title of
Comedy in Which Francine
Larrimore Has Star Part
THE CAST

THE CAST
Halle Livingston. .... Tia llulah Bankhead
Eilecn Baxter -Joncs.. katharine Cornell
Trevor Leeds. ds............. Edwin Henslcy
~ eodora Gloucester. .Francine Larrimors
Scottio Wilbur. .............. Hugh Huntley
Margaret Rainsford ....... Merle Maddern
t'nner. Gioucester. Frederick Perry
Eilly Wade. e.......,.......... Robert Ames
Iir. Hcyfer. Frederick Maynard
A new theater, the Klaw, and a new
play, "Nicc People," by Rachel Croth-
ers, with Francine Larrimore in the
stellar position, were revealed last
night in West Forty-fifth Street. "Nice
People" might appropriately have been
called "These Wild Young People" which
was the title Of a recent Atlantic
Monthly symposium on the times and
manners, for Miss Crothers has sue
cessfully dramatized that controversy
or at least something like it. Likewise
she has broken up in dramatic doses
Cardinal Newman's definition Of a gen.
tleman equally descriptive Of gen.
tlewoman)-the one beginning "A gen.
tleman is full of consideration for
others, foe to violence of expression
or opinion" and so on. 1t is a clever
comedy, even though the didactic ghost
does some stalking hither and yon. 1t
is we'll acted and beautifully staged.
The first act shows group of care
less, spendthrift young men and women
living padded and cushioned lives, of
which Theodora-"Teddie"
is the leading spirit. Motor parties
jazz to any old hour of the morning
and breakfast at peach of place are
their principal occupations. 1t is in
the "snappy dialogue" as Teddy has it
and in depicting the unabashed point
Of view of these gatherers of rosebuds
and prohibited cocktails that Miss
Crothers is at her best. But she is
nevertheless, fortunate in her inter.
prefer, Miss Larrimore, who possesses
keen insight into the character OF
reckless Teddy. Indeed, Teddy has
something of the fire and pride that
distinguished Miss Larrimores role ir
the Scandal" of last season.
Aunt Margaret arrives. She is o,
those who look back on their pink you'll
through mist Of Tennyson, Browning
and organdie-to a time when young
folk had chaperons and chivalry. She
is an uncon,promising foe of the arith
metica system of morals in which any
thing is right if enough people do it
Manners are a true part of morals, she
holds, and she tells Herbert Gloucestel
so. This part is played with sympathy
and intelligence by Merle Maddern, wht
would be elected in triumph to any
party, according to last nights referen
dun.
And so the fathers eyes are opened
to the bad form of Teddy's escapades
He forbids her to go on a TRIP at l a
m. and Teddy rebels. slipping out te
meet her friend, Scottic Wilbur. They
run away for lark to the Glouceste,
cottage in the country and are ma
rooned by storm. Although Tedd,
has honest convoy all the Grundys
shake ther heads, including the girls
friends, who suddenly revert to GrundS
type.
Teddy naturally loses her taste fol
the chap who allowed her to get into
this scrape. She also renounces the
father who permits his faith to bt
shaken. And now enter Billy Wade,
Young man who had given up farming
for the city and now abandons the
city to help Teddy belabor lvin,
from the ground. Though friend,
tempt her to return to her home, Teddy
holds out until her father is converted
Billy offers little obstacle to conver
sion. SO all threads of argument NEE,
to prove that it's wrong to Jazz ut
your neighbours roof.
Sam II. Harris has presented no more
delightful piece this season than "Nict
People" The acting on all hands wa:
excellent Larrimore's particular
ly so in the quarrel scene with hcy
father.