The New York herald., 1921-12-07
BY LAWRENCE REAMER.

Rarely do arts ana leItcTS uilto 50
smp1etely in the service of the public
> they did last night for the sake of
ls audience which gathered in the Re-
ubllc Theatre to witness the first per-
>rmance OF "The Fair Circassian." The
slay IS the work OF Gladys Unger, the
merican dramatist domiciled in London.
4 he impresario of the occasion was Miss
Jewell hitherto unknown to local theat-
cal history. Miss Newell presents
headed the programme. Was this some
new demonstration of the gradual ex-
tension of woman's activity? Was an
other woman manager in the feid?
AS a matter of fact Miss Gertrude
Newell is q we'll known decorator. Those
acquainted with the esoteric mysteries
of this profession know that she mas
made a speciality of the arts and crafts
OF the early nineteenth century as they
ssrys her artistic ends. When Miss
Lager wrote a play OF the regency IN
England. Miss Newell saw her oppor-
tunity to extend her nninistrattons from
the drawing room to the stage. So The
Fair Circassian" came before the world
presumably upholstered with authority
and taste.
opportunities for Decorator.
The succeeding scenes in the four acts
AFFORDED the decorator admirable op-
oortunities. There was. to begin with,
a room in the 'isast wing of LORD
Otterey's house in London" This was
followed by the view OF "a reception
room in the west wing" or the same
establishment. Then there was room
in the house of the Persian Ambassador
in London.
such evidently imposing quarters
81 n
skill of the decorator. Miss Neweifs
pictures were indeed charming TO con-
bsmplate Presumably they were accu-
rate. but It would be foolhardy to ven
lure any opinions on the complicated
subject of interior decoration. Yet any
body could tell that the frocks were
lovely in color and In their rococo
modes contrasted artistically with the
oriental richness of the Persian cos
tunes.
Yet fine feathers never did even on
the stage make fine birds. So all the
massive bric-a-brnc and dainty silks
could not render THE Fair Circassian"
either engrossing or dramatic az a play.
They could. however add to its attrac-
tive quality as an unusual and rather
glittering kind OF spectacle. Its quantity
exotic spirit. its glimpses of rich and
spacious phase of existence. its formal
qualities added an undeniable fascina
tion to scenes which may seem to those
insensible to such characteristics rather
languid and ainless.
over the whole play there was the at
mosphere OF playful masquerade, which,
while II may have been fatal to any IL
lusion Of life, was not SO harmful to "The
Fair circassian.'' which could not pos
slbly be taken to represent life at any
a. o.
story oe Pretty slave.
Miss Unger's story of the pretty slave
brought to England as a present to the
Prince Regent and through unforeseen
circumstances not given to him. or TO
he young English baronet who fell for
while in love with her. gave oppor-
tunity for some brightly satirical writ
ing. which seemed unaccountably to
diminish in smartless after the first
act.
But there were occasional flashes even
later to inumine the generally novel and
interesting atmosphere of the new work.
Tho Far Circassian" may not be for
I'll markets. but it's imaginative and
cturesque quality will always interest
he accustomed playgoer.
Miss Margaret Mower possessed all
the tabled beauty of the slave girl and
the spectators were able to enjoy il
Without distraction throus any divul-
renee OF dramatic skill or instinct. Quote
the best performance OF the company
vas given by Dennis King as the Inn
petuous young Englishman who fell in
love with her. His was a rarely natural
and vigorous impersonation OF enamored
youth. But Echlin Guyer, John Brewer,
Claude King who declaimed porten-
tously fror under his beautiful turbans.
John Smith and bevy OF comeiy young
women also added to the general skill of
the representation. Miss Unger was
Jailed before the curtain after the third