The Washington herald., 1921-05-17
THE CAST.
BY EARLE DORSEY.

In the case OF a play like
''Nobody's Money" which had It's
premiere at the Belasco last night,
it Is difficult to say whether Will
lam LeBaron, the author, has
scored or has fallen all over him
self
II one could speak with certainty
and say that ''Nobody's Money" wa-
written solely to amuse an audience,
it would be easy enough to o. x.
the thing and let it go at that, fer
'.Nobody's Money" not only achieves
a species of drollery. but II contriyes
70 get over some farcical .charac-
terizations that fall just short q
LeBaron's own standard.
This fellow LeBaron, however,
has acquired that deadly authorial
curse, responsibility: and IL he
wrote "Nobody's Money" with the
idea Of writing another VERY
Idea" another Down to Earth" or
even another 'I Love YOU" one
must sadly draw the bandanna, for
''Nobody's Money misses by rods,
perches. and linear feet the satiric
pungepsy and the dramatic sound
ness of either of these LeBaron
plays.
LaBaron starts OFF in a comedy
vein, but before the first act Is out
he is sticking the cards up his
sleeve. in his boot, and behind his
collar. In other words. he starts
it as comedy. dips into satire. and
then rlunCes into sheer farce when
his situations and Characterization
lose semblsnce and grow slapsticlIy.
The whole answer to the piece
will lie entirely in ones personal
reaction to it. II one forgets the
LeBsron of The Very Idea" and
Pack to Earth" if one can cheer
fully embrace the doctrine that all
successful playwrights eventually
grow sloppy: il one is satisfied with
the mere shadow of a playwright's
former satire, and seeks amusement
merely for amusement's sake. NO
body's Money" will fill the bill, and
hlI it as well as any other sample
Of the Broadway trade goods that
has filtered this way this season.
Another LeBaron Satire.
'Nobody's Money" Is a satiriza-
tion of the idea that the pubirc.
once enamored of a writer. permits
its enthusiasm to accept all and
sundry of the fellows work. re-
gardless of Its quality. One won
ders. of course. whether Mr.. Le-
Baron's wish was father to the
idea.
He has decked the thing up. how
ever, in fair fashion by revealing
popular writer as the fictitious
creation Of two scriveners who wish
to expand their literary business.
One gulps n bit at the idea, but the
farce motive helps 1t down, ana
the play opens with the two
writers in the devil of a fix-they
have got their imaginary literary
lion in libel suit, and they hire
book agent to create the role of
the lion. to shine for one effulgent
day. and then disappear forever
The book agent. however, does
nothing of the sort. Having heard
their story, he blackmails them for
their joint bank account, retracts
the libelous writing of one of them,
falls in love with the governors
daughter. breaks up bribery
frame-up. gets the governor re-
elected, reforms a burglar, makes.
the writers scribble for him, and
finally weds the leading lady.
There are a number of places
along the route when Mr.. LeBaron's
play leaves the kindly earth of cred
ulity and takes wings on the winds
of farce. These particular moments
are-or were last night-not pleas
antly emphasized by some bush
league support. which recalls that
some three members of the cast per
form in a manner that excites
| sympathy.
Otto Kruger, however, gets life,
color, and boyishness into the role
Of the book agent, while Will Dem
ing will become quite funny
burglar-psl. Kruger is the deux
ex machine Of the affair-the book
agent who fixes all things well. It's
a part not unlike the one he had
In Adam and Eve" which is tan
tamount to saying a part that he
takes to easily. Miss Sue MacMan-
amy is properly lifelike as the gov
nernor's daughter; Shirley De Me
got a little something into the role
of the burglars bride, and