The Washington herald., 1921-11-08
The Cast.
By EARLE DORSEY.

"nen INdChci StOhhSAo "NSSS ASA
snickersnee and lays her fountain
pen at rest a new stage message
usually issues forth. The latest
Crothers message reached the Gar
rick last night under the title OF
Everyday" and its chief effect is
to leave one maryelling at the sub
lime patience Of an audience.
With. two acts, four drinks and
much lobby nicotine. 1t is possible
to arrive at an idea, at beast, of
what Rachel is driving at BY that
time on comprehends that nearly
three hours have been consumed IN
developing a monumental platitude.
to wit, that self-interest frequently
impels humanity to gloss over Lns
sins. Of anfevildoer. and that there
are some finer souls who refuse to
join In the conspiracy of silence.
However, this may be all wrong.
Perhaps, after all, my guess Is
in error. Peruse, then, the thesis,
and do your own guessing:
The first act Is devoted to the in
PRODUCTION Of one Judge Nolan, cam
dfdate for governor of some Middle
West commonwealth. At the same
time one meets his daughter, Phyllis,
returned from five years of Paris,
broadening" and logically fittcd to
socially enhance the would-be gov
ernor's chances. One is also made
to understand that the judge is very
anxious to marry Phyllis to some
Middle Western Croesus who is
backing the judges campaign.
wadIng through the avalanche of
words that roar in ones ears like
cataract, the story eventually
shows that Phyllis is minded to
marry John, a butchers son, late
OF the A. E. F.. who is stultifyipg
his artistic talents in the judges
law office.
Phyllis, in fact, gives evidences of
altogether too much broadening"
and when the Judges hacker is ac-
gerry. the judge convinces twelve
good men and true that the accused
Croesus is. really a friend of the
people. Phyllis leaves home simply
because she discovers that father
defended a man he knew to be
guilty!
These scenarios are tiresome. OF
course; but one should witness II in
Obo W.
serve, for instance. the manuscript
mountain go into labor and evolve
the platitudinous mouse. One
enormity OF the Crothers fair for
doctrine. glue oneself to a seat for
three hours and await this sensa-
tional denouement. One should
observe for oneself the Crothers
~
standpoint Of playwriting, direc-
tion and personal supervision
Ado ngside it. such previous Crothers
affairs as ':He and She" "3s East.
"A Little Journey" and Nice Peo-
pie" stand forth revealed as drama
with a 72-point D.
Frank Sheridan manages to evolve
a semblance of form and vitality
from the Crothers idea Of a Mid
die West Judge intent on a career
At times, he even brings a species
of force to the role. Minnie Du-
pree does equally we'll in getting
something Of the breath Of life into
the role OF his brow-beaten. peace
loving, sinned-against wife. But
! what shall be said of the characteri-
cations contributed by Tallulah
Bankhead as the daughter who went
in for broadening" or of Henry
Hull as the butchers son. or of Dor
Burroughs as a young idler?
Well. in this case, nothing. Fol
the author. directing with a hand
that was more free than accurate,
is alone responsible for creating
such characters in the first place
and for showing a group of quite
helpless actors how not to play
them.
In brief. Everyday" looks like
a play that was written because g
play had to be written.