The New York herald., 1921-09-25

always easy to fathom. As they are
likely to be the ways Of the manager
as well they are still more difficult to
understand. Witness "Bluebeard's
Eighth WIFE" To those who made
the acquaintance In the original
tongue of Alfred Savior's little farce
II seemed an uncommonly yivacious
and crisp piece of fooling. blithe. stac-
cato and quito harmlessly sarcastic.
1t bubbled along In the reading, which
was quite unlike its manner OF prog
ress IN tho acting. 1t seemed as II
somebody had tied stone to its paw.
AS Mr.. Andrewss English fell from
the lips Of the actors 1t seemed, when
not uncommonly free In translation,
faithful enough to the spirit of the
author. But something was wrong.
One OF the special merits OF the French
play was the short speeches which
made such swift and natural dialogue
In Pawn in Hotel.
There was an amusing phase Of the
first act which disappeared almost en-
tirely. The family Of the marquis,
which includes the heroine, Is in pawn
at Biarritz hotel In vain the daugh-
ters complain OF the loneliness and the
chill OF the autumn weather. The
proprietor has decided that the house
shall remain open another month. He
will have guests socially well known.
The family of the marquis must there
fore stop. since its bill Is unpaid and
there Is little promise Of speedy liqui-
"A s<A xr<tl1 aIl
them to depart. bag and baggage.
This Ii a familiar situation In
French drama 1t furnishes the point
Of departure In the first act OF Dora"
when Sardou imprisons his rdsto
countess and her daughter in a sum-
ner hotel for the same reason. In
the farce at the Rit8 the poverty OF
the family which travels about from
place to place In search of husband
for the marriagable daughter Is very
amuslngly depicted. II is one OF the
duties of the father. for instance, to
start the dancing. and when the fox
trot Is heard the waiter makes no
ceremony Of putting his head In the
door to warn the impoverished aristo-
crat that his business hours have be-
gun.
There are other various entertaining
touches to illustrate the financial
troubles of the family. which are of
course designed to explain In the final
issue the sudden marriage Of the girl
to the American billionaire.
But "Bluebeards Eighth Wife" win
not have to depend on its text for
the popularity II may enjoy. NO
French farce seen here In years goes
so far in the direction that these works
are popularity supposed TO take. The
duel between the billionaire and his
stubborn young wife leaves no possi-
BILE ground for failing to understand
the manner in which the eighth wife
has been less dutifui than any OF her
predecessors. A. IL. Woods has In
dulged his fancy for the double mean
ing until there is scarcely a conceiva-
BILE variation which no can instruct
his authors TO invent. But there is no
double significance In what the billion
aire begs OF his wife IL has but q
single meaning. II Is stated. moreover.
as badly as words can frame It. After
that scene the new farce was sure OF q
success dc scunddtc. The champagne.
the bed and the paJamas were superer-
ogatory
Exfr DON Jusn.
There seemed an abvious artistic In
congruity In the occupation of Will
lam Faversham with the light re-
sponsibilities of The Silver Fox" at
Maxine Elliott's Theatre. while there
was so much more important work for
him at the Garrick. He would have
impaired to the hero of Henry Ba-
taille's drama some OF the life and
spirit he so sadly lacked. This Is by
no means faultless play.
There is an excessive echo of the
great lovers adventures. The same
effect would be created by recital Of
half OF them. Undoubtedly a Caiiic