Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-11-22
AMUSEM ENTS
LENoRE URIC as "KIKI."

As plays go. the new Belasco play
at the National Theater this week,
with Lenore Uric as its star, is not q
play. 1t is, to quote the program,
David Belasco's adaptation Of char
acter study by Andre Picard. But the
character is SO unique, so interesting,
so thoroughly enjoyable throughout
its development, that one is almost
tempted to wish that all plays were
character studies, provided. Of course:
they could be as delightful as "kiki,"
and also provided the delineation
could be intrusted to Lenore Uric
After the formal announcement the
program quotes a little verse. as
sort Of introduction to the character:
1.-THE door few open, and in she came
No boxes or bundles-not even q name.
She'd an eye for 4 hearth, q tooth for sweets,
And a character founded on corners Of streets.
The theatrical realm is the setting
for this remarkable character, whose
wit could match that of the wisest.
swear like a trooper and be as low
able in the cautious. unfolding of her
real self as any flower that ever
bloomed.
She had an humble position in the
chorus of "a shebang." as she called
ly. to reduce to her own level those
who seemed to soar above her. She
had been fired" for trying to gouge
an eye out in fight with chorus
girl. and she decided to ignore inter-
vening authority and appeal to the
of the ''Folies Monplaisir" Music
Hall. with whom, as she later ex-
planned, she was madly, desperately
in love,
Renal had just been divorced from
his prima donna, and Kiki felt that
effort to get rid of her. she was re-
engaged and fired again even before
she had a chance to get back to her
work. Again her mood changes, and.
by preying upon the sympathies of
Renal. she gets herself invited to
dinner-and she needs 4 dinner. not
having eaten anything for twenty
four hours but four radishes, which
she later confessed she had hooked"
from grocer when he wasn't look
ing. the only things eatable within
reach.
Renal takes her to his apartments.
because he is lonely" and then leaves
her to care for herself. like stray
cat, or dog. to which he had given
shelter. Kiki. not always with his
permission, orders on credit such
finery as she thinks impressive and
establishment. And then comes a
truce between Renal and his former
wife, a sort of doubtful arrangement
which prompts Renal to hand Xxi
over" to one Baron Rapp. But Kiki
has other ideas. After first bargain
ing with Renal for everything she be-
lieves she will require to complete
the conquest Of Renal. she decided to
let 1t all slide and remain in RenaPs
establishment. and accordingly she
a nof al ;crt1
according to her own notion of the
requirements, she creates a situation
! that makes her removal impossible.
| and when she is finally left alone she
achieves her victory, closing the story
| with Il got him."
1t is made clearly unmistakable that
the girl, with all her apparent de-
pravity, tells the truth when she
says to Renal, II am good girl
Good. I don't know how to explain
she shields her origin. claiming at one
time to be the daughter of a Spanish
4 grandee, at another a Corsican AND
later the daughter of a sailor. who
clouted her on the head. when she
made up her mind to ''see the world
for herself"
The possibilities of such a character
in the matter of delineation are limit.
less, but fraught with disaster to the
unsuccessful attempt. Is it complete
! ptaiSo ~ soy thdI7 HniSS CAEiC, LII
little girl of whom I am SO proud
and this time Mr.. Belasco said it with
a smile as though he recognized tina,
| it was trite even though true-is ex.
quisite? Other words seem to fal
short. and even exquisite" does no,
express the half of what is due her.
| New York, which is to have it after
this week, will like "Kiki" The sup
porting players are quite capable, es.
pecially Sam b. Hardy. as Renal: MAJ
Figman, as the baron. and Airline
Fredericks, as the divorced wife.