Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-11-25
DANGER" PLEASES IN
PLAYHOUSE PREMIERE
n. B. Warner and Other Stars
Featured in New Play Now
Showing Here.

In Danger" n play In three acts,
which had its premiere at The Play
house last night. Cosmo Homlton, the
wcll-known English dramatis,, has Of
f,red study OF modern manners.
centering on the problem of marriage
in name only" That such marriages
occur. the records of every divorce
court will witness; but II is unlikely.
although by no means impossible,
that the exact situation here detailed
In therein unrolled.
This is. in effect, the declaration by
an ambitious and selfish woman that
for her the marriage tie has no bind
ne power on its family side. servinc
only her purpose of climbing" social
IL upon the ladder of her husbands
political advanceme Vt, TO be achieved
through her activities in directing a
matrimonial limited partnership. As
the climax of the events of their we'd
ding day. the bride. after having de-
clared herself TO this effect. retires 10
the privacy of her chamber locking
the door with click OF the key on the
inside. the first act curtain falling as
the husband demands. in vain, that
the door be opened.
finds that situation unchanged but
irlngs n revolt on the husbands part
from the wife's demand that he be-
come n political turncoat to secure
high office; she leaves his house, and
the typist- secretary illustrates his at
tempt at suicide. recalling his better
self.
The third and final act shows him
restored by love in a cottage with the
,ypist secretary as soul-mate, both de-
shows dramfiant of the Z-aoes
fant of the conventions.
The piece is well constructed and
shows dramatic power, but some of
the points are developed at too great
length. and these lines might be cut
with advantage. Its presentation last
night was notably smooth for n first
performance and it will undoubtedly
be- one OF the seasons successes.
The impcrsonation by II. Il. Warner
" the principal role, that Of John
ftzroy Scorrier was characterized by
restraint which gave il n certain
buality of dignity, but led TO de-
ivery of some of his lines in n voice
10 low as 10 become confidential, leav-
ng the audience out of the secret. In
he attempts at love making in the
irst act and in the expansion of tie
asst act, there was more freedom anC
kreater verlsimiitude.
Leslie Howard as Percy Sturgess
NE happily married husband, is bolr
lever and sympathetic in the part
which has touches of lightness TO re-
,.vr the somhre. undercurrent. Fair
ss.,.,. n a, axuharanf hOGSemaiC iC
hlso aids in this praiseworthy achieVe
nent.
Marie Goff carries the rathe
lengthy roll Of Mrs. Scorrier in
way TO bring out the significance in
ended by the author. it would seem
feading the samewhat "talky' lines
tlearly, and with intelligence.
Kathlene NacDonell as Mary Hub
bard. the typist- secretary, is the rea
heroine Of the play. by virtue OF tn
heart interest" which centers aroun1
,or. and filed the role with admirable
,olse and sureness Of touch.
The theme OF the piece is not
burning one: the situation presente
would be quickly solved, among tn
lower class" by the aid of a broom
tick. The icy selfshness of the un
ifcly wife, anC the limpness Of til
disappointed husband are both so pro
ounccd as 10 ALLEVIATE the sympath,
the auditors. so that the total ef
pct tends toward artificiaIity.
There win be evening performance
Cnirht and tomorrow night. and
atirce tomorrow afternoon.