The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1922-01-10
By EARLE DORSEY.

\ David Belasco knows the knack
OF proving the moon Is green cheese.
So adept IL he at coneealing an IL
logical theme beneath the gaudy
trappings OF mere stage technique
that 1t frequently amounts to hyp-
notism.
In The Easiest Way, the Eugene
Walter play for Frances Starr that
Mr.. Belasco brought out some years
ago. and which Is now in revival at
\ the National. Mr.. Belasco has
turned this technical wizardry to
the business OF proving that two
and two. make four. The Easiest
Way" accordingly. Is a play that
| instantly embraces logic and
charms with the skill Of its inter-
pretations.
The Easiest way" OF 1929 differs
little from its elderly sister. Here
and there. doubtless. Il has been
freshened, with the possible excep-
tion OF at least one anschronism. 1t
Is play which appeals to a sophis-
| ticated audience play for those
who appreciate logic, presented
with delicacy and revealed with
skill. 70,
Miss Starr, in "The Easiest Way
resumes her role Of Laura Murdoch,
the actress who started wrong in
lie. sold out early TO a millionaire
and then met the man who was
willing to forgive. The play be-
gins at this point and reveals the
disastrous failure of Laura Muir
dock to stave OF Broadway and her
eventual surrender to Mammon.
! AS Miss Starr plays her one
comes with Laura to the end of
her string and views her down
isil with sorrow but with Jus
| tice. She is simply a rather an
pealing girl without the eourspe
OF her convictions and when the
man she loves returns with a for
tune he finds her harIot and
sadly strolIs out.
| A strong tincture of pathos runs
through the Starr characterization
that is deftly relieved with human
touches OF humor. Laura is a bad
girl. but one never completely dis
likes her. That is where the Be-
lasoo appreciation of character
comes In and IT is the same dis
corning skill that forces one at the
END, to appreciate the motives of
her tempter and to sympathize
with the man that spurns her.
| The supporting cast about Miss
Starr is splendid. Joseph Kilgour
as the man who teaches her luxury
and sin. contributes a remarkably
well-balanced picture. At all times
a sensualist. he Is frequently boy
ish. nearly always well-bred and
invariably repressed and human in
his ideas. Robert Kelly, as the
lover. Is somewhat lacking In this
repression. but he gets effective
ness into his work and he never
becomes too badly distorted.
Marion Kerby in the role of a
negro maid achieves the plays
comedy honors. while Laura Nelson
Hall as a member Of the Broad
way sisterhood is a performer
whose work is engrossing at all
times.
The Belasco direction is all that
one naturally expects Of Belasco
and frequently more than has
been revealed In more recent Be
lasco plays. The Easiest Way"
which goes back to the time when
Belasco, was performing his wiz
ardry with lights, is graced with a
marvellous setting in its first act
which achieves the sweep and the
scope OF the Rockies in a way that
Is almost breath-taking.
For those who like their stage
stun strong and who like il de-
veloped and interpreted with skill
The Easiest Way" 1921, is a
model play that should not be
ignored.