Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-01-24
HOMESWEET HOME ARE SWEETEST WORDS IN WORLD
Norris how a
nHome. Sweet Home. -

Henry Miller in James Forbes fOur-act
play The FamousN Mrs. Fair"
If any one fails to get the message of
Those homespun words after seeing this
play, then go to a doctor and find out
what is the matter with home"
Somehow or other that message will
get into your heart and blood as you
witness one Of the few alI-round real
shows of several seasons Sure, I went
to English's last night TO be entertained.
was more than entertained actually
received some honest to goodness conyic-
tons on certain phases Of life.
Isn't it strange to leave the theater with
a real idea? 1t will take me several
days TO get over that unusual expert
ence, but it happened to me last night
after spending two and a half entertain
ing but thoughtful hours.
Don't get excited--it isn't sermon,
but real entertainment in its best and
truest sense
Let me see if this is real entertain
ment?
Mrs. Nancy Fair returns from four
years war work in Europe. She has
been made a major. decorated and all Of
that. She comes to her magnificent home
and meets her daughter who is blooming
into real womanhood. Her son was a
fighter and learned to think. So much
so that he falls in love with a little
stenographer-a real person. Mrs. An
gelica Brice, a neighbor woman, had
been so "kind" to Mr.. Fair and his
daughter
Alan Fair the son, il glad that his
mother is back home-but he fears He
sees that Sylvia, his sister, needs her
mother
But the Famous Mrs. Famous goes on
a lecture trip to tell the natives how she
won the war.
She failed to see that she had recon
etruetion work to do in her own, home.
She refuses to listen to the warning
and TO the demand of her husband that
she should not go on the lecture tour.
Alan realizes that his mother is too
busy talking Democracy" on the plat
form to appreciate his love affair with
Peggy Gibbs, the little stenegrapher. He
tells his father first and his mother fails
to understand why she wasn't told first
Of the engagement. Father understands
and approves.
The Famous Mrs Fair goes on her
tour, lasting for months She is 8 great
success on the platform
But when she returns home" she be-
gins to realize that there Is no home
Her husband and daughter had moved to
an ultra Fashionable New York hotel. The
awakening comes in the third big act
when she discovers that her little" Syl-
via Is no longer little" Sylvia. although
in her teens, now tugs her hats where
the chorus girls buy EN-. She paints and
struts. She is no longer a little girl
she is q baby vamp."
The famous Mrs. Fair discovers that
her own lecture manager is responsible
Tor the awful change In sweet Sylvia
Sylvia tells her mother where ITO head
II" when mother attempts to command
her daughter
In a splendidly acted scene Mrs Fair
tells her mah9ger that She viii not make
another tour and for him 10 settle in a
few days the $1,000 that he owes her.
The manager prevails upon Sylvia to
elope with him to Canada because her
father and Mrs Brlce were being talked
about, that Mrs Fair would divorce her
husband. And where would Sylvia go2
The doctrine works and Sylvia attempts
to elope with the scoundrel manager and
nearly succeeds. but the police and Alan
Fair prevent it.
While Sylvia is being rescued Mrs. Fair
and her husband face Tie real facts Here
is the real meat" Of the play and the
. finest netting Of an evening filed with hue
acting.
Sylvia IS returned home" and she
wants to know why?
Whose business is it, Her father IS
being connected in scandalous talk with
woman and her mother was always
away.
Mother, are you going to leave IA
therf' the daughter asks.
NO, Sylvia" softly answers her
mother
Mr. Fair walks TO the side OF bis wife
and tenderlr takes her hand.
That WAS all Sylvia wauted-a real
home, real mother, not u public agent,
and good father.
Those she regained in one brief second.
But where was the lecture manager?
Brother Alan had dispatched him to
hospital in an ambulance.
isn't all of this enough to make the
alter going public think?
1 have tried to give you some real
thoughts from a real play.
1t is impossible for me TO go into de-
tail regarding the really marvellous act
ing Of Blanche Bates as Mrs. Fair; Mr.
Henry Miller as the husband MarjOry
Williams az Sylvia Bert Leigh as Alan,
and what a real brother he ma kes; Lynn
Starting rs the lecturer manager; Marie
Louise Walker q can't praise her too
much. and Angelica Brice, the friend"
Of the family; Florence, Carpenter az
Peggy, the honest to goodness little
stenographer and real wife to Alan, and
numerous others in the east.
Kindly let me impress this one fact
in my humble way-"The Famous Mrs
Fair" is an Intellectual treat and above
all, real entertainment
If my opinion carries any weight
indorse his play from beginning to end.
L had my most enjoyable evening in the
theater this season In Witnessing this
pay and company at Engish's last
night.
At English's tonight, Wednesday matt
nee and night. W D. II.
YOU MAY LIKE EN- ALL,
you MAY LIKE ONLY SOME
M 1