New-York tribune., 1922-02-01
The New Play
BY Percy Hammond
Hats Arc Dotted and ker.
chiefs Waved for Miss
Doris Keane in "The
Czarina

Prince soltiko- Frederick Kerr
Nfcoiute &c Ronccurt ............ Ian Keith
Court a,exci Czr-ry .... basil Rathbone
sAeSiersrt Nicholas Jsschi OF.
Ksnn.sh Thomscn
Ccic-"f ForskT -.....-. William pevereuS
Baron Dt NOV ..--.-.-. Richard Mslchisn
Gartoi n EoscEunows41v ..... Edwin Noel
General haiaAoT William, Thompaon
1Norns .-.-..... ....-..... Virginia Trabue
For long quarter OF an hour at the
Empire last evening We we're stricken
with the fear that The Czarina" was
70 be another one of those pompous
pseudo-historica things in series OF
eittcring poses. interspersed with
quantities Of ornamental conversation.
Frederick Kerr, as the Imperial Rus
sian Chancellor had been discussing
treaties with Ian Keith, richly uphol
stored As the Ambassador Of France,
and the stage had been full Of chatty
ladiesn-waitirg, who talked about the
irate mood in which their sovereign had
been pleased 20 awaken. The picture
abounded in ackeys and the solemn
soldiery of the theater. We were just
about TO settle back in our chairs and
feel sorry for ourselves and for Miss
Doris keaue. when the atmosphere
cleared and revealed nischievous
comedy, among the brightest of its
kind.
For Miss hesne arrived AS the Great
Catherine at this junctGre, and after
using n moment or two TO establish her
Russias. turned thc duiiest stately pro
ceedines mo merry though dignihed
ARK We we're all familiar with the
ludecorous Catherine OF Mr.. Shaw's
who t.csled her favorites
in their cpigastria With her toes and
sent them soon after TO writhc. as the
sayins U.s. under the knout And also
wish the Catherine Of the histories who,
whsle managing an empire expeditious-
~ ontabulated rather than counted, her
lowers We tnew Of Inc lndomitablc
Pru-san Catherine who seized the
Cs,aea be- ween her thumb and fore
fngrr. and who regarded chastity as an
afectation and her army as hey sweet
hea.t. But We were not acquainted with
ne humorousls lascivious princess, who
Miss kcane v.suai1ed her last eve
nme. was naughty. bu. nice. handsome
0d amusing. with q scop,cr in one arm
~.d a Craroou IN The other.
sae hogan with 81 reptile look at
Basil n4:Abouo WHO. representing
essl soldier o5 tire empire had coma
to tell ter oi irsrigues ana coasplra-
e.es. I'm al autumnaI W. os iron grey
e'r sedaeed tic lad and ma4c him
pfi-oret to ter scarlet mouth His
aspirations to he figure in the GOV
eiAa.eht She laughed 1t. but tnoNited
IA. ind gaau,a wi.n amusing devices
sir. Eatsoour staggered nov. aud
saeslcd thea. Suffering the ayguish o.
q fgor reduced ~ the stage o. = tanned
c.'. She gave har attention alternate
i< 10 strong arms. treaties, hot caresses
aad the incoue tax. and after few
minutes With affairs OF state she de
'rod to he pet'cd rs a means of re
les 1ation. td"afd sheldon adopted the
play from the Hungarian of Melchoin
lenggei and Lagos Biro and he did il
s~sewdly and well. Miss hcanc Of
COURSE IA her twinkiing but Acshly
apefs onation Of the Czar.na is the
'op-note If the performance. but M.
Aerr a. the vul9ine Chancellor, and
Ai Nathbone. a the bewildered Cos
sack. aid her wonderfully. One hopes,
70. knowing the original Magyar script,
t'at Mr. sheldon is responsible for
She Illuminating tag The French
Ambassador who for weeks has cooled
MS gilt heels n tie Empress ante
chamber, humiliated and nonp.ussed, s
s.oVn a the end to be the latest atom
10 be put i'm the furnace Of the Great
Catherine. The Czarina" is a pleas
ng play for the sophisticated.