The Washington herald., 1922-08-27

Continued From Page One.
They were a poor lot but after all
It was the only set he had.
Lory attempted to solve the dim
Guilty In the most direct way pos-
sible by trying to give away the
money. Her lawyer wouldn't lot
her. After that. there was nothing
for her to do but throw herself
upon the mercy OF Duncan. After q
narrowing fourth act. he decided to
overlook the money and marry her
anyway.
In spite Of the number Of familiar
stratagems which have been en-
ployed in Manhattan" some Of t
is amusing. EVERYBODY speaks in
epigrams and slang epigrams at
that, but one or two are palpable
hits. Lory. for instance. says that
she lives ION one Of those streets
where Greenwich Village quits kio-
ding itself"
But by far the most interesting
thing in the play is the performance
OF a player with a small part who
does not even get on the stage untii
late In the third act and then pro-
ceeds to run away with all the
honors of the evening. The acto,
is Albert Gran. whose first per-
formances in America were IN Ger
man at the Irving Place Theater.
In Manhattan" he has become
Dutch. He. too, IL a writing man. in
fact a novelist. but literature has
not devitalized him as much as
Duncan Van Norman. The obliga-
ltions of the role are largely to
furnish low comedy but Mr. Grar
manages to be funny. dignifed and
appealing all at the same time. 1t
seemed a pity that the heroine could
4 not ignore the express instructions
of the authors and leap out OF the
plot TO marry the Dutchman.
Marguerite Maxwell. who plays
| Lory. the heroine. is an actress new
to New York. She seems q PLAYER
knowing and usinng too many or
the tricks picked up in stock COM
psnies. She tries too hard and
hammers all her lines. particularly
the Jokes. And yet IN spite OF all
this she manages to put a good deal
of zest into Manhattan" and serves
to convince US that more comes our
Of many an Indifferent play than
IS ever put into IL.
Fools Errant" also has to DO with
the advantages OF not living In New
York. The author is Louis Evan
Shipman. the editor of Life" but
the play is not very funny. II isn't
intended to be. II is intended to
be gripping. Well. II isn't so very
gripping either.
Erick Briefly goes about doing
good deeds to people whether they
want him TO or not Upon return
ing to New York he finds that one
OF his old friends. Mrs. John Prit-
chard. is unhappy. Her husband is
having an affair. He promises 70
do what he can to help clear up
the situation. In compliance with
his promises he manages to get
introduced to the woman whose
name is Greta Ellis. Then he hits
upon the ingenious idea Of marry
ing Greta in order TO remove her
as rival OF Mrs. Pritchard. He
overlooks the fact that John Prit-
chard might be enterprising enough
to 60 out and start a brand new
AFFAIR.
As a matter OF fact, PrJtchard
dies instead. Mrs. Pritchard. who
has always loved BrierIy, follow.
him. after a lapse Of a wear. TO
Minnesota There. to her horror.
AAt NoIldU W no ca m p
between herself and her husband is
again thwarting her from the man
she loves. Everybody in the plav is
pretty sacrihcial and Gretna agrees
to 60 away and abandon Brlerlv to
Mrs. Pritchard. Fortunately some
body chances to remind him that.
"s matter Of fact. he has grown
TO love Grets. He suddenly re-
n'enbers tht he has and the nlav
ends happily for everybody but
! Mrs. Pritchard
The scene between the two WON.
en- has in IL elements Of excellent
drama but Mr.. Shipman Is able to
bring II into his play only by the
most clumsy mechanism He man
ages to write drawing room con-
Nersation pretty well hut once the
play gets into the open spaces
everybody talks in the most un-
natural manner possible. They CAM
stand the change Of climate. Lucille
watson. Alexandra Carlisle ana
cyril keightley perform well in
spite OF the limitations Of the nlav
The Woman Who Laughed" ix q
play tightly bound up in an idea
an Idea preposterous ana fnfexIo,.
Frieda Nelson finds that her hus.
band is having an affair with he,
sister-in-law. Minua Becker. Ac-
cordinEly she drugs them both snr
ties them together with a rome
They get bored with each other anS
when she cuts them loose every.
thing is set for a happy ending
The play does not serve 10 hold Tn,
audience. Mr.. Locke. the author
hasnt provided enough rope.