Evening journal., 1922-02-15
HAD TO SET HER
OWN Home RIGHT
Famous Mrs. Fair" Finds
Problem in Household
as Well as France
HENRY MILLER AND
BLANCHE BATES WIN

THE PLAYHOUSE-"T Famous
Mrs. Fair" a play in four acts by
James Forbes. featuring Henry
Miller and Blanche Bates. Given
under the direction of A. L. Err
langer.
THE CAST
ARRANGED in the order in which they
first appear
Sylvia Fair ......, Marjorie Williams
Aidn fdlr ..................B Bert Leigh
r. Dudley Gillette ......Lynn Startling
Angelica. Brice. Marie Louise Walker
Nancy Fair .-..........B Blanche Bates
SIenrey falr -,,,;..........H Henry Miller
Edna Archer Crawford
Mrs. kellett Brown kathryn Meredith
Mrs. Stuart Perrin ....Norma Harvey
Mrs Gilbert Wells ......,. Betty Hall
Peggy Gibbs ..... Florence Carpenter
One Of the most noteworthy plays
seen at the Playhouse this season is
The Famous Mrs. Fair" which
opened a two-days' engagement last
evening. 1t is outstanding because
II has for its chief interpreters
Henry Miller and Blanche Bates,
both OF whom rank high among
artists OF the stage. The comedy
last evening delighted a large audi
ence. 1t is one OF those comedies
with a serious turn at times and is
wholesome throughout. There Is a
series OF unusual and amusing COM
plications which keeps the audience
in mirth much OF the time, and
again there is a more serious phase
OF the plot.
The comedy is bright and charm
ing and breathes a story which is
distinctly down-to-date and which 1t
treated in modern language and with
modern stage settings
Its strength lies in the clever por-
trayal Of the characters given by Mr..
Miller and Miss Bates. 1t was evi-
dent from the applause they receiv-
ed that they had an affectionate
place in the hearts of Wilmington
ians. Supporting these two dis
tinguished players is a company Of
marked ability, all of whom we're
we'll received.
The story deals with an American
home and a family which consists
OF father, mother, son and daugh-
| ter. The mother, Mrs Fair, has Just
returned from four years service
abroad as a reconstruction worker.
/ She had been decorated and had won
the title Of major. Shortly after
her return she is sought by lecture
bureaus and accepts an offer to un-
! dertake lecture tour 10 narrate her
experiences abroad. While away she
loses the proper perspective Of her
domestic life. When she returns from
her lecture tour she discovers that
her own home requires more recon-
struction than the sector Of France
she had recently worked in because
her husband has lost interest in the
phome, her daughter has been in
questionable places OF amusements
and her son has married into a fam
lily unknown to her.
The audience found Henry Mil
Ter, the father OF the home, delight
ful in his role. His personality
found response in the audience, and
he kept the character he was enact
ing true to life and with a fine hui
man touch at all times. Miss Bates
as Mrs Fair won all from the open
ing act. She proved ability in al
! her adventures. Her personality
was charming and her intense act
ing gripped the audience at times.
Marjorie williams as Sylvia Fair
the daughter is a charming char
acter. Bert Leigh as Alan FaiI
also pleased in his part. The re-
mainder Of the supporting company
was excellent.
"The Famous Mrs. Fair" will be
seen at the Playhouse again tonight.