The New York herald., 1922-09-05
Margaret Laurence
Admirable in Play
as Social Climber
sThe Endless Chain by James
Forbes Amusing Vehicle
for Her Triumph.


Amy Reeves. Miss Margaret Lawrence
Kenneth Reeves. Kenneth Mackennh
valentine Webb. ............k kenneth hunter
Billy Densmore. ............ Harry siubps
Andrew Hale. le................. Harry Mlnturn
by LAWRENCE REAMER.
James Forbes wrote and A. l.. Err
LANCER produced at the Cohan Theater
last night The Endless Chain" in
" hich Miss Margaret Lawrence acted
the leading role. Mr.. Forbes has again,
as he did in THE Famous Mrs. Fair.
written with a theme" in mind, al
though 1t may not sound so deep
note and possibly not ring so true as
the plight of the woman who could
not refrain from enjoying her impor-
tance. II is the New York disposition
to appear highly prosperous. the ten
dency of every more or less unassnni-
lated citizen to try 10 live up 10 the flashy
social and financial standards OF those
with whom they would like to associate,
that has supplied Mr.. Forbes with the
material for his three acts.
The action passes in a New York
hotel in which the ambitions of young
wife from another city are first made TO
seem possible of realization. She will
be of the apparently wealthy and shoddy
set in which she has suddenly found
herself. Her husbands prospects will be
improved by elevation OF this kind.
Her own ascent Will make his climb
easier. There Is no question in her mind
of this result of her plan. She Is
wholly in love with the man she is seek
ing to benefit But there is another
man through whom her hopes alone can
be accomplished
He can give the better business posi-
ton 10 the young husband. He can
supply the sinews of war to keep up
what is in reality no uncommonly ex-
pensive social existence. But he cannot
be a fly by night New Yorker and at
the same time do all these generous
things with no hope of reward. He
cannot conceive in his course of life a
woman who expects these attentions
without having an ultimate payment in
mind.
The Social HinterInnd.
1t is when the account is too long
overdue that the benefactor has the
courage to urge payment. 1t does not
require more than the conduct OF the
young wife then to show him his error.
He has been deceived. She has perha ps
not altogether without design misled
him. Her husband rushes. of course.
valiantly to her defense. The outsider,
In spite of his generosity. is abashcd
He will do more for the two. do it
without the hope of reward. But hus-
band and wife are now sufficient to
one another and their complete union
removes the other man altogether from
their lives
Mr.. Forbes's study of the social
hinterland of New York. the fashy
existence of the dweIlers in the hotels
grows more interesting as 1t narrows
down to the struggle between the young
wife and the man for whom she has
begun to feel a certain apprehension
once her husband has been sent by him
TO his post out of town. Yet the sordid-
ness of the story never disappears from
view
The sudden change Of heart on the
part of the pursuer, Is of course the
veriest theater expedient with no prece-
dent in life. The man who had sc
patiently watched his quarry for two
months would most probably in actual
existence have resented bitterly the dis
covery that the woman in fact felt a
physical adherence for him. He would
In all probability have slammed the door
on the two after calling them just the
sort of swindlers he had more than
grounds for believing that they really
might be.
That man capable OF such a splendid
renunciation would ever have attempted
to trap the woman for his prey is but
a device of the stage. But 1t served
Mr.. Forbes's purpose well in winding
the evening up agreeably
stars Beautiful Performance.
But what this character did or this
one might have done. what the author
may or may not have meant-these are
but unimportant incidents of the even
t,tr In, nf ha hos ft11 afar a
of the heroine given by Miss Margaret
Lawrence. Mr.. Erlanger will be thanked
for years by theatergoers that he gave
her such an opportunity. Mr. Forbes
VIII probably always be proud that II
was in one Of his plays that. her skill
asian actress came to its fullest flower.
Her performance of the young wife was
beautifully human and varied, rich In "A
piquant and varied charm, touched gent
ly with occasional pathos and lit from
time to time by golden shot of humor
that made the spectators her humble
adorers
II has been years such a genuinely
inspired dramatic performance has been
vouchsafed this public by any actress.
The character was not. in spite Of Mr..
Forbes's careful manipulation OF its
values. always sympathetic. II did not
escape the prevailing sordidness OF the
theme. Miss Lawrence, however. lifted
the role into the radiance OF her own
charm, which never relaxed In its hold
on the spectators.
"The Endless Chain" is an interesting
play. but Miss Lawrence Is the most de-
lightful talent that the American theatre
had produced in years
Miss Olive May proved more or less
stentorian trumpet for Mr.. Forbes's
worldly wisdom as IL Is revealed In hotel
life and the audience laughed at her
Harry Minturn played the benefactor
with dignity. which Is about the most
that any actor could have accomplished.
Kenneth Mackenna's boyish sincerity
as the young husband put the audience
on his side.
But the evening belonged to Miss
Lawrence. II is safe to say that many
evenings to come In the American thea
ter will be dedicated to her.
HOLIDAY CROWDS