New-York tribune., 1922-08-25
The Theaters By Percy Hammond
Miss Tempest Delightful in
"A Serpent's Ioosla,
So-sso Comedy About
d Thankless Child


AZ the Tdttfs Thsaser stias aiaFie
TsYspess. uDdev Joitn Uedens dsrretiens IN
a serpeni,s Tooth BY AFshps Riehsnar.
The east
Fanny y ...,..... : Josephine wIiiIaras
syTsy Middleton .sss,,ss Jesile Howard
S4fsFdred Sherwood -. IS s1kzsre sutherland
Bert Royd ....s. Howard Freeman
Morgan TTenden- Mr. ssFoNse
.ranet TyenaeA s.....s.s.s Ann MeYriek
Peresyal Faraday ..,4.S.sf Robert Lowe
4 Caterer. ...s....4. 49,. John Clements,
The situation confronting Mrs Mid
dieton Miss Marie Tempest) in sA
serpent's Tooth" is something like
this: Her son tbeslie Howard, de-
praved young ne'es-do-well has en-
gagsd himself 30 be married to the
rich and lovely daughter of her old
adnirer, his object being money ard
an easy time. He is an attractive cut
IN, for all his mischievous habits
gaming, drinking ard loose associa-
tions among the ladies. An expert
wheedler and piano player, he is adored
by his mother and his betrothed, who,
Ike others of their sex, have weak
TO go in to the engagement dinner Mrs.
Middleton catches the boy in particu-
larly odious mess involving another
woman. Facing the fact that he is not
worth, as she says, "one beat of that
young girls heart, she decides upon a
procedure.
What, mothers Of no-good sons, would
you do in such contretemps? Would
you disclose the evil character of your
best beloved to the rich and pretty girl
he is about to marry and warn her to
throw him over? Or would you be
silent about his deIinquencies and
trust to the benign influence of good
wife to bring reformation and happi-
ness with matriinony? I think it rea-
sonably certain that you would not, as
Mrs. Middleton does, begin your ex-
posure and admonition by saying: 'Tn
one Of the sacred books of the East
there Ia legend" - and then
proceed to tell her profuse fable
about an Oriental fortune-hunter and
his hapless bride. At least I think
you would not il you were the sort of
mother played in "a Serpent's Tooth"
by Miss Tempest in her best style
smart and with twinkling sense of
llumor. Still, she worked on a news
paper.
OF course the boys sweetheart re-
scnted Mrs. Middleton's expose, becom-
ing Historically indignant in what
thought was rather an extraordinary
display of honest, uncharted agitation
by Miss Ann Merrick Miss Tempest
pulled down the pillars of the temple, :"
as Mrs. Middleton described it, in a
way to make you forget the handicap
other conversations; turning brilliantly
from the emotional wreckage to q
bright, funny scene as the curtain fell
on disaster. In the next act, represent
ing the following morning, she was a
biz uncertain about the wisdom of her
coarse. But, as she told her sister-in-
law (Miss Anne Sutherland), she "saw
a hHiAS QSSNSilhiii6 O4l ei FSiJ tSdQeI
neck" and intercepted it.
It is moderately interesting com
edy, little old-fashioned in man
ner, but distinguished by the acting of
Miss Tempest, Graham Browne, as a
sentimental suitor Of other days, and
their associates, including particularly
Mr.. Howard as the bad boy. Some OF us
expected more of a play from Mr.. Rich
man, the author of ambush; he may
have decided TO refrain hereafter from
excellence, since that drama was not
much of popular success. The ter
minus of "The Serpent's Tooth is COM
Portable, with Mrs. Middleton saying
Eyes" TO her millionaire, and taking all
the blame for her offspring's oueg-
tionable conduct. She had spoiled him
with too much kindness. AS he de-
parts to seek reformation in the rough
life Of frontier ranch he kisses her
DO you know, Jerry she says, when
you last kissed me like that?f sN0,
mother" he replies. 'It was when 7
gave you your first pair of long trou-
sers," Is her answer There was n
most hospitable demonstration for Miss
Tempest and gracious speech In re.
aponse.