New-York tribune., 1922-12-26
The Theaters-By Percy Hammond
Miss Billie Burke in ''Rose
Briar," a Comedy by Our
Foremost Novelist

Iten. prrssrtsd b. Ma Billie Burke Al the
Errire Theater under ~. licEfelQe oirec-
iion With tais east
reese Briar. ar.....s.........ss... ssiss Hgrks
Fara1ee .-+s.s+ss 80 .A.s-n - . -. !.
lalfntlne ..s..s.sss .ss-s -. ~ fAlh ~Ne.Ie. ~
Ara Valentine. Aiaa Jglla n01t
lAtue 49, ,,...l..
-. N,esiI. wis, T,or.nce o.Denisha wn
Ma Sheppard. ......... MiaE Ethel Nsmey
Moasisnr Prologue. of the Rsgtaurant
Psnradcur Cabaret ....... Donald Hall
tgiiiran .s.-...'..-'''.' Aats .s,tnl .s,,tal
tsssr.g piirons.missss Beuiah MoFsr-
lard. Janet Msgrew. Polly Nsliy. Vivian
Vernon. Aronns Taylor. Mesera ~. O.
Jennings. n. J. ThonaS. John Donaeliy.
TIVE dramatic works Of Mr.. Tarking-
ton are sometimes inferior 70 his
accomplishments IN other felds Of let
tsrs. Il IL too much 70 ask Of an artiss
that he be supreme In more than ore
medium; and 90, such disappointment
as occasionally issues from Nh
Tarkiagton's play-writing Is mitigatet
by memories Of his books. He is our
fore, is the badge Of tho reviewer wher
he IL confronted with a play by Mr.
Harrington. While in his profound con
temptation Of Mr.. Tarkington's come
dies be Is constrained 20 modify the
customary rigor Of bis standards and
judgmonts-as they have been called.
Indebted a. ho is 20 the author for
many pleasant hours In his library, he
Is srnpelled 10 manifestations Of graft
tude. Besides, Mr.. Harrington. though
gentle man, afrlghts the more timid
critics with remonstranees against
opinions that nre not eommendstory. We
recall on article once printed IN "Har-
per's Magazine" By him wherein he
Indignantly reprehended unfavOrable
reviewing and cited several cases Of
hurt feelings. among them being those
Of Howells and Henry James.
Here IL reviewers situation In the
ease Of "Rose Briar." which Miss Billie
Burke is playing AZ the Empire. Mr..
Harrington. he reflects, believes II 70
be good, else he would not sign his
name 70 Il; and who am 70 say that It
is otherwise7 Miss Burke, foremost
star. likes II or she would not play in
Il. and the fact that Mr.. ziegfsld, a
sagacious Snowman. produces IL proves
that no regards II as valuable. He
hears al around him expressions Of
the audiences spprovsli and again he
begins 70 wonder what use be Is 20
art, BIS Journal, his readers or himself.
he suspects the play 10 be thin, awk-
ward and strained, but tho evidence Is
20 much against his suspicious that
ne refrains from announcing them and
writes something like the foregoing
In "Roso Briar" Miss Burke i'm
personates one Of the finer and better
Of the New York cabaret Rrtistes. She
performs az the Cafe Pompad0ur, a
resort frequented In the late hours by
the thriftless and neurotie. She Is a
Kind and reliable" girl, good looking,
proficient vocalist, ehasts and
humorous, though fond Of some Of her
feTlowmen. Among tho customers of
this supper club are Mr.. Valentine
(Mr. Frank Conroy), whose married
iife Is confused and unhappy; and Mr..
PAradee (Mr. Alan Dinehart), casual
but worthy New York lovemsker, who
is addicted 70 his friends wives. Both
Of them besiege the amiable performer
with eleanly attentions; for she is Of
the nice type. as, indeed. are they.
The play seems 70 become a BIT ire
sponsible in tho second act whore Rose
Brisr Is 20 be seen at a county place
Joseph Urban officiating admirably In
conspiracy 20 facilitate the Valen-
tines divorce. Mrs. Valentine (Miss
Julia Hoyt) desires an ahiliation with
Mr. parsdee, and Mr. Valentine is am
bilious for matrimonial heaven in the
cabaret girls arms. To indicate how
naively Mr. Harrington sxempts him
self from the So-called hctuHlities, q
Newspaper woman is caused to be pres
ont for the purpose Of writing up, In
the New York Sunday supplements
such nirtstions and inhdelities as may
accrue from the situation.
Miss Burke is q joyous intrigente IN
this episode. IL Is her impish pleas
ore 20 "show Up" her hostess. Mrs
Valentine. who is shallow beauty
afiicted with the habit Of bsby-talk
She initiates Mrs Valentines nursery
patOis and makes her very ridiculous
both to husband and suitor This also
II we venture 70 suggest, is a wrong thing
for Mr. Harrington 20 do. lie gives
Rose Brisr no opposition whatever
since her adversary, Mrs Valentine, Is
20 weak a competitor. Rose Briar IS
equipped with al tho fascinations
while her antagonist Is handicapped by
al the denominations save uncomeliness
The greater the eonhiet, the better the
playg Roles like that Of Rose Bria.
should be acted only by pass6 stars
who have become a little doubtful Of
their charm. Poor Miss Julia Hoytl
She wouldn't have a chance II she were
not 90 handsome.