Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-02-21
)LD DiGGERS" IS
AMUSING FARCE
o6ry OF Chorus. s.Cirl Life One Of
Most Entertaining Of Hop
woods Long List

UrvNd-The light that streamed in
tArough the stage window OF the stage
Qpartment occupied hy some more or less
itnteresting gold diggers' in the first
net Of the play Of that name might be
lnid 10 envelop the entire entertain
Mellow and rich would be excellent
!4oucfiptive terms for 'The Gold Dig
oefs"; frothy and substancelcss might
toIpo describe it, but the whole atmo-
OAere defies heavy -handed criticism
and takes the harsh critic over in n
corner. whispers in his ear and sends
him away laughing.
q This production of Mr.. Belasco's is
IN the nature of picnic vacation after
(and betwcen) psychological. psychic
and sociological plays. There is not n
heavy or ponderous moment throughout
lite length: 1t is not even dignitied by
the title Of comedy. except in the nd-
vertising. Farce, pure and simple. it is.
but farce without any undue rushing
around. Raciness of line is present. but
racing characters seeking to hide under
beds and hide in closets are absent.
q Avery Hopwood. who wrote 1t. must
have been In one of his more inspired
moods. He was one Of those responsible
for the mellowness and the pleasant
flavor that distinguished the show. I'm
savory ideas and unsavory lines he has
allowed to creep in. but the net result
ID just character farce. raised to the
tenth degree Of flash and spirit.
Most of the characters are the gold
diggers" of the title: show folk (lndics
preferred, of course) who are shown.
not on the stage, but in their private
misnomer-life.
Around one. little less slangy than
the rest. is group of extremely
pretty young women who delight Broad-
way audiences at night and quarrel and
make up. philosophers and banter in
their intimate apartment life during
the day. The plot revolvcs about the
attempt of Jerry Lamar tthe less
slangy onc) to arrange satisfactorily the
marriage Of her shy young ward to n
chap whose uncle hates all gold
diggers.
Naturally. she falls in love with
uncle, and tragedy almost occurs when
she Is placed in wrong light in his
eyes, and he takes her for an extremely
virulent example of the genus gold
digger
Jobyna Howland. playing the role of
the slangicst. most staggering gold
digger of the lot, is nearly classic in her
subordinate. but she manages to domi-
nate the entire show. Like Fannie
Brice. she can drop pinch of tragedy
into q roaring comedy scene. and her
gruff voice. from the first scene to the
final curtain. is the surest laugh win
ner Of the show.
Gertrude Vanderbilt plays Jerry
lamar. Since Philadelphia did not see
Ina Claire in the same role. rompari-
sons are not in order. Miss Wander
bilt's acting has fire and spirit. but
lacks sympathy in the moro serious
moments at the end. Hers is Il bit too
much coarsened Jerry. Bruce Me-
Rae (strange to see him in such n playl
is splendid as the uncle. II. Reeves
Smith delightfully."- droll and sad eyed as
the lawyer friend who falls for the wics
Of Jobyna. and Ruth Terry is ludicrous
and laughablc as Topsy.
The staging is both simple and beau
tiful. Exceptionally fine is the light
ing Mt the rise of the curtain. Acting
and staging shared with the author the
responsibility for the golden haze Of
fun that maj cl the whole