The New York herald., 1922-09-05
Charming Play
of Scottish Life
Is 'Hunky Dory'
Macdonald Watson's Comedy
Has an Engaging Topper and
Suggests Barrie.

''Hunky Dory," Scotch bootmakiug
comedy which came to pass at the Klaw
Theater last night, promises to be almost
as popular ss bootlegging In fact, Il
sings few sly praises in favor of John
Barleycorn. and has a rather engaging,
rascally old topper who seems ike
Caledonian version of The Old Soak
across the street, with his tongue bit
more twisted. So what more could
thirsty New Yorkers want. For many
wears they have been waiting for an
other ''Bunty Pulls the Strings" almost
with tongues hanging out. Last night
they got what they wanted. for the sub
way took them right to Thrums again.
This little three act comedy by Mac
donald Watson has the indefinable quail
ity OF charm, which even Barrie has
been unable to pin to paper with a
phrase. AT first the character from
whom the play got its name hardly
seemed TO merit that lovable cognomen.
for he was an elderly town drunkard,
not exactly the Huaky Dory persons want
to cuddle. For years he had been black
mailing the white haired cobbler who
employed him in a Lowland village, be-
cause the cobbler had been more indis-
Greet than to embezzle 100 pounds-he
had been indiscreet enough to let the
wastrel know il.
More. the topper took back the daugh-
ter, whom the shoe-mender had reared
as his own. seeing a chance to marry
her for money and belying The benignant
aspect of his sandy whiskers. But an
other daughter whom Dory had farmed
out for adoption as a child turned UP TO
pull that beard, figuratively. 1t was the
alcoholic grace with which he met de-
feat and expounded the philosophy OF the
dpsomaniac that made the audience
glad to give Hunku the freedom OF the
city. Astute managers seem to perceive
nowadays prohibition has placed booze
fiEhting heroes at a premium.
It was comedy with more compli-
cations than "Bunty." but simply told
for all that and deftly cobbled. 1t was
in fact trifle suggestive of the theater
at times. and the author. who was also
the star. to be sometimes leading up TO
a favorable opportunity to thrust in a
gag upon the audience before they could
see 1t coming. Coincidence was called
upon for first aid occasionally. Some
things were held back that might have
been avowed earlier in the play. but
what is play without such tricks up
the sleeve? After ALL the play has
genuine. Ingenious spirit.
"Tfunky Dory" has many of the IA
vorite figures OF such plays-the topper,
the gosspy old lady. the managing
young woman, the well meaning dunder-
head--all these amount virtually TO the
mythology of Scotch comedy. The au-
dience crowed with delight to meet old
friends again, with the deliciously un-
conscious humor that is their trademark.
The outstanding figure was the doltish
plumber. who considered himself an in
spircd genius, but who finally decided
the Royal Academy could get along
without him.
Having written him. Watson knew
how TO play him to the last syllable.
This inimtable comedian won the eve
ning's honors with his refreshing por-
trayal, particularly with his introduc-
tion OF rat into a romantic proposal.
1t seemed difficult TO believe that a
mechanic who balked at pronouncing
"matrimony" could hurdle a phrase like
unsolicited testimonial" But there has
not been since Richard Benefits John
Shdnd such a telling delineation of the
honest goof. Miss Nell Barker as the
winsome Jenny, Miss Stella Campbell.
Robert Drysdale---ih fact the whole COM
pany--were splendid. though Walter
Roy as Hunky seemed inclined to act. ex-
cept in his passages with the bottle, when
he was natural. In costuming and set
ting Mare Klaw has admirably dupli-
Gated Cecil BSrth's London production.