New-York tribune., 1922-11-07
The Iheaters- BY Percy Hammond
The '40erss' Is DuIler Than
II Was Expected To BE,
but II Has Its Many
Happy Moments

THE <sers." review written by mum.
tioa OF George c. Tyler, Marc Connolly
nna an ss Gsefgs 5. Kan Ksafman by the foliomins
Bsryi Mercer. Ruth Gilmore, Howard
Lindsay. Sidney Toler. Sol Friedman and
Allen Fagan.
Since '.The '4sers" is a burlesouc
revue composed by q little group of
Americas NEST adroit satirists great
expectations existed in the public
: breast concerning It's qualities as a
tonic entertainment. TO say that "far
of its coming shone' is but limp sug-
gestion of the auspicious hopes pro-
voked by its announcement. Ring Lard
ner, Montague Glass, Franklin p.
Adams, Haywood Broun, Robert C.
Bsnchley. Miss Dorothy Parker, George
s. Kaufman, Marc Connolly, Robert E.
Sherwood and Morrie Ryskind, to say
nothing of Howard Dietz and Walter
Kuhn, were in the roster of it's libret-
fists. Few shows have had so urban
q genesis as that provided for "The
zsers" by almost all our eminent
swinklers.
] liked the result of this stupendous
collaboration, though I am bound to
admit tina. there was cause, if not rea-
son, for some of the sullen croaking
that was practiced between the acts.
Those members Of the invited audience
who last evening pronounced their dis
appointment anticipated too much.
Here. they thought, is all the fine
flower of American wit and humor,
concentrated upon a frolic, which,
therefore, should be fawless, and be-
cause it contained few imperfections
they were not pleased.
Miss May Irwin, who endeavored to
Balief the proceedings, seemed little
dispirited, and early in the per-
formance she subtly communicated her
depression to the audience. Her lines
were bright at times and her physique
was as sunny as Of yore; but the job
seemed bit too hard for even 80 stout
heart as hers. Besides, her habit Of
beginning almost all Of her pungent
remarks with the expression "You
know" grew trife monotonous ere
the evening was over. She will be hap
pier tonight; and so will other por-
tions of the program, in case they are
amended or left out.
"But what" Mr.. Tyler might ask,
"could be left out?" Certainly not the
Categorical opening" which so cruelty
spoofs the silly beginnings of Mr.. Zieg-
fields National Institution and other
solemn Broadway revues. Sand whom
are your" inquiries the Good Fairy, as
comic figure appears against back
ground of joseph Urban blue. "I am
Capital and Labor" is the answer. Mr..
Lardner's contribution, "The Tridget Of
Greva," could not be omitted, for it Is
the completest essay in sagacious
idiotics that you have ever encoun-
tered either on the stage or off. Mr..
Kaufman's kidding" of the big adver-
tisers in life on the Back Page" is
much too funny to be blue-penciled,
deftly wounding, as it will, the feelings
of all the monstrous megaphonists
from Correspondence Schools to Pyor-
rohea Cures. Mr.. Glass's entry, enti-
tied "omit Flowers" is essential to the
program, for it introduces humor and
merciless observation into an under
takers shop, at the moment Of boot
legger's funeral. 1t is among the more
exquisite Of the Macabre satires.
F. P. AS tranquil expose of the
Viennese operettas could not possibly
be surgeoned, for it is a perfect, vel
vet kidding of the musical comedies,
embracing in its two delectable scenes
all the hostile thoughts you may have
had concerning the stereotyped banali-
ties of light opera. And Mr.. Broun's
graceful inversion of the fable about
the Child and the Kings invisible gar
ment is too poetic thing to be lightly
elected. The gorgeous, burlesQue his