New-York tribune., 1922-10-02
The Iheaters-By Percy Hammond
The Competent, Humorous
and Noble Butler i'm ssThin
Ice" Turns Out To Be a
Rich and Titled Rriton

Oicn anu Lifted brltOm
Thin Ice" by Pereival Knight. pre.
sented by the Shuberts at the Comedy
Theater last Saturday night with the
following cast:
Whitney Nelson. Felix Krrrb,
sasno s,sn weoasaf . 1s,,, il. Dudley Hawies
Euji, Japansse servsnt -. r rama mote ss
M NJ Bareriase..... :. .Percival Knigh'
Helen Helen Wshh1isrrs Whisnasy Nei.ea 'otys ,,ss ,WsyHaham
1t has been said (perhaps unjustly)
that actor-authors when composing
parts for themselves shirk their obli-
cations. The charge is that, having
written a drama, they feel exempt
from large participation in it and
saziiy hide in roles of small signif-
canoe. While their overworked associ-
ates in the performance are burdened
with Big Scenes, applause and curtain
calls, the author-actors prefer to
dawdle, indolently, in their dressing
rooms, it has been said. Therefore, it
IS agreeable to discover Mr., Perciyal
Knight, who, as creator and chief per-
former in "Thin Ice," is of less selfish
type.
Mr. knight, impersonating one Of tho
stages busiest buffers, freights him sell
with important duties. And these he
dispatches with sufficient diligence and
perspicacity to please every one of the
276 members of the Lambs who on Sat.
urday evening telegraphed him Of their
confidence and admiration. Also many.
many others. From the things that Mr..
Knight is and does in his "Thin Icer
the following catalogue may be com.
piled:
,.h himprImis; Me is an ex-soidier OF the Brit
bit of shrapnel, out Of luck ana ne nobi.. 'H a
Item: He comes to America ana gets e
}}op as butler to the rich. Long Island
son Item, sna,,x He discover. that whitney Nell
company of which ne was the captain.
Eurthermore, that Nelson is drinking and
desperate because he and his wife (Miss
Glida Leary) are Incompatible.
Item: When Mrs. Nelson's pretty sister
tMiss Olive Wyndham) asks him If he ever
plays the market. he answers. "oniy the
meat market"
Item; He ejscts Mrs, Nelson's snaky
sutor suite Sa Dudley Hawley) from the prem
ground that IT is the masters orders''
He is called by her "a low-down soldier ls
Item: He removes the bullets from Mel
sons revolver. 50 that when Nelson tries
ing happens except some loud reports.
nxncain1 ths xiIi.t,,. .,,z.a,A-
snd Nelson's uprightness he summons the
Nelson's into each others happy arms.
Of He the aesgns
&C. Henry Gordon), and by a clever trick
sends him. defeated, upon his way.
item: He tears up the check. Really.
Item: He inspires Mrs. Nelson's pretty
Of h s9 IN GTs With hs h
his helpful horning In, and because. as she
ssss sh shs has ans sesn by io0kins into his
pal of the fallen aviator to whom she had
been engaged.
Item: He receives cablegrarn from
his solicitor in London, saying that hi,
uncle, Sir James. is dead. and that he 4,
now rich and titled.
Item: He becomes betrothed to the
without knowing that he is a baronet a,
well e. butler.
it may be asked, "Is Thin Ice a
good as we'll as an unselfsh play? =
Well, personally, thought that it was
not; it seemed so naive and patterned
a foregathering of obsequious old-stuff
characters, situations, devices and in
credibilities. But many Of my betterl
will regard it as otherwise, as they did
at the Comedy Theater Saturday night
rot L
pitable than usual, going so far as to
applaud the rich Mrs. Nelson's piaintive
remark that money isn't everythingl'
There were several other pregnant OBJ.
servations brighter than that ant
equally sagacious, and the whole thins
moved along iVst about as the drama
lovers prefer to have things move
along.
Mr.. Knight as the butler was copi
ously sententious and quizzical, domi,
mating the plays crises with his quiet
drolleries; though one suspected him
occasionally, of being a trhe snug Miss
Wyndham's role was that Of an i'm
petuous Long Islander who was crazy
about foreigners and travel and who
yearned to "do" the Tai Mahal. She
burbled pleasingly, and was effective, a
hard job. Mr.. Gordon's impersonation
of the de luxe confidence man.
thought; was an excellent bit Of typ,
playing-sincere, picturesque, and reti
cent, telling a tall story belieyably ant