New-York tribune., 1922-10-25
The Iheatcrs- By Percy Hammond
The Last Warming II am
Admirable Contribution
80 the .Ioclllar Mystery
and Ghost Drama

.sTh. Last wffnlng'. a play founded by
Thonss +. Faiyoa % wadsworth Camps
ss Ta.sssl 4 With sa saa fos~s
Josiah Buncc. w.rthington &. Romaine
sene irene Homer
Sqshar msiiss wisIs eoDrsisixs
Tensns Nsii. ..-s.. Victor n. Beeereft
Essyaaa % Asndoa. s,s'' Marion II afI@sa hora
Dolly Lysnken. ......s.3.....s... Ann Macon
Harvey Z, Carlton !. Albert barrett
Barbara Mors an. .......... Ann winsiow
Isnreys..... ...s.........s.. John w, MOORE
Joseph Byrne...... Dewsy 'sas sss.asoa Mas
This lively frolic among the ghosts
| and murders should be a good invest
| ment for those who arc pleased when
their blood runs cold. In 1t they may
find enough shivers and gasps 20 sat-
isfy them through a season OF drama
going. All the green lights. appari-
tions, hollow means and othsr
staple harrowings are here assembled
in spacious and jocular chamber of
horrors. 1t is the Sears Roebuck Of
the mystery shows, and the only
trouble with it is that IL is too COM
plete. That is to say that IL over
flows little, and that It's comic iacera-
ticns grow d bit surplus and mcnoto-
nous before the end.
| All Of US have our pet terror.dramas.
Some Of us are committed to "The
Bat" others to 1.-THE Cat and the
| Canary" and still others to "The Mon
ster." "The Last Warning" to this
expert in such things is the favorite.
1t appears to US to be the most adult,
the most humorous, the most literate
| and the most ingenious of its class
the gayest Of the current nightmares Of
| the theater.
William Courtleigh, as Arthur Nc
Hugh, theatrical manager, leases a
haunted playhouse at Broadway and
Twenty-ninth Street, proposing to pro-
duce show called "The Snare" This
play. years ago, was interrupted in its
run on Broadway by the uncanny dis
| appearance Of its star, Mr.. Woodford,
:
whose evanishment still perplexes the
sleuths and criminologists. Manager
McHugh engages all the members of
the original cast to appear in this
supulchral revival. and in doing 80
empties hell Of many Of its devils.
Woodford's curse is upon the play
and the theater. His agile spirit per-
forms distressing phenomena during
the rehearsals. The manuscript Of the
piece grows disbolic with red warn
ings, and the actors are beset with
eerie violences. AS they practice their
lines and situations with blanched
cheeks and tremors their art is handi-
capped by demoniacal Interruptions.
Large tarantulas intrude themselves,
and the cadaver Of the leading man is
exposed hideousiy in his dressing
room. Sulphurous flames leap from
bust Of Dante, and grave-sounds are
audible In every scene.
! The situation grows so serious that
policemen infect the aisles Of the Klaw
theater and pistols are fired at spec
ters from the boxes. 1t is altogether
wild and comic evening with the
drama. Comic, largely, because Of the
presence Of Miss Marion Lord, who
plays as burlesque actress having her
first experience in the legitimate. Her
| role Is ripe with funny observations. in
the utterance OF which she is excel
lent. II love everything out Of DOORS"
says she, especially Nature. And
love Nature because It is so natural"
Mr.. Courtleigh is Immediately seri-
Gus as the manager, who penetrates the
mystery, and all the others are out Of
the top drawer, including Miss Ann
Mason, who, as the leading actress, is
personable. though with q voice remi-
niscent Of Mr.. Savoy, of "The Green :.
wich Village Follies." "The Last
Warning is the best prank, we think,
of it's school.