The New York herald., 1922-01-29
Too Much Jazz Basis for
New Role of Laurette Taylor
Actress Says Theme for National Anthem Came to
Both She and Her Playwright Husband ].
Hartley Manners on Night After Party.

Its unthinkable TO imagine peop@
going off to that cheap place and listen-
ing to that cheap band and fancyiug
they're having a good time in the coun-
try when they can have so much green
grass and fresh air Tor nothing. Don't
you think IL shows how crazy we're al
growing. in this country?'
''He agreed, and when we got home
he had his tea and started to write, just
as he always does, using the night for
work while / use IL for sleep. But this
night I couldn't sleep for thinking how
dreadful the world was becoming
Though l usually have round of self
liz the morning and don't see Hartley
till luncheon. / couldn't walt till he had
his breakfast before I unburdened the
misery I'd been nursing all night.
said:
Hartley. don't you think you could
write a play OIL conditions like those ws
saw last night?'
my dear he said. i began II at I
o'clock this morning
"'rhe remarkable thing about this plaX
to my mind, Is that Hartley has caugh!
the American spirit OF jazz, and yet heA
an Englishman. who isn't supposed IL
get American moods at all. Jazz, ttae
impulse for wildness that has undoubt~
edly come over many things besides
music In this country, is traceable to the
negro influence, l believe, and Hartles
has received numerous letters. from per
sonages like Rabbi Stephen s. Wise
commencing him for his stand against
such disintSgrating forces.
But. of course. Jazz Is at bottom a
symptom of the restlessness within mod
ern people, and not necessarily the
cause why every ono feels he must be
in a constant futter. Young couples
like those in the play have nothing to
occupy them. so they come to cross pur-
poses and are constantly on the fly IN
quest of excitement As the girl I play
says to her husband. DO you realize
we've been married for severa' years
and haven't had a moment together in
all that time? People don't take the
time to go by themselves and do a little
plain or fancy thinking. No, the very
music doesn't help them to commune
with themselves. but impels them to be
up and doing whether they want TO or
rot. 1t stirs their soles but not their
souls
"As a matter fact this play is~.
an attack on jazz like jazz myself
but In digestibe quantities. What The
play speaks for Is moderation, not oIe
hibition The man who either ahstasr.
entirely or drinks TO excess dOes 30 be-
cause of an invisible curvature OF tfr
spine. It's wonderful for people to have
strength of will, so that they can take
few drinks and then give the bottle
rest"
The present production. Miss Taylor
said. does not mean the abandonment
OF the disqualification of Fannie Hursts
story "Hunioresque," which was simply
held up because she and her husband
were anxious TO present tho first dra
matte exposition of jazz before any one
else. as the subject is now vibrating H.,
! the air.
The Hurst play. in which Miss Taylor
will play an old Jewish woman and on
which she has an option until next Sep
| tember. Is being retained against the
| day when she shall have her own the
ter. whereupon she plans to present
repertoire including THE Harp OF Life"
Happiness" "Out There and every
thing IN fact. except Peg o. My Heart"
for she wants TO shake off this popus
lar success finally.