The Washington herald., 1922-02-14

The. business of entertaining an
| audience is primary to all other
considerations In the case of "The
Dream Maker" the play by Howard
+. Morton and william Gillette,
which brought Mr.. Gillette back to
Washington last night.
The Dream Maker is a comedy
melodrama = another exposition of
the idea that a thief makes the
best thief catcher-and while Il Is
not SO thorough-going a thriller as
The Bat" nor SO rich in characteri-
Zation as Sherlock Holmes" or
Secret Service" 1t reveals the al
| ways-capable Gillette In a variety
of guises, but chiefly as a congenital
crook who turns his trade to the
paths Of sentiment and saves a girl
from the attentions OF some black.
mailers.
Mr.. Gillette enters The Dream
Maker" self-confessed crook. and
leaves 1t detective par excellenc.
Literally sprinkled through the ac-
tion are flashes of the "Sheriocb
Holmes" and Secret Service" tech
nique, and II will detract no whit
from the interest of the drama to
say that The Dream Maker" is a
theater clothesline for much of the
Secret Service" and sherlock
Holmes" hokum. All this, how
ever. Is really an asset. and while
the technician will doubtless cavil,
The Dream Maker interests, fas-
cinates and entertains. In brief,
The Dream Maker" Is well worth
seeing.
The Theme of the Play.
The first act is devoted largely to
revealing the intimacy that exists
between young Mrs. Bruce, whose
husband Is absent. and the rather
smart trio who have taken her up.
II also introduces DR.. Paul Clement,
physician of note, as well, as self
confessed convict, thief and GRIM
inal. There Is some talk of the
doctor one loving Mrs. Bruce's
mother and more conversation con-
rcerning Mr.. Bruce, the absent hus-
band. alleged to be enamored of q
nussy in far-off Texas.
Early in the business, though, the
smart neigh bors who have taken up
when they drug her champagne at a
Mrs. Bruce are shown to be de-
cidedly shady so no one is surprised
dance and successfully involve her
in a situation that threatens with
the most lurid publicity. Having
proven her friends to be black
mailers. the old doctor comes to
the rescue of virtue and for three
acts Of nashy and George NJ. Cohan
melodrama, it's a battle of wits that
is well worth watching.
In the end, however, Mrs. Bruce
is convinced that she dreamed 1t all
and the blackmailers are forced to
sign confessions by making them
believe they've been poisoned. This
final scene is funny. but its humor
is a trifie Sennettish, One is a lit
tie surprised to find Gillette throw
Ing figurative custard pie, but in
such a season, it is 20 time to gag
The play. in its causative mo-
ments is highly theatrical rather
than dramatic The initial desire
of all concerned to keep the knowl-
edge of Mrs. Bruoe's indiscretion
from her hus6and-she admitted
one OF the blackmailers at 9 a. m.
in nesligee, while presumably
rather tight-rapidIy changes in an
effort to save her sanity by making
her believe II is all a dream. II one
seeks flaws here is one, of course.
for after all the veriest dumbbeIl
OF a husband is apt to believe his
wife when a wife. heretofore chaste,
is set upon by badger-gamesters.
However, as theater entertain
ment, The Dream Maker" flIs the
bill, though 1t clearly reveals. that
Mr. Gillette, along with 30 per cent
OF the stars in the republic. ar,
wallowing in the doldrums of a
manuscript calm.