Evening star., 1922-05-02
ADJUSTMENTS
NATI0NAL--Francine Larrimore
in Mice People"

Rachel crothers' three-act play.
Nice People," presented by Sam H.
Harris, apparently amused and enter
tanned q very large audience at the
National Theater last night. 1t earned
a variety of verdicts, according to the
temperament and thoughtfulness, or
thoughtlessness. of many jurors, who
more or less freely expressed their
opinion between acts.
One sedate man. shuddering at the
conditions revealed in the first act. in
rich mans apartment In New York.
where a lot of irresponsible young
people were seen more or less intoxl-
Gated, including the mans own
daughter, who seemed to be as so
phisticated as the others, but bit
more tactful, felt that the play was
horrible slander; that no such con-
ditions existed in New York or else
where, and that it was a crime to
even suggest them before an audi
ence of young people. girls especially
Another less sedate, whose face re-
fiected the JOY Of good living. thought
the play was rich in spite OF It's
certain the homes of the rich needed
the vigorous attention of the anti
saloon league and the board OF chill
dren's guardians. If y not the police.
Many pronounced the play thoroughly
enjoyable. praising especially, Mrs
Crothers' vigorous way of landing
point and laughing at her bright oia-
logue.
with such a variety of opinions 1t
Is manifestly difficult to separate the
wheat from the chan and render
composite judgment that would be
likely, to please any considerable
number Of those who saw the play,
and it might not be fair to those who
want to see 1t and to have their
opinion shared in the general ap-
praisement Suffice 1t to say there
Is nothing offensive to the sense of
decency aside from the unrestricted
indulgence in intoxicating liquor by
lot of young girls and idiotic young
men: and the cute audacity ana I'M
pudence of an attractive young girl.
who is trapped in her own country
cottage overnight, with no COM
panions buH a thoroughly drunken
young escort and a stranger, who
enters later to escape the terrinc
storm that is raging, and who. IN
spite of appearances. shows respect
for the girl and sends her to bed with
the assurance that he will be gone IN
the morning when she reappears ana
that she will be- perfectly safe while
he remains.
This last young man. one Of the re-
deeming characters of the play, even
tually wins the headstrong, dissi-
pated. foolish. little girl for his wife.
and when the curtain makes its final
descent for the evening it looks as
though she might prove good one
and that lily Of romance has sprung
out of the mire of surroundings.
There is another wholesome charac-
ter in the play, Margaret Rainsford,
aunt of the poor. little foolish girl,
and 1t is she who first brings the
girls fool father to his senses about
his daughters wayward conduct.
Francine Larrimore Is very attrac-
tive as Ted" Gloucester. the foolish
little heroine of the romance. Even
her impudent berating Of her father
and the manner in which she empties
his pockets Of money that she may
continue out night Of revelry Is
amusing, and the manner Of her con-
quest Of him after he has practically
disowned her for her escapade in the
country cottage is true to form and
touching.
The cast generally is excellent, it's
greatest drawback being the type of
chracters 1t is called upon to imper-
senate: but 1t does 1t well-Robert
Ames. as Billy Wade, 'the hero of
the romance: Helen Crane. as a
very disagreeable young person: Cor
don Alexander. Edwin Hensley, Guy
Milham, Hugh Huntley, Merle Madden.
as the aunt; Martin Alsop and
Charles Gibney. The play is we'll
and attractiyely mounted w X T.