The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-09-13
Blushing Material
SkillfuHy Handled
in Hopwood Play
why Men Leave Home Anus
ing and Finished Specimen
of Writing.
ny LAWRENCE REAMER.

Avery Hopwood came forward last
Woods. Wagenhals and Kemper pro-
duced at the Morosco Theater why
Men Leave Home" which Is the latest
towering of the Hopwood Theater. II
was fiatteringly described ON the pro-
gram as a comedy Dubious spectators
wondered IL the playwright would be
able 10 put Mr.. Woods altogether behind
him. 1t looked, indeed. at one iuncture
as II Mr.. Hopwood had really relapsed.
But there was little of the character
istic quality in the single bed room
scene OF the three acts. Indeed, 1t SOFA
appeared that Mr.. Hopwood was pre-,
tending TO write with a purpose, and not
altogether his usual purpose.
He was aiming to appear concerned
about the frivolous wives OF devoted
husbands who take their responsibilities
so lightly but make a serious matter OF
their pleasures. There were three sets
of husbands and wives utilized to prove
his case The event of the situation on
which why Husbands Leave Home
is founded, was not free from the sug-
9estion of the authors mechanics.
Three extravagant wives return from
Europe. They find that their husbands
have not been as completely without
consolation as they had hoped. The
rumors of their gaiety have fcourse,
been exaggerated. Yet divorce is in the
air. Complacency on the part of the
men greets this move. SO there Is a
hurried change OF front on the side OF
their partners. They long for domesticity.
Cooking the family life. happiness
at home-these hitherto embarrassing
subjects hll their minds. So complete
lis their surrender that the end is inevi-
table.
An Inyincible Formula.
OF course this formula has been in
vincible in the theater throughout the
centuries. First the women unite against
the men, then the union Is completed on
the other side. Then the women sur
render. So AZ. Hopwood had the con-
ventions of the stage on his side. His
own personal manner of treating such
situations did still more to insure popu-
larity for why Men Leave Home" 1t
is sure to endure for months to come.
(, Although he showed a certain amount
OF self-cnrtrol in the presence OF the
twin beds because he did no more than
put a wife in one and a husband In the
other. the rest of the play was In de-
tails three star Hopwood. He is still
irinpenitent Every phrase squeezed the
language into some double meaning.
Every situation sought to bring out rhe
tried Hopwood expedients OF indecency.
There was even the disrobing scene or
fragrant memory. There was the stale
old Joke about monkey glands. Nothing
that could make the first nighter regret
that blush was no longer possible 10
him. was overlooked by the playwright
A man wriggled as suGgestively as pos
sibIe in the hula-hula until his wire
asked him what was the matter with
his abdorren 1t was all the old Hop
wood TO the nth.
Managed with skill.
II was not, however, in the least
necessarv. The theme could have stood
alone as the central idea of play.
Maybe Mr.. Hopp.ood just can't help 1t.
Above all was the extreme skill with
which he managed his material. He Is
one OF the few American playwrights
who seen, to work with technical GER
tairty. He makes his effects and he
knows how He does not bungle into
them and try forever after to achieve
II again as the ma or.ty Of them appear
to.
or his choice o. ma erial in the ma
jority OF cases II - tID- osshle to be
tolerant. But he works libs ssillful
craftsman. Even . rat that wandered
on the stage gave ~ exhibition OF Inc
greatest modification during the dis
robing scene and " order to prove that
1t did not belong In the play, leaped
razardcusIy over the edge OF the stage
into the orchestra.
Wagenhals Id Kemper have pro-
duced the piece with every luxury and
directed the actors to play in the spirit
Of farce. which alone il adapted to It.
Miss Florenne Shirley and Miss Audrey
Hart were expert and lovely to con-
template and Mrs. Conover as the third
wife so lost herself in her duty to her
art as to walk about on all fours. Miss
Jessie villars played an intrusive grand
mother in a way to make even the audi
encA loathe her, and Miss Isabel Leigh
ton was an equally Objectionable type OF
flapper
John McFarlane, Herbert Yost and
Paul Everton were the husbands with
most of the honors going to Mr.. Nc
Farlane.
Mr. Hopwood was called to the stage
after the second act. The audience re-
ceived the piece with signs Of such
rapture as will keep it long on view.
1t is indeed the most finished specimen
OF play w-'ting thai the young season
has produced.