The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-10-18
INA CLAIRE AT
NATIONAL
MONDAY

NATIONAL-At the Nationai
for one week beginning next Mon
day. Ina Claire, most welcome
and charming of our younger
American STAYS, is to be seen in
Arthur Richman's comedy, THE
Awful Truth" 1t is a matter OF
theatrical history that the sue
cess attained by Miss Claire
at the time of the plays pre-
miere in New York was such that
Cor five months she crowded Henry
Miller's Theater to its capacity.
In Mr.. Richman's comedy Miss
Claire has one of the roles in
which her hosts of admirers like
best to see her. She is a smart,
beautiful and fashionable divorce,
on the brink Of q second matri-
monial adventure, brought about
by financial necessity, when
most interesting and unusual
chain of circumstances, involving
her attractive former husband, in
terrupts her plans.
Bruce McRea, an actor most
agreeably known to local play
Goers, heads the support. In ''The
Awful Truth" he has met with an
individual success of no small pro-
portions. Surrounding roles are
portrayed by Cora Witherspoon,
Louise Macintosh. Rita Fan
ming, Paul Harvey, John Maroni,
Arthur w. Metcalfe and Lewis
Eealy.
BELASCO-Beginning next SUM-
day the attraction at the Shubert-
Belasco Theater will be MARY
the 3rd," brilliant comedy
which was one of the hits of the
dramatic offerings of last season.
It was written by Rachel Groin
ers, and ranks as probably the
best of all her plays.
1t is the story of three genera
lions of modern girl; MARY
the Srd'' is our American girl of
today, living with her grand
mother, who was a belle of 1870,
and her mother, who was one of
the day OF the Gibson Girl. Their
ideas of conduct clash violently.
Miss Crothers proves that there
a a good deal TO be said for all
three, but she makes the way Of
the modern girl more sympathetic,
as it should be. A splendid cast
has been provided by Lee Shubert,
who in association with Mary
Kirkpatrick, is the producer. May
,Galyer continues to make the
part of granny" screamingly
funny and is given excellent sup
port by Marcia Byron, Walter
Abel, Albert Hecht, Letha Walt
ers, Walter Sherwfn. Gay Pendle-
ton, Puritan Townsend, Worth
Bradford, and Marian Pullar.
Whispering Wires
Kate L. McLaurin's dramatization
of a Saturday Evening Post story
Of the same name, viii be the
attraction at Polls next week,
starting Sunday night. Henry
Leverage wrote the original story,
which was a corking good detec-
tive yarn.
New York liked this thriller
well enough to keep it playing
achieved a like success in Chicago
and Philadelphia. 1t is in three
acts and the action begins with
the receipt of a threatening and
blackmailing letter by Montgor;1-
cry Stockbridge, man of wealth,
who in garnering fortune made
many enemies. He summons the
police and every precaution is
taken to guard his life. But he
dies as it was threatened he
would. The police are baffled by
the manner in which he was kill
ed, but in the end run down his
slayer and learn the novel way
in which the wealthy mans life
was ended.
An excellent cast presents the
play, with Robert Harrison act
ing the role of the millionaire.
Louise Swanson is his daughter
and Helene Sullivan, former screen
actress, plays the emotional role
of the secretary.