Evening star., 1933-02-05


- rived in New York preceded
by q scandalous reputation
for depravity, acquired
through its performances
in other towns. Mortified playgoers
in Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Washington
and elsewhere had sent the warning
word along that the conduct Of its
heroes was effeminate and that the
heroine was cursed with strange ideas
about life. It was said to be bright
though unwholesome, like "gilded halo
lowering around decay" and not a
suitable diversion for the clean and
hardy. With characteristic tndepend
ence Broadway, Of course, disregarded
these auguries. The mandarin drama
fanciers paid ransom prices to attend
its premiere, and excited peasants gath
cred in such throngs about the Barry
more Theater that mounted policemen
were forced to ride upon the sidewalks
and chase them away. Since then De
sign for Living" has been q cause Of
disputation hereabouts. The sophisti-
Gates acclaim 1t as hagrantly falsetto,
sounding none Of the masculine chest
notes appropriate to healthy romance.
Others Of minds less penetrating argue
that its n1isdoings are not OF an alb
normal type, but merely those Of two
madcap men and madcap woman.
At the risk Of being considered an
1ngenue I confess that see nothing
in the performance of Alfred Lunt and
Noel Coward that suggests more than
q fervent friendship tinged little with
the bizarre. In the words Of Otto (Mr.
Lunt) their lives "are diametrically op-
posed to ordinary social conventions"
Otto, an artist, has a deep regard for
Leo, dramatist (Mr. Coward), who is
reciprocal. They both love Gilda, an
interior decorator CMiss Fontanne), and
she loves both Of them. Leo lures
her away from Otto and Otto lures her
back again. So in moment OF con-
fusion she marries Ernest, q middle
aged picture dealer (Mr Gullan), and
retires to respectability and pent house
In New York. There she remains for
two sane, still" years, trying to forget
and almost succeeding. But one night
Otto and Leo show up, looking very
sleek and sly" In their faultless eve
ming dress, and they proceed to fasci-
nate her anew with their merry twitter.
Otto describes her apartment as "ar-
tistically too careful. but professionally
superb" and Leo apologies for his
white tie, high hat and swallow tails,
saying, you must forgive our clothes;
we've only just come OF q freight boat"
Gilda does her best to resist their magic
banterings.
But that inhospitable welcome does
not discourage the ghosts. Mr.. Coward,
speaking Of earthquakes, says that he
has never been able to understand why
the Japanese are such q cheerful race.
"All that Kissing and grinning on the
brink of destruction" Is bathing to
him. Mr.. Lunt informs him that the
Japanese are delighted with death and
kill themselves on the most Whimsical
Of pretexts. Whereupon Mr.. Coward ad-
mits that he always thought that Mime.
Butterfly was over-hasty. These and
other ribald observations are made to
q party Of Gilda's Park avenue acquaint-
anceS.
Mr.. Coward. perhaps, is more Of An
author than an actor, but because OF
his brilliant notoriety his performance
can be looked upon with Q sentimental
awe. Compared to the shapely imper-
sonations Of Miss Fontanne and Mr..
Lunt, Mr.. Coward's Is thin II not
anemic. They re-create his characters
accurately, speak his artificial speeches
as If they were natural, and do his bid
ding, In their own artistic way. How
ever, he Is just graceful mannikin,
moving automatically to and fro. But
It u to be said for his latest plAy that
- = a 1,uSl1aasak V>onk