The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-10-18
Gives Views
on Fidelity
in Wedlock
w. Somerset Vaughan Play
Opens New Season
at EngIiSh'S.
BY WALTER d. HICKMAN

indianapolis men and women last
night heard Ethel Barrymore dis
cuss in both serious and satirical
moods the problem Of husband be-
ing false to his wife.
The conversation was smart and
gay as Miss Barrymore use the
brain child Of w. Somerset Maugh-
am in The Constant Wife"
At the opening Of the season at
English S, Maugham's words Of wis
dom and fun delivered by cast
Of nine were as fresh and as peril
nent as if written today.
Believed Wife Unsuspecting
Constance Middleton (Miss Barry
more) arrives as her mother and
sister finished discussing the love
affair OF her husband with a good
friend of the family, Marie Louise
Durham.
Both thought that Constance did
not know Of the affair. Martha, the
sister shot warning remarks about
husbands being unfaithful.
Mrs. Culver, the mother, con-
tends that husbands were made by
nature to be philanderers and wives
to be forgiving and faithful.
The constant wifes opinion was
that she was happy and that her
husband loved her.
With a twinkle in her eye, Mrs
Middleton rejoices when the other
woman makes a call and uses as an
excuse that she wanted Mr.. Mid
dleton, a surgeon, to look at her
ankle.
Ankle That Slipped
AS the two leave the room, Mrs.
Culver asks What is the matter
with her ankle?"
Il guess it slips" remarks Con-
stance.
The plotters against the wifes
happiness are boastful to them
selves of her ignorance. The first
danger signal appears when the
husband of Marie Louise arrives and
accuses Middleton of leaving his
cigalet case under Marie Louises
pillow.
With tantalizing grace, Constance
explains that she left the case while
making a call. She goes further
and shames the doubling husband
into a confession Of jealousy.
What can do to atone for my
sin?" he asks.
Constance replies that a Wronged
wife should receive expensive pearls.
The advice is taken.
Then she tells her husband and
Marie Louise that she knew
of the affair six months ago and
did all in her power to prevent her
kind relatives from telling.
High Comedy Attained
Vaughan lifts the situation to
high comedy when Mrs. Middleton
points out that she is thankful that
her husband never bored her be-
cause he was so amusing.
A year later, after Constance had
taken employment with a house de-
signer, she calmly announces she
is leaving on a six weeks vacation
with another man, Bernard Kesal,
a friend of many years.
The husband is amazed but his
wife tells him that both stopped
loving each CHER at the same time
and she had the right to do what
he did year ago.
Then follows a fine scene when
Middleton declares that free love
is the most oyerrated institution in
the world.
Constance leaves on her holiday
as John declares she is the sweetest
and Wisest wife in the world.
will you take me back" she asks.
Yes, damn you and she leaves.
BY her excellent performance,
Miss Barrymore again is the first
lady Of the theater."
Adequate support was given by
Adelaide Hubbard rs Mrs. Culver,
Cynthia Latham as Martha Gull
yer, Lynn Kendall as Marie Louise
Durham, j. w. Austin as John Mid
dleton and Reginald Malcolm as
Bernard Kesal.
The engagement closes with
matinee and night performances
today.
Penner-Without Duck
Joe Penner for the first time in