The Theatre: New Plays: Oct. 26, 1925

• Share

The Grand Duchess and the Waiter. Elsie Ferguson's appearance is always of extraordinary interest. Last year she did Molnar's Carnival and saw it fail promptly.

From the French of Alfred Savoir her new play is taken. Again she seems to have chosen unwisely.

For yourself you can read the title and figure out the theme. Waiters and grand duchesses are not normally companions. When they are you wonder why. Alfred Savoir attempts to answer the interrogation. Only in one act is his reply amusing.

Basil Rathbone (the tutor in The Swan) gives his usual excellent account. Of Miss Ferguson the judgments were mixed. Some thought she did very well, others very badly. Nearly all agreed that the venture as a whole was of indefinite consequence.

Craig's Wife. Women will probably not like Craig's wife. She was a possessive and deceitful creature, whose whole affection centered in her handsome house. Mr. Craig could not smoke in certain rooms. Mrs. Craig was forever following the maids around and remaking beds because of fancied wrinkles. Her husband was simply a necessary adjunct. He kept the house in operation with money, as the furnace kept it supplied with heat. He did not realize his helplessness until one day he was suspected of murder. His wife lied to detectives and upbraided him cruelly. All she was worrying about was notoriety. Mr. Craig abruptly recognized her unhappy egotism, smashed her pet mantel ornament in the fireplace, and walked firmly out of her life.

Chrystal Herne gives an amazingly fine interpretation of this misguided female. Seldom will you see such arresting and authentic playing. It is to be feared, however, that her performance will not avail. A character so intensely irritating and a last act so over- worded are not to the public taste. Yet the play has far more merit and a sounder purpose than nine out of ten that spread their wares along the various counters of Manhattan show shops. Weak Sisters. Bawdy humor of undeniable effectiveness is woven through this entertainment. The ladies of the title are ladies of questionable occupation. Naturally it turns out that certain other females of the company, of more pious background, are not entirely innocent. There is a roaring clergyman to absorb many of the jabs of satire. A generally competent performance by a group of virtually unknown players helps considerably. The author, Lynn Starling, is a playwright of proven skill (Meet the Wife). It is unfortunate he selected such a tawdry theme.

A Man's Man. There are quantities of people who condemn a play because it happens to be unpleasant. Their idea of the Theatre is a place to go for a good laugh or a tug of war among the heart strings. The preponderance of this type of drama lover has killed many a fine play in its deserving youth. For these A Man's Man is a good play to stay away from.