Theatre: Arraigment

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Arraignment

Mode-arbiter Condé Nast made quaint obeisance this month to Quakery by decreeing as first "special issue" of Vanity Fair ever published, a Sesquicentennial Number. Though the Sesquicentennial achieves little prominence except its mention on the cover, an arraignment of Manhattan's last theatrical season in 67 compressed capsules of reproof give to the issue an appropriate Quaker tone. Mr. George Jean Nathan, a critic steeped in theatre lore, discerning though scurrilous, able though loud, composed the 67 indictments with nice variety of language. A few follow:

"1. A play in which an act of adultery was implied to be in exciting progress in a room adjoining the one before the audience's eyes. (It All Depends.)

3. A play in which a man openly tried to seduce a young girl. (The Mud Turtle.)

5. A play in which a young girl realistically showed symptoms of being with illegitimate child. (The Fall of Eve.)

6. A play in which a flapper was seduced by her own father. (Outside Looking In.)

7. A play in which three married women took on three young boys as gigolos. (Cradle Snatchers.)

8. A play in which a rape was realistically attempted before the audience. (All Dressed Up.)

9. A play in which a male went after a female breathing like an incalescent bull. (Love's Call.)

10. A play in which a young woman who defended her excessive sexual promiscuity was offered as a sympathetic heroine. (The Green Hat.)

11. A play in which a boy's lascivious and degenerate mother carried on under his and her husband's nose with her young paramour. (The Vortex.)

13. A play in which a young woman, longing for a sexual experience, took on a tramp who casually happened by her house. (The New Gallantry.)

14. A play in which a young girl married to an old man deliberately had a child by a younger man. (Human Nature.)

15. A play in which a white woman had an affair with a Chinaman. (The Bridge of Distances.)

17. A play in which a man invaded a house and immediately seduced one of the willing lady guests. (The Buccaneer.)

20. A play in which a sex-starved young woman deliberately went out and had an affair. (The Call of Life.)

21. A play in which a young wife committed adultery in order to get a job in the movies. (A Man's Man.)

22. A play in which a man carried on sexually with the madam of a bordello, to the delight of the half dozen fancy-women residents. (Weak Sisters.)

23. A play in which a middle-aged woman tried to seduce a young boy. (Lovely Lady.)

24. A play in which a girl-child urged a man of forty-five to deflower her. (The Glass Slipper.)

25. A play in which a scene of seduction was elaborately acted out in full view of the customers. (Arabesque.)

39. A play in which the heroine had innumerable affairs and was openly coveted by an octogenarian lecher. (The Makropoulos Secret.)

40. A play in which a man pawed a young woman with animal intent. (Down Stream.)

42. A play in which a young Englishman coveted the mistress of a Chinaman. (The Love City.)

45. A play in which a nymphomaniac went to a bordello and took on a Japanese. (The Shanghai Gesture.)

48. A play in which a young woman proposed to a man that he seduce her in her own home. (The Jay Walker.)