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Life, 1918-09-19 · page 21 of 34

Life — September 19, 1918 — page 21: what you’re looking at

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Life — September 19, 1918 — page 21: Life, 1918-09-19

What you’re looking at

This page is primarily a **theatre review column** rather than political satire. It critiques Broadway productions currently playing, with particular focus on "Forever After," a new play at the Central Theatre starring Alice Brady. The **cartoons** illustrate the reviewer's complaints: the top cartoon shows someone pitching a tired plot to producers; the bottom shows a grandmother explaining she adopted overalls in 1917 and never stopped—a visual joke about outdated fashions persisting. The **main satire** targets the play "Forever After" for recycling exhausted wartime melodrama tropes: the poor proud young man, the girl of questionable parentage, the predatory rival, the mortgage, and the climactic hospital reunion where the hero dies. The reviewer argues this "old twaddle" appeals only to gallery (cheapest seat) patrons and shouldn't headline a quality Shubert theatre. **The only redeeming element**: Alice Brady's genuine emotional performance, which briefly elevates the clichéd material. This reflects post-WWI fatigue with war-themed entertainment and changing theatrical tastes.

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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

*Wateh being Your in a ‘eighbor ” somewhat is, in spite over-worked more than merely In fact, if s not tired of the spy theme, find a lot to at—unless one may dl, considerably en- ple entertainment. one tis pos: le interest and to happen to be ifist, conscientious objector or pro- RR oy a pity the attractive theatre ie ATH the Shuberts have just opened could have had a better play than “ Forever Mr. Owen together, evi- ter” for its first attraction. in putting the piece ntly w on the theory that if a war be ny of the could be used caply 8 ental scenes could caded on to make the whole spell suc far a ay be right, but it ss. So © box office goes he seems hardly pos- le that the old twaddle can be made aw any but gallery patrons to a stclass Broadway theatre. The poor proud young man; t the girl of whose ns he is owner afilicted with a hh father and a mother who favors his ch ng rival; the mortgage on the I homestead (re din this case by © notes of the hero's dead father) ; th rting; the again meeting in a war hos- pital where he is a dying soldier saved by old Forever her as a volunteer nurse—all our riends are crudely present in Also Mr ake a record showing Davis takes particular f what boat © doesn’t know ab st a university And heaven J soldier who ever gets or soldiering abroad. Ip the wor ya hosp Davis, al conducted by Mr, “GRANDMA, WHY DO YOU WEAK OVER- ALL?" “WELL, 1 TOOK TO THEM FIRST IN 1917, \ND NEVER REALLY COT OVEK 17.” The rede feature of the prod min ion is the girlish charm in Alice Bradys act- ing and the revelation of very consider- able emotional power which made the girl heroine the only really human being in the piece. “Forever After” old ten-twenty-thirty sible that there may be telligent generation of that public seems aimed at the public. It new and unin- Sidney Drew in ing Her Sm Dada bove, Theresa Helt Notice later Swerling. Notice later. Booth, ~ Your Neighbor." by Messrs. Gord Clemens. See above Broadhurst. —“* Maytime.” by Young and Romberg. Delightfully original and tuneful musical play Casino.—" The Maid of the Mountain. otice lat ntral—" Forever After.” by Mr, Owen Davis, with Miss Alice Rrady. See above. ryt Sinbad" with Mr. Al Jolson dling comed Last year's Winter successful effort to charm melancholy nthe tb, m, Grove.—Midnight cabaret. “Head Over Heels." by Messrs nd Kern, with M as the star. a musing comic operetta, well Harris, Kelly “ Three One of the best Faces Fa’ of the * An Ideal Husband.” by Oscar otice later rt Fiddlers Three.” by Messrs. Di and Johnstone. See above Me. Thomas A. Wise in! Mr hy Messrs. Rhodes and Wise “Under Orders.” by Mr. Berte Effie Shannon and Mr, Shelley Hull sual. interesting and well acted play with only two in the cast Mr DW Street the Forty-fourth Hearts of al movie dram: The Wor Bra Involved non the do Mr, Forty-cii Index," by George Broadhurst drama full of mystery Fulton.—" Over Here.” by Mr, Oliver D. Bailey. Notice later. THE OFFICE HOY by Messrs. See Winchell —* Light th and Frank Bacon Mr. Rooth Tarkington's “ Penrod” fay form by Mr. B. E. Rose, Re change of a boy classic into able play Harris. —* Some Night.” Not odrome. — “ Everything. ation of spectacle a vaudeville features emphasized. Hudson. —" Friendly Ship nd Hoffman, with Mann Sam Bernard. _ Interes tic comedy based ¢ ¢ German-born Amer “Someone in the Percival and ¢ later, The old Het with the Enemies.” by Messrs. Messrs. Le and well acted dr. the pre House.” Kauimar Liberty, = Up." Agreeable and hable” musica ay with aviation th gacre.—" The Tue Pearl.” Anne C. Flexner, with Mr. George Nash as Detective comedy with an. interestis tery well sustain Mr. Otis Skinner in.“ Humpty by Mr. Ho A. Vachell. Notice “The Unknown Purple” by Messrs. West and Moore, Notice later Manhattan. Tiger Rose transplanted from Rroadway. Picturesquely staged melo drama of the Canadian Northwest Maxine Elliott's, —Close One of Us." by rosco.—" the Hattons. ntice lat Piayh ly Mr laughs. Plymouth —" A Very Good Young Mar by Mr. Martin Brown. Showin habiy how a good youth can't be wicked, even when he tries, nuse—"* She Mark Swar Walked in Her Ste Slender farce with so » Makes a Wish.” hy Stuart Walker. Not public.—"* Where Poppies Bloom Marjorie Rambeau, War drama of the type, not successfully adapted to Tenderloin consumption. repertory. Mr. e later. with Carlo Opera Company in Show of tot A brilliant effort in the way of girls tumes, scenery and music to lighten the tellectual burdens of the tb. n Ziegfeld’s Frotic.—Midnight cabaret, ine comicbooks.com