Life — September 6, 1923 — page 22: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a theater review section discussing three plays: "Home Fires," "The First Year," and "Red Light Annie." The page contains small theatrical illustrations rather than political cartoons. The reviews critique contemporary Broadway productions. "Home Fires" is described as a simple "home comedy" featuring Owen Davis's familiar comedic style. "The First Year" is referenced as predictable domestic comedy. "Red Light Annie" receives more detailed analysis—described as a "crook melodrama" with musical-box interludes and dance numbers. The reviews are written by Robert C. Benchley, a well-known theater critic of the era. The page reflects 1920s entertainment culture, satirizing both the formulaic nature of popular theater and audience expectations for predictable comedic and melodramatic plots. The small decorative vignettes illustrate typical dramatic moments from these productions.