Another Language

This brilliant and refreshing play of modern American family life made an instantaneous hit during the New York season, and was acclaimed widely and enthusiastically by the reviewers with a unanimity of praise that is exceptional. In the words of Gilbert W. Gabriel, writing in the New York American, "triple honors" are due Mrs. Franken. "She has composed a play which each sect, each sort of human kind, can hug close to its heart the relish of the play is to be had and truly to be had in large quantities from Mrs. Franken's own way of keeping it so steadfastly authentic, so rid of wisecracks and cheap set-ups, and yet of mainvtaining such a constantly wise and interesting scrutiny of all concerned. Her character-drawing is simply beautiful. She sharpens her pencil to needlepoint when she wants to and that insures a set of family portraits of as much lightness as viciousness. Again, in the love scene, she knows how to use a soft, exquisitely suggestive stroke." All the people in this play are members of the Hallam family, either by birth or by marriage. Over them all rules Mother Hallam with an iron hand. The play is built around the effort of one of the daughters-in-law to escape the deadly family uniformity. She tries first to carry her husband with her, but before long it is clear that he will side with the family rather than with her. The essentially comic elements of the play are revealed in the well observed family scenes, but the undercurrent of genuine drama is felt when things come to a climax, and the revolting girl, the only one of the lot worth saving, seems to triumph.