ca r C "WITHIN THE LAW" TO RETURN SOON Bayard Veiller's Absorbing Play Will Appear at Whitney Theatre December 17. SPLENDID CAST IS PROMISED. One of the genuine treats of the lo- cal theatrical season is foreshadowed in the announcement that "Within the Law," Bayard Veiller's absorbing new play of modern American life which scored so heavily on its first visit, will play a return engagement with the same cast as before at the Whitney Theatre, December 17, matinee and night. This deservedly successful drama, possessing the most engrossing human which has been critically commended as interest story given the stage in a de- cade, has for its central character, a pretty and quick-witted young woman who is falsely accused and wrongfully convicted of stealing from her employ- er. She serves three years in prison, comes out determined to "go straight," is betrayed time and time again by the police, and finally is forced to abandon the effort to honestly earn a livelihood and live by her wits. She prospers by the use of many devices; outswindles swindlers, con- Third Degree," to Dcc 8, be presented at the Whitney Theatre, 9, 10. LTIONS. ie Third Degree. In Wrong. Claudia Smiles. endthrift. the Lnw. agement. ) daily. 'LAYI Proves r Jolly Rare SCORE. A wholesome, breezy presence, a con- fiding and captivating smile, a rare sense of humor and the ability to con- vey it to others, a positive genius for singing and popularizing tuneful and timely songs with her exquisite diction and melodious voice, these are some of the reasons why Blanche Ring, who comes to the Whitney Theatre Monday, December 15, in her new musical com- edy, "When Claudia Smiles," is the suc- cessful and popular star that she is to- day. And, as Miss Ring always brings a good company, lots of pretty girls,' pretty costumes and scenery, and catchy songs, she is always certain of a hearty welcome when she visits this city. "When Claudia Smiles," written ex- pressly for the cheerful comedienne by Anne Caldwell, author of "The Lady of the Slipper," gives Miss Ring the op- portunity of portraying a consistent character in a well devised and skill- fully constructed play, and not merely the conventional musical comedy frame work for the exploitation of girls and musical numbers. The songs of "When Claudia Smiles," are introduced natur- ally and are, in a manner, germane to the story. Miss Iing plays a Broadway show girl who having divorced her hus- band is not averse to trying the matri- monial game again-which is a sufficient' initiative for fast and furious fun when Blanche Ring and jolly Harry Conor are on hand to help along the complica- tions, It is promised, and with every indi- cation of sincerity, that Miss Ring's present company is the best that has ever been mustered in her support. Pro- minent members include dainty Marion Sunshine, well remembered for her work in the vaudeville team of Tem- pest and Sunshine; Bertha Mann, a tal- ented young leading woman of real his- trionic gifts; John J. Scannell, an ec- centric dancer of originality; Charles '. Winninger, an able character actor. and Florence Edney, excellent in grande dame roles. Manager Frederic McKay has secured eight beautiful show girls who play the lesser roles and wear stunning modish frocks, and eight danc- ing "ponies" with youth, good looks and agility to recommend them. There are no chorus men. The scenic setting will be admired, the action of the play tak- ing place at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, DEALS WITH HIGH COSTOF LIVING "The Spendthrift," Porter L. Browne's Popular Play Discusses Vital Problem. C. S. PRIMROSE IS PRODUCER' Among the successful plays touring the West last year, "The Thief," by Henri Bernstein stands out conspicuous- ly on account of the excellence of its cast and scenery. This attraction, un- der the direction of C. S. Primrose, was the most popular moderate priced offer- ing in several seasons. Those who were fortunate enough to see Miss Ma- rion Sherwood in the part of Marie Louise Voysin, the erring wife, are not likely to forget her splendid acting on that occasion. Gifted with a rare type of Southern beauty, a clear enunciation born in the cultivation of a rich con- tralto voice, combined with a winning grace of manner, pleasing personality and great dramatic talent, Miss Sher- wood's appearance is heralded from coast to coast. In Bloomington, Illinois recently-the home of Margaret Illington-newspaper men and critics proclaimed Miss Sher- wood's success equal to Miss Illington's in the original production. Inspired by such results, Mr. Primrose is present- ing Miss Sherwood this season in a new starring vehicle, "The Spendthrift," a play dealing with the present important problem of the high cost of living, from the pen of Porter Emerson Browne, author of "A Fool There Was" and other successes. "The Spendthrift" offers Miss Sher- wood a splendid opportunity for effec- tive acting in the part of a respectable. conventional wife, living beyond her husband's income, with the result that his financial state assumes alarming con- diti ps. To relieve the situation Fran- ces, the wife, negotiates a loan of $20,- ooo, Innocent in motive, she declares she borrowed the money from a wealthy aunt who in turn being thanked by the husband for her timely aid, bluntly states that she had loaned no money to Frances. In the belief that his wife has profaned the honor of her home, the husband disappears. Left on her own resources and believing he has for- saken her, the innocent wife leaves home and becomes a governess. Inves- tigation and more mature consideration of facts have in the meantime convinced the husband-now reduced to a small salaried position-that his wife and not himself has been the wronged one. The final discovery of her whereabouts and their reconciliation furnish a happy con- clusion to the play. "The Spendthrift" will appear at the Whitney theatre Tuesday, December 6. The Princess theatre in New York has offered a prize of $500 for the best one-act play submitted before February i by a student of Harvard, Columbia, Pennsylvania, Princeton, Cornell, Yale, Vassar, Barnard, or Bryn Mawr. The judges will be Mr. Lee Schubert, Mr. W. M. Brady, Mr. Morris Guest, Mr. F. Ray Comstock, and Mr. Blum. The popularity of musical comed tabloid form has been so extraor that managers all over the counti preparing condensed versions of cessful plays. The first of these matic tabloids to be presented in Arbor will he Charles Klein's Third Degree." which comes t( \Whitney theatre for three nighi ginning Monday, December 8. I only by guaranteeing a certain sti money, thus insuring the con against loss, and by offering a days' engagement that Manager was able to obtain this attraction, will be offered at popular prices. In "The Third Degree" Mr. Klei fabricated a very interesting me m Young Howard Jeffries drift the apartments of his friend, R Underwood, and, dreary with drinks, sinks deeply asleep upon sofa. While Jeffries is sleeping, derwood kills himself. Some hou terwards, Jeffries is discovered to find his way out of the apart and is accused of murdering his f He tells the truth but is doubted. police acptain strives for seven coi tive hours, by every means of ps logic torture, to make him adm crime. At last the befuddled mi Jeffries is weakened beyond ca for further resistance, and in a si hypnosis, he repeates word for w con fession that the captain form and thrusts upon him. Jeffries, whose family is very has already been disowned by his er for marrying a waitress. His er now believes him guilty of m and refuses to stand by him. His friend is the wife with whom the ily will not associate. This girl, Jeffries, though vulgar and unedu is a person of simple truth and fastness of character. Alone and d lessly she fights for her husband's domi. By persistency of appeal si timately enlists the services of an nent lawyer, Richard Brewster. vw obliged to sacrifice his lucrative tice with the elder Jeffries when, a. the latter's will, he espouses the of the son. Brewster, with -the a ance of Annie, finally establishe innocence of Annie's husband; an various members of the Jeffries I gradually awaken to a realizatic her worth. In Annie Jeffries, originally p by Helen Ware, the author has d a genuine and appealing human f the truest character that Mr. Klei ever given to the stage. Dainty Marion Sunshine, wh Blanche Ring's leading lady in Claudia Smiles," has had an inter( stage career. For several season was a member of the popular tea Tempest & Sunshine, one of the fea of vaudeville. l ducts a blackmailing operation on per "within the law." At last she revenges fectly legal lines, fortifies herself against herself upon the man who sent her un- police interference by effective lawful justly to prison by luring his son into defense, but remains herself always rjarriage. FINDS FAVOR CONDENSED Charles Klein's "The TI Is Impressive as Pr Tabloid. WILL BE SHOWN .AT A Scene from "In Wrong," a tabloid musical comedy at the Whitney Theatre December 11, 12, and I in "When Claudia $miles," a; the Whitney Theatre, Nvonday evening, December 15.