Evening Star Newspaper, December 31, 1922, Page 29

HIS is what used to be referred to in the ancient vernacular of the theater as “turkey time.” It began with Thanksgiving: and continued through the holidays. The “turkey show” was as reg- ular an incident of the winter as the old minstrel show was of the summer. Both were presented on 3 more or le$s impromptu basis and gave people of talent who chanced to lack permanent engagements oppor- tunity to tour the country and gather funds, often quite liberally. Both have been organized out of existence as independent factors and are booked as a part of the country-wide system of theatrical co-operation. Yet tlfat brave old bird of the feast, the turkey, is still the emblem of the theatrical season at its holiday height. The method of purveying amuse- ment has changed, but audiences have not. There is no longer a “Black Crook” or a “Humpty Dumpty” company to bid the world revel in the realms oi childhood igncy, where Jack Frost sets the stage with lacework and prist: There is no resplendent Christmas pantomime, nor do favor- ite stars hold certain holiday weeks as their own particular seasons in certain cities. The theater has been standardized as an industry, with ad- vantageous results in many respects. iThe happy-go-lucky players, who oiten doubted whether they would ride home in the railway cars or get off the track to let the locomotives pass. exist only in palmy day recol- tion. The managers wio trusted to luck and depended on making the receipts of each town pay railway fares to the next are replaced by men with business backing, and the word “'stranded” has lost its grim place in the vocabulary of the artist. The grievances of player folk are many, but at Ieast they have the assurance that any engagement they can secure will be fortified with reliable financial backing and that, wander far afield as they may, they will eventually be restored to their beloved Broadway. UDIENCES have not changed with the theater. They retain their old liking for simplc and sincere entvrtainment. They love splendors of scenery as much as they did when the Kirafiyswere kings of the spec- tacular domain and accept much in the way of questionable comedy for the sake of the glittering pageantry. They also love the plain stories of sentiment that reveal phases of life among familiar people. The simple story of youthful love and its triumph in the face of difficulties is wel- comed seasan aiter season, even when it is not told with a very delicate ninesse. “Peg o' My lleart” was not regarded as a permancy when first put forward, but here it is still, a favorite in motion pictures. “The Old Homestead"” did not pass away with Denman Thompson, and “Way Down | East” aiter a wonderful career on the speaking stage, survived as a classic of the screen. Similar instances are numerous, yvet the financial sense that has asserted itseli in the theater still insists on expressing with more lavishness than discrimination, and opulence of scenic detail is more prized than the straightiorward sentiment that is so heartily applauded. O VE of the most remarkable engagements ever played in Washington is that of “Abie’s Irish Rose,” at the President Theater, It has played an engagement of five weel and is to play three weeks more, with a possible extension after that; over two solid months din a, city that was not many seasons ago regarded as a likely candidate for two different shows per week at cach theater. Washington was formerly regarded as ! a good theater town because its populaticn. though not ver: large, was distinctly theater-loving and well supplied with ready mouey. As costs advanced without 2 corresponding increase in governmental compensa- tions, the mere fact that Uncle Sam is a prompt paymaster did not suffice to insure liberal play patronage, especially from a public of more than usual discrimination. Then came the increase of population during war times. The city is big enough to provide patyonage for anything that has the quality of popular appeal, and the prestige oi the New York run is fading, along with the deference to social indorsement. ERE PLAY which has taken hold, as “Abie’s Irish Rose” has done, is worth a little scrutiny. It gets back to first principles in popular enter- tainment. It is of the present time. It talks about our own neighbors. The love story is there, clear-and direct, without a shadow of prurient suggestion. It has no artistic elegances, but it tells a story which sounds as if it might be true, and now and then expresses a liberal philosophy which makes some rugged auditor feel like rising from his seat and say- ing: “Them's my sentiment The play has no great charm for the highly cultured ear, but it is frec from artificial imitations and speaks the language of generous conciliation which people of ail types and conditions like-to hear. Depsite its references to nationalities and creeds, it assumes to offer no arguments, and rests the moral of the story squarely on the proposition that it is absolutely useless for politics or religion to attempt to interfere with the love atfairs of two devoted young people. It is not brain-dazzling, but it is heart-warming. B R ELASCO'S production of “The Merchant of Venice,” with all its scenic magnificence, is a recognition of the popular’ desire for something substantial. It has settled in New York h prospects of a long run. The reviewers were kind, though in distinguished instances a trifle dif- fident in discussing the cast. Warfield is described as a_new Shylock without explicit declaration that he is a new and improved Shylock. Even so popular a star may find it a matter of time and patience to substitute his own personality for that of Henry Irving, as the great and memorable exponent of the role. Warfield has hitherto expressed gentleness and af- fection, and it is a long stride when he appears as the embodiment of insulted pride and implacable revenge. The irresistible appeal he made in “The Music Master” may cause many to love him more for his Charles Klein than for his William Shakespeare, but there can be no doubt of Mr. Belasco's personal triumph in having given the story of old Venice a setting which seems Venice itseli. * s S*ITHE FRENCH DOLL,” a, strictly modern creation designed to display a dainty actress, is as highly artificial as its title implies. It is imita- tive of the spirit of lightsome farce, which mention of Paris is always ~u_ppascd to arouse, though without the taint which goes with the term “French farce.” “The Monster” is imitative of the thriller which relies on a constant rattle of plot mechanism to kecp the nerves jumping, and “Irene” is an imitation of the English musical comedy which followed comic opcra. With all their cleverness and claboration, it is “Abie’s Irish Rose” that steps forward with an unostentatious touch of genuine human nature, and beats the record. PHILANDER JOHNSON. All for the Wounded Vets. 'OR the all-star theatrical benefit to be given at the President Thea- . * co-directors of the President Players. Miss Janis and the President Play- A J 130 oclock, | ers Will appear in a series of scenes e eoreors worvics| ffpm George V. Hobart's famous com.-. v the Women’ erseas Service| edy, “Buddies,” while Graham Velsey, lieague of Washington for the _benfl! | now appearing in Baltimore, is mak~ of wounded soldiers in Washington :’;,!;uzr"::c“l e metanco 3 : onal rian 'role of hospitals, at which Elsle Janis, the|ihis comedy. The famous “Bud- noted stage cemedienne, will appear, | dies Quartet” from New York is aiso tha President Theater and the entire | scheduled for an appearance, and cast of “Abie’s Irish Rose” has been [ Miss Janis is expected to re-enact Gonated to the entertainment by |the skit she played in all over France Arthur Leslie Smith and Henry Duffy, | during the war. - George Sidney’s Rise. | profitable road tours and made his first New York appearance {n 1916 at the | Hudson Theater in a blay by James Forbes, cntitled “The Show Shop,” in which he was starred jointly with Doug| las Fairbanks, Zelda Sears and Patricia Collinge in an impersonation of a réle based on the mental and physical char- acteristics of ons of the most prominent. theatrical managers of the day. E scored what was propably, the most sen: sationdl hit_of thet year. B He remained with *“The Show Shop™ for two seasons and was then starred singly by Sam H. Harris in a brilliant comedy by Aaron Hoffman, entitled “Welcome Stranger,” which ran for a year in Chicago and two years in New York_before being taken on_the road. Mr. Sidney’s impersonation of the hon- est, sympathetic, human Jew of this play, is still fresh in the memory of thedtergoers. * When Aaron Hoffman wrote “Give and Take” he could conceive of mo other actor in the role of Jacob Bauer thap George Sidney, who confidently hopes that Mr. Hoffman is right and that “Give and Take" will even surpass the fine record of *“Welcome Stranger.” [FROM membership in a male quar- tet with a burlesque show to the ptnnacle of stardom, in fifteen years, ls ihe ‘stage history of George Sidney, wha has the leading role of Aaron % Uoffman's new comedy, “Give and Take.” =t Mr._ Sidney first appeared on the stage as a member of the Bison City Quartet with one of Fred Irwin's bur-- lesque compdriles, of “which Harry Cooper -was also a member. - After a vear or two in burlesque the quartet ad- vanced to the vaudeville stage, ‘and it was at this time_that E. D. Stair, recog- nizing Sidney’s personal popularity with vaudeville audiences, discovered in him A potential card for the then powerful Stair & Havlin circuit of theaters. Under the Stair management Mr. Sid- ney toured the country for several years in & character known as “Busy Izs: Imbued with a desire to-cover the \netmflla, Mr. Sidney abandoned his =] 1 He| | | | | | ELSIE JANIS NATIONAL—“Barnum Was Righ POLI'S—Frank Tinney, “Daffy cvening. PRESIDENT: ance this evening. afternoon. noon. row afternoon. NATIONAL—“Barnum Was Right.” Tonight_at the National Theater, Louis F. Werba. will offer for the ap- probation of Washington theatergoers a new farce, “Barnum Was Right.”” by Philip Bartholomae and John Mcehan, “Verry Good Eddie,” “Over Night,” Greenwlch Village Follles,” “Tanger- fne” and many other successes that achieved much popularity owe birth to Mr. Bartholomae. Mr. Mee han, who, in addition to collaborating in the authorship of the comedy, also staged it, is general stage director for George M. Cohan. and staged the two big hits on ‘Broadway today, “Little Nelly Kelly” and “So This Is Lon- don.” In ‘“Barnum Was Right,” the au- thors are said to have struck upon a Tovel theme, one resplendent with much opportunity for unusual enter- tainment. _Although “Barnum Was Right,” is Mr. Werba’s first production in many seasons, he is a producer with a rec- ord. ‘Sweethearts,” ‘The Spring Mai&" “The Rose Maid,” “The Master “Wind” are a few of the successes Mr. Werba contributed to the theater in assoclation with Mark E.. Leuscher. The cast for the interpretation of “Barnum Was Right” includes Don- ‘ald. Brian, who far the first time since the days before “The Merry Widow’ relinguished his right to be starred Marion Coakley, who has earned for hetzelf a niche in tho theatrical hall of fame by her work in “The Meanest Man {n the World,” “The Mountain Man” and “Genjus and the Crowd”; ‘Wilt Deming, one of our leading com- “edians; . Enid. Markey, Spencér Char- ters, Lilyan Tashman, a renowned beauty,. Elwood _Bostwick, Susanne Willa, Nell Martin, Robert Adams and George E. Mack. 3 - Matinees will be given . tomorrow (New Year day) and Saturday. N POLI’S—Frank Tinney, ‘Daffy Dill” . : . “Pafty_Dil ! in Framk finnéy" ds star of the cast, is slated for Poll's this week, beginning this evening. It is described as a “musigirl” comedy that lives up to the best traditions of the house of Hammemrstetn, - Oscar Hammerstein, 2d, supplied the lyrics in addition to collaborating with Guy, Bolton in writing the book. Herbert Stothart, who flashed into the lime- light three seasons ago as the latest Hammerstein _“find,” composed the tuneful score. = Julian Mitchell staged the production. g The Broadway cast, in.addition to Mr. Tinney, inclues Guy Robertson, Marjorie Leach, Jerome Dil¢y, Jose- phine Stevens, Jay Manners, ‘Mary Howard, Frederick Renoff, Loris Lee, Wounded Vets Berefit KEITH'S—Duncan Sisters, vaudeville. BELASCO—Watson Sisters. Shubert vaudeville. their | LILYAN TASHMAN N aj;_v.gnat Current Attractions AT THE THEATERS THIS WEEK. t.” comedy. Opens this evening. Dill.” musical revue. Opens this GARRICK—"“Give and Take,” comedy. Opens this evening. ‘Abie’s Irish Rose,” comedy, sixth week. Perform- New show opens tomorrow Opens this after- COSMOS—"A Paper Paradise,” vaudeville. New show opens tomor- STRAND—Will Stanton & Co., vaudeville. Opens this afternoon. GAYETY—Bedini’s “Chuckles,” burlesque. Opens this afternoon. PRESIDENT—(Wednesday) Elsic Janis, in war vets’ benefit. Ben Mulvey, Ethel Kinley, Gardner, Gladys Nagel and a host of talented specialty artists. A large beauty chorus also puts spirit and grace into the many songs and dances. A Hammerstein show always has a foliage of the tropics. GARRICK—“Give and Take.” The announcement of a new play by Aaron Hoffman, the brilliant author of “Welcome Stranger” and . “Friendly Enemies,” is in the nature of an event. His latest play, “Give and Take,” is announced for the ~ Shubért Garrick ‘Theater this wecek, beginning this evening. There have been many plays based on the age-old struggle between capital and labor, the last and most note- worthy of which probably is John Gals- worthy’s fine work, “Strife.”” All these, however. have been written from a serious standpoint, most of them with an underlying current of tragedy. Mr. Hoffman is the first, it is said, to ap- proach this momentous question with a vein of pure comedy. He has not, however, lost. sight. of the arguments which he deems necessary. to present his subject. Max Marcin, himself a distinguished author and producer, is sponsoring the new play, to which he has given a fine mounting and supplied a cast headed by George Sidney, which includes also Sam Mann, Charles Dow Clark. Thomas W. Craig, Douglas Wood‘and Norma Lee. . PRESIDENT—“Abie’s Irish Rose” ! (Sixth Week). 's Irish Rose,” -the Anne comedy sensation at thé President Théater, is still breaking its. own record for length of engage- ment . by - opening, tonight. at 8:30 o'clock, the sixth consecutive week of its ‘Wishington cngagement under 'the direction o® Arthur’Leslie Smith and Henry Duffy. h This_play has been running since January in Los Angeles and in:its tenth month in New York. It has also achieved a ruh of nearly thirty weeks in San Francisco, and . during the past week opened an engagement in_Baltimore. Harry Manners staged the Pre: dent’s production, and the same cast of players which was especially as- sembled appears in the production. It includes Henry Duffy, Bileen Wilse Harry Shautan, Anne Sutherland, Hoyt, Robert Lowe and Irving Kennedy. The play finds its chief comedy force in the manifold complications resulting from the clandestine mar- riage of a Jewish boy—the son of an orthodox Jewish !auur\—ia.nd Rose- . - Auditorium> Gerard | Irish contractor. ! George \. Hobart's famous comedy,iMan." l marie Murphy, the daughter of an The religious scru- ples of both families have been fur- ther outraged by the fact that the marriage was performed by a Meth- odist minister. Wednesday night the President Overseas Service League, President Players in scenes from “Buddies.” The famous Le Paradis Band also will be a feature of the program, and the “Buddies Quartet” also will appear on the program ar- ranged for the benefit of wounded soldlers now in Washington hospi- tals. KEITH;S—The Duncan Twins. Mischievous and merry, the Duncan Twins come.to Kelith's this week to open the first Keith bill of 1923. Per- haps you've seen them before—in “Jack O'Lantern” or Jerome Kern's “She’s A Good Fellow.” They are two ‘éntertainers of whom you nevér tire. They appeared in several revues abroad. -Now they have returned and their offering is captioned ‘'S That All Right.” The added feature will 'be “Sublime and Ridiculous,” with John T. Murray and Vivian Oakland. . It is a bit of va- riety and verve, enhanced by the comical antics of Mr. Murray, plus the beauty and’ charm of Miss Oakland, who, until a few weeks ago, was one of the big attractions in “Bombo” with Al Jolson. The third feature will be Duci de Keretjarto,” royal Hungarian virtuoso, from. the Academy at.Budapest,. an- nounced as one ,of the youngest and mhost amazing prodigles of Burope, both 'on the plano-and violin. ® The . remaining ,entertainers, are: La Bejnicla and her ballet; Mr., H: mack, = rapid-change artist, in_ “At Bogey Viila”;-Rdy and ‘Emma Dean, “the_laughing stock of vaudeville”; Bob Carleton and Julia Ballew in “A Feast of Fashionable Fancies” and the Flying Hartwells, gymnasts of & superior sort. The usual house fea- tures will complete the bill. There will be two matinees New Year day—one at 2 o'clock sharp and the r at 6 el At 3 today and to- night at 8 last wee's bill will be given. . BELASCO—Watson Sisters. The famous Watson sisters, Fanny and Kitty, in_their own vaudeville- revue production, -Stolen Sweets,” will be the attraction at the Belasco this ‘week, opening with the matinee this afternoon. Besides the regular performance to- night, which will begin at 8 p.m., there will be a special New - Year eve show starting at 11:16 p.m., with MAar¢uERITE DALVAREZ | Nationa special features to welcome the com- | ing of 1923. | _The vaudeville portion of “Stolen | Sweets” i3 provided by the De Koch Trio, novelty acrobats; Harry Steppe |and Harry O'Neal, in an original comedy diversion, “Barzilian Nuts’ Alice Lawlor in up-to-date melodies: Johnny Berkes, in_eccentric dancing: Florence Darley, in a terpsichorean specialty; the Five Kings of Syncopa- |tion in 4 program that fatures jazz | melodies, and the Watson sisters | (themseives), in the speclalty which has won thiem fame over the two-a- laay circuits. The revue is in two acts and ten cenes or incidents, and travesties ome of the fads of the moment. It |was written by Herman Timberg, with original melodies by Sammy Timberg. Somie of its comedy Is titled, “The Thfee-Mile Limit Boat,” and “Ro- meos and Juliets” “Ivan the Terri- |ble,” a gambling take-off, and *In Dixie,” an elaborately staged south- | ern number. The revue aiso enlists | the services of a chorus of twenty | pretty girls. COSMOS—“A Paper Paradise.” The artists and the artisans of the stage have wrought in almost every- thing tangible for creating beautiful, wonderful and unique efiects in stage productions. Now comes Jack Fine {with a novel music comedy presented by a cast of nine. seven of them pret- ty girls, but with their costumes and |the " scenery reflecting all the pris- matic colors of the rainbow, and some |éven more glaring and gorgeous, made out of nothing but paper, and they are made, be it understood, to tand the wear and tear of travel ‘A Paper Paradise” is declared the ,one unique thing of the vaudeville | stage in several seasons and, as such, | worthy of attention. 2 Other acts will bring the Reno sis- iters and Allen in a novel repertory of .songs and dance numbers; Mere- dith-and “Snoozer,” who is billed as | “the _intellectual " bull' dog”; Billy Tower and Mabel Darrell. in “Food 1s.” the ultra brand of nut Gordon brothers and “Girlie,” of Evervthing From the Va- and Demarest and Williams, in an all new specialty. | A great feature will be the first showing in Washington of-the Selz- nick screen version of Frank L. Packard’s celebrated novel, “Pawned,” colorful background, and this latest|Theatcr will be turned over to the|a touching and at the same time effusion is filled with stage pictures'woma: which in €olor and splendor rival the | who wiil.present Elsie Janis and the | will be recalled that Mr. Packard is thrilfing human' story of import. It e author - of “The Miracle His new picture is said to jequal if not te surpass it in many |respects. A film farce, the Urban | Mgvie Chats, - and the International | News will be added attractions. Last week's attractions will be pre- sented today, starting at 3 p.m., as the new bill will be. offered first at tomorrow's ma STRAND—Will Stanton & Co. A fine assortment of vaudeville with a. feature picture offering is promised at the Strand this week, beginning at a matinee today. ' Will Stratton and his company, con- sisting of Rosalind May, Burt Reeves and Gracg Gould, will offer s musical |oddity inStwo ‘scenes, entitled “Now and Then. Stanton is noted for his imany breath-taking- falls and -com- edy_ flops. Eddie Tanner and the Palmer sis- ters will offer their humorous nov- elty.- playlet, in two scenes, “When We Grow Up,” by Edward Clark, light of plot and humorous in lines; J. Hunter Wilson and C. Fenton Mc- Evoy, a sketch entitled “Reg’lar Pals” with a_few exclusive song numbers; Mae Simms and May Winhe, youthful gonigsters, will be heard in ‘Melodies, Old and New,” and both are said to have unusually fine voices. The Three Walters ,will bring a breath-taking aerial &ct, with com- edy. Shirley Mason's newest screen ef- fort, “Shirley of the Circus,” will be the photodramatic feature. It is a romance ' of the circus, with ail the thrills and_glamor of the “big top.” Crawford Kent and George O'Hara are in the'cast. - ‘@GAYETY—Bedini’s “Chuckles.” . Next week Jean Bedinl's “Chuckles of 1923” comes to the Gayety The: ter. This is a unique attraction, be- ing. the first American burlesque to appear in London. Sent over purely 28 an.experiment, an all-summer run eventuated. It is promised to be gorgeous in its ten stage settings and many changes of costumes. The cast includes Cliff Bragdn, Hoard, Coo Coo Morrisey, Jane May, Elaine Beasley, Betty Burnett, :the London Oxford Girls, the Sterling Sazaphone Four and a lively beauty chorus. jalso th | L4 {15 sald to be unsurpa Alfred Cortot Thursday. Alfred Cortot, the French planist a declared “poet of the pfano,” will appear under the locai managément of T. Arthur Smith, Inc., at the Ma- sonlc_Auditorium Thursday cvening at 8:15 o'clock as the third artist in the master pianist series. Critics in all parts of the civilized world have recognized Cortot's genius and abil ity. It has been said that he plays with a polished clegance and a re finement of style thgt lcaves nothi to_desire or imugine. S The program Thursday = cvehing will include “Etudes Svmphoniques,” Schumann; “Les 24 Preludes.” Chopin: | “Etudes en Forme de Valse,”™ Saint Saens; “Bouree Pour Ja Mali Gauche Scule,” Saint-Saens: “La Cathedrale Engloutle,” Debussy: *Jeux D'Euu. Ravel; “Seguidillas,”s Albeniz, and “Second Rhapsodie.” Lisat. Seats may be obtained from T. Ar- thug Smith, Inc., 1506 G street. Sir Basil Thomson Thurday. Str Basil Thomson, international criminologist, former chief of Scotland Yard, England’s famous police depart- ment, is to appear at the National The- ater, Thursday afternoon, January 4, in the interest of the Boys' Club. C streets, which is’cndeavor!: funds to improve its property before conference of the International Feder tion of ‘Boys' Clubs, which meets ‘Washington in May. The subject of 1 Experfences at Scottand Yard give a graphic_account of the notable criminal cases in which h the detection of crime. Sir Basil has a brilliant reputation as an unraveler of mysterious crimes. Dur- ing the war his almost superhuman gifts repeatedly brought about the cap- ture of dangerous s, He preves Russlan revolutionary leaders galning entrance inio England checked the spread of the red peril though his life was repeatedly: threut- . ened, y Sir Basil is the son of the late Arc bishop of York and is 2 gradust New College, Oxford. William J. Burns, chief of the United States secret service, las consented to preside at the meeting. The club is backed by many prominent business and “professional men of Washington. Marguerite D'Alvarez Friday. Marguerite D'Alvarez, pronounced by many critics the greatest coutral- to of modern times, will be hLeard agaln in recital at che National Thea- ter, under the local management of T. Arthur_Smith, Inc mnoon at 4:30 o'clock. has a voice-ef somb of guishes it from many eontralto: the sort of romantic mu, trangeness is added to beauty d. Her vos d she has where resources are opule; voice of extraordinary power and range. Her program follows: “O Dove That Flying,” arranged by Schindler: body Knows de Trouble I've Seern. bas figured | and will discuss the modern methods for Automobiles Concerts—Lectures | ! | ernoo “No- | Arthur & | the arranged by Burieigh: “Caro Mia Ben,” Glordani; “Yorzcit,” Silberta “Transformation.” Watt Do Nol Go, My Love” Hageman: “Oh, Mesg S Ticlds. - Hughes: “Come te Martin; “Les Couronnes” Mai.” Haim: “De Reve’ ehussy; “Pgnnyre aux Talons J'Or.” Poldowski, and a g oup of Spanisk love =ong: Mme. I'Atvarez will by a sted by Lois Mater at the piano. S may > procurred from T Arthur Smith, . 1306 G street Newman's Traveltalks. L. M. Newman's wild animal me tion® pictures in the “Across Africa- Cape-to i ot ks winn at ungleland in which Roo: fed. The weric s utive and Mon rnoon lectures wman's cameraman lived in the Jungles over two ve ccompaited by two Lunters, es aud numerous natives. and pholographed clearly and at close runge dangerous and power. ful animals st large in thelr native haunts Intimate studies of tribal life also including Hottentots, Zulus; Macossas Basutos and other tribes, take theY place in the iravelalks, The 7.000- + rums through all of im- portant® Africa. including. Capetown the Rand. Kimberley, Congo, Bula- < Elizabethvilia river to Kabaio ganyika to UJiY Livingston | 2 dowr Paul Whiteman's Orchestra. Washington dance ised a rare treat Thursday night. J 11, when devotees of terpsichore have the oppertunity to dunce t the strams of Paul Whiteman musio Arrangerients lLave been made for a dance in the Targe Lallroom of the City Club %ith the famous Paul White man Cafe de Paris Orchestra supplyi; nisic. Tickets are now selling at T. Arthu Smith’s, Tnel. 1206 G street northwest John Charles iho;xihs. January 12. John Chavles Thomas, the Americar baritone will. be heard in reeital 21 the Nation cater Friday .after. noon. January 1 4:30 o’cléck. un-: der the local management of T Arthur Smith, Inc. New York Symphony, January 16. The New York Symphony Orchestra under the guished gucst com- Albe ut and with Mme Hempel. t famoux prima the <oloist, will +he. hearq urth concert of this sertel National Tacater Tuesday aft January 18 d’j Denishavwn Dan;er;. January 19. Denis. Ted Shawn and the n dancers will be presentet hington's art lovers by T nith, Theater Fr th. Inc.. at the National ay afternoon, January 18 'Donald Brian Doffs Gold Lace. s ONALD BRIAN, who has appeared as princes and’chocolate soldic who has whispered love Words under full moons and other 1o who has sung Viennese love songs songs, and who Las tried and worn all the gaudy uniforms known | to the musical comedy hero, some day is going to rebel. Perhaps the rebellion is already un- der way. For the season of 1922-23 finds Donald Brian, the Prince Danilo of one year and the Licut. Bumerli of another, in the role of a real human being. If Donald Erian is really suc- | cessful in severing effectually the ties that have bound him to the ro- light vears it mantic musical comedy and opera stage for these many can be readily assumned ghat he will play will be of the order of the par in Louis F. Werb num Was Right. 1t is human. Tt §s the ambition of Donald, Brian to pla man - PATTS, straight parts. and. if pessible. in vehicles in which music is net con- tained. ‘When Donald created Prince Danilo in “The Merry Widow he became a marked man. when a producer came along something that required an actor who could sing and dance and appear to be romantic. notwithstanding numer- ous absurdities of speech that might the. role of ! Thereafter | with | be intrusted to-him, a -gendral alarm | was sent out for Donald Brian. = As soon as Brian had finished a season in one fancy uniform along would come a show with another fancy uni- form, and it wasn’t long before Brian became & star. All tne time he had perhaps been cherishing a desire to do something a bit more real: buf, as has been said, he was Last season something When George M. Cohan happened. wanted to marked man. | 1o of he wanted some one wits for the role of h John Mechan, hit cral stag director, who is _co hor and who staged “Barnpum Was Right,” he jooked over the field and -ould ‘see nathing. quite so interesting as Donald Brian. And Mr. Brian. & fixed musiéal comedy and light opera luminary, came out in a real straight . the first that he had had_since the days beforc “The Merry Widow came to New York and Broadway. Chicago* accepted Mr. Brian as a straight part actor, according to the best accounts available, but didn't take to the play, and “Garrison and Girls” passefl out rather quietly and quickly. In line with his ambi- tion to pla vinus @ uniforn and_ gold 1 cngagement in “Up Sl tion of “Tc ) For mday yeart M Mee] 1 and r- been warm friends This friendship was fucther. cemented by their Socfation in rrigson and the Girl* And Mr. Meehan's regard for Mr. Brian-in a straight part was enhanced to: the point of enthusias! aturally when. he and Mr. Bartholo mae finished “Barnufn Was Right. he approacliéd Donald Brian to play the lead. . His friendxhip for Meéhan and the type of part offered him—onae he_had secresly hoped far—led -him to agree not only to play it but'to re- linquish his right to be starred—a right he had won' by years of hard work. Mr. Werba's production of “Barnum Was Right” will' also tend to satisf: another ambition of Donuid Brian namely, to play in 4 piece that didn't have what might be referred to as 4 “feminine title Examine the st of erformances—™Garrison and'the “The ent “The She Goes,” and go.on down’ the dist ELSIE JANIS—“BUDDIES.” ‘Wounded “buddics” from overscas will be helped by the performance of “Buddies” at the Tresident Wednesday evening, as the proceeds will be de- voted to work among world war. veter- ans now in Washington hospitals. In her heart for her erstwhile “pals” 4n France, has volunteered to contribut her services. Miss Janis has al chown herself eager to help tha ex- doughboys and may be depended upon to add some special “trimmings” to the regular performance. Tho notable Le Paradis Bani, one of the best musical aggregalions in the country, also has come to ald the veter- ans and will present a special program of jazz and semi-classic offerings. The majority of the band members are ex- service men. The performarice will be given under the auspices of the Women's Overseas Service League, which numbers many prominent yomen in its list of membe The commitlee in charge includes, Mrs. Herbert Hoover, Mrs. Larz Anderson, Miss Mabel T. Boardman, Mrs. Theo- dore Roosevelt, Miss Katherine T. An- | drews, Mrs. Robert Woods Biiss, Miss Lena Hitchcock, Miss - Elizabeth East- man, Miss Gertrude Hussey, chalrman, and ‘Miss Margaret Lambie, president. _Strami's New Lobby. INISHING touches on the new lobby of the Strand Theater were com- pleted last week and the work on the new entrance was declared done by Allen T. Sparrow, general manager of the theater. For four months workers have la- bored on the entrance. for the Strand. and while the job was difficult, and at times inconvenient, not a single performance was omitted nor were patronsg disturbed by the noise of the bullders. The new lobby compargs favorably with those of other Wash- ington theaters. The walls of the new entrance arc of a cream color and the ceiling is finished in_ ivory. Artistic lighting fixtures add to its appearance. A bronze-finished case has been placed on the east wall to herald the com- ing vaudeville and picture attrac- tions. Four large electric signs have been place along the top of the new marquise, with a small electric sign for the names of the current attrac- tions. ‘a dual v Here's avMystery. G T LAWRENCE if #he ism't un acires< because of 4 tute, The star of “Sccrets,” which ‘bégins' an, éngagenient at the wonders . | Natlonal Theiter. to Eitte Jants, who Keeps a warm place | oy ional Theiter. tomofrow evening. has reached the. cqnelusion that her art has developed over several years, even while she ‘was staying from the stage, bevause of her subconsclous mind, or semething like that. “It's my belief, you know," she says, “that an actress can't truly act un- less she has the same self-possession among a stage full of persons that she would ‘have in her own drawing room. Otherwise the audience won't belleve shé's real g “After I ‘was marricd I was away from the theater for eight yeéars, -and when L returned I was as surprised as any one to see that my -technique bad grown surer, even though it had nothing more dramatic to strengthen it than passing téa things around. “It was that unconscious training that. gave ‘me_the Jight teweh. of a comedienne,- and the cup and saucer poise necessary for ‘Tea for Three.’ Maybe 1'd really been only acting all the time-I was at home und thought 1 was so natural. Perhaps the responsibility is to be put on a duai nature. I suspect I have one. “When I'm’ at home I'm the most prosaic person in the worid—break- fast at.7,.tea at 4, and all that sort of thing. But when I enter the theater I become another person—T think that dual personality steals upon.me.” - Arcade. ‘The ‘Arcads will usher in the 1923 dancing season with a matinee danco from 3 ta 6 tomorrow and a preten- tious New Year celebration dance in the ¢vening. The remainder of the week will "be devoted to nightly duncing programs, except on Thursday, when a series of exciting “Lucky Spot” dances will be staged. —_——— . Enid Markey, the talented young comedienne of the cast of “Barnum Was Right,” hie written and had pubd lished mapy poems and short.stories. At the present she Is engaged in get- ting materfal for a tome she'is plan- ning to write’ on “The Theater—It! Back Stage.” -