Evening Star Newspaper, March 18, 1923, Page 55

Theaters The Sundiy Star, AVID BELASCO, who has been termed “the master craftsman,” “artist” and “genius” of the American stage, and who in the light of present-day accomplishment looms up as all three and even more, feeling a peculiar pride and pleasure in the approval, mendation and sugport given by the press to his first metropolitan ven- ture in Shakespeare—"The Merchant of Venice,” with David Warfield as its star, in a very recent statement has said: just due, * * % and which I most gratefully acknowledge that I have re- ceived, T doubt whether I should have the courage to go on. As it I look forward with cagerness to presentments at no distant date of “Julius Caesar” (always my greatest favorite among plays) Richard 11" and “King Henry IV"—first and second parts. Later, when the contracts already made for her have been fulfilled, I shall bring for- ward that most adorable of cotemporary actresses, Miss Lenore Ulric, in that most adorable and exacting of all Shakespeare’s young heroines Juliet. Very earnestly I hope that I shall, in all those ventures, receive the support I shall most earnestly seek to deserve and with which they are foreordained to succes: * ok OSE who are fond of their Shakespeare, whether of the staged plays or of the literary beauties of the text, will feel a sense of pleasure as well as of gratitude in learning that Mr. Belasco will devote the ripe- ness of his great career to the work he has announced. They will note also with genuine satisfaction the ring of confidence and of determination n the closing lines of his announcement. Th limited support from the public have been accorded many far less worthy enterprises, and the success of he Merchant of Venice,” despite the pessimism of some of the stage writer: be noted with keen relish, not only by Mr. Bel M also will brilliant accomplishments. Mr. Belasco's great glory not in the fact that he is a superexcellent stage artisan, but in the fact that he has a vision and an intelligence that has bettered everything in the theater to which he has put his hand—a vision and an i strangely wanting in these latter day * % even William A. Brad of the stage. 'HE rush to musical comed; it was Mr. Brady who, only a short while ago, declared cvery- body was “hokuming” now, will persist in pushing into the dearth ; f plays of merit. What can be the reaso our / n authors | and playwrights lost their cunning? of fiterary and dramatic genius T r out? Some one has ventured the thought that perhaps there is lacking, where there should not be, the ability to tell a good play when i that “Lightn was peddled and played under the title c the Pacific coast, by Frank Bacon, who nearly it was recognized in the great metropolis. g o' My Heart,” “Within the Law,” “Man and Superman,” “The Lion and the Mouse” and many other plays that have won big success, both with the public and with the critics, went more or less begging for notice before somebody in the great borough of Manhattan deigned to take a chance with them. has been hinted also that the personal jealousy of authors and wou authors, whose judgment is relied upon by the money producers, is in e for the fact that new authors, although invited, e opear. Oliv Morosco once told a very sw he forced a pla to New York against bo s. It is cited Bill Jones,” on starved the whil fore i ¢ managers, who professed to know Is there a sccret open sesamie necessary to of the elect who dec nies of the world is apt to tire of musi ne it will insist upon krowing why th dramatic productions, is so much of it HE Ram stretch for the s Head Play of Washington have entered 1 Jn the matter of play production. Their ven- les from the knowing and the ha, ha from rmed their conclusion without knowing. But withal : had an era of genuine success, and some of its ) 2 W praise irom sources that seldom deign to notice ‘amat’cnr(, Their productions all have been characterized by careiul thought and study as to cffect and detail, and the players have acquitted hemselves creditab g roles. If the professional producers and minds to let the dran n to fall into the e little compa pon the home- ture at hose wl eping of men of ¢ ntious. Robert udious hority, Chi come the most £0. ¢ cellence of Mrs. Fiske's work v Lillian Barrett. There has been many a night and afternoon since Mrs FRO.\I that 'c lay: Dice of lournal, Fiske herself came upon a part which has so inflamed her fancy as the role of the witty morphinist, the woman of departed glory. the play alled ‘The Dice of the Gods.” Ashton Stevens says at the close of a most enthusiastic review: “To see her die in this strange, humorous tragedy is one of the greatest moments I have known in the theater.” Amy Leslie of the Daily News writes: “The greatest actress America applauds, the greatest comedienne of America and undoubtedly its great- est emotional actress. It is an achievement no lesser actress could hogc e or, no greater actress could challenge.” These are only a few of t opinions published. P he O. L. Hall, the critic of the Daily HE Theater Guild's production of “Peer Gynt.” Tbsen’s play, in which the entire Peer Gynt suite, by Grieg. is embodied, drew such a patron- age in New York that it had to be transierred to a larger theater. * £y HISPERING WIRES,” the mystery play. by Kate L. McLaurin, from the story by Henry Leverage, is said to have the distinction of the longest run of any attraction in New York this season, * % % % S¢FITHE FOOL,” the Channing Pollock play which set Boston awhirl, the London Times predicts will rival “Uncle Tom's Cabin,” both in its appeal and its permanenc, ‘W. X. LANDVOIGT. Rebuffed by the Metropolitan Opera House Management. INSIDERING that the borough,found her a member of the ensemble com- “Without the recogni- tion, indorsement and support which, in all simplicity, I feel to be my and of “King usands of dollars and un- | o's more intimate friends, but by the public ! in general, which has come to admire the man and his work through his i telligence that seems | and it may | na drift, it could not have | of Brooklyn borders right on the shores of Manhattan Island, it is small wonder that a girl blessed with a pleasing voice and beauty and hailing from the City of Churches should achieve success on the stage. This is by way of introducing Mary Miiburn. Not that Mary needs an in- troduction. Far from it. But to be re to the point, let us survey the chain of circumstances that brought her to the prima donna role in “Molly Darling.” Mary was born in Brooklyn, and that wasn't many years ago. She 18 the daughter of Capt. McKirvey of the police department, who used to up- hold the law and order of Far Rock- away jn the days when one couid safely tread the beach in & one-plece bathing suit. Erasmus Hall igh Sohool claims her &s one of its star graduates. While she was attendln school M gave evidenoe of blossoming fo some day as an odvenuo singer. ‘When the time arrived for Mary to startle the musfcal world, the Metro- politanOpera House incorporated in its by-laws a clause to the effect that “no_child shall lead ug” Mary had studied for grand opera, and when she had seen seventeen summers she knew ihe heavy roles {n several of the fa- vorite operas. Sho tells the story of how she ap- plied to the management of the Metro- politan for a chance to sing for them, and was quite indignant when told that children were not employed in that organization. That rebuff was responsible for mu- mlcal comedy claiming ary's talent Xar first appearance on the stage in “Furs and Frills” a John Cort pro- duction, but after a fortnight in the smerry-merry” Mr. Cort senged a find” in the new chorine, with the result that Mary found hermelf as- slgned to the leading ingenue role in “Flo-Flo.” “From then on it was easy sailing. Next came the prima donna role in “Listen, Lester,” and similar engagements {n “Angel Face” and “The Girl in the Spotlight.” Last year Mary, it will be remembered, was one flv‘( l“\e prima donnas In the Ziegfeld "ollle BEv since she branched out as a principal, it seems, Mary has bsen cast in parts that call for weep- ing and wearing second-hand clothes. Winthrop Ames, Producer. George Arliss appears, was born at North Easton, Mass., near Boston, in 1871. Both his father and mother came from Mayflower stock, North ‘Easton has been the residence of the Ames family over i76 years. The founder of it was Oliver Ames, who made a shovel known as the Ames shovel, which was so good that It was exchanged for its welght in gold in California, in the days of tha “4fers” and was used as currency in Bouth America and Australia, —————— Hi W, hv:f- engaged Jeannstte MacDensld %rn o] “Minnis and Ms” in which Sitsl wil soon start rehearsals Mary MizpurRN Nattonal | CELESTE RHEA SHIOS Kitry GLAsSGLOW Gaqeh’ “The Gingham Girl.” A Broad i prise, and thi; came in form of “The Gingham sical comedy, presented by |Laurence Schwab and Daniel Kusell. | | To ths wiseacres of Broadway thesa | young men were practically unknown. | Kusell was a young author, who came | to New York from his native Chicago only two years ago. Schwab, fresh from Harvard University, arrived in Manhattan about the same time, and | the two pooled thelr fortunes. Their cash was limited, but their sincerity Inspired confidence and they were| {able to secure some credit. i After months of hard work they! | produced a musical comedy and tried | {it out on the road. The nent | { theater owners of New York had v;fl‘ faith in them and they wcra unable to secure Broadway playvhouse. | Ultimately they secured a tentative | booking at the Earl Carrolb Theater, which had opened {ts doors five months beforo and had housed a series of failures. To take an unknown show, without a star, into this the- ater Seemed the height of folly, To make matters worse “The Ging- ham Girl" opened in New York on one of the hottest nights in August. Sev- eral important productions opened the same night and the critics entirely overlooked the new musical comedy, and they did not get around to it un- til later in the week. Months went by, The shows that opened at the same time and prevent- ed the critics from attending the premier of “The Gingham Girl" left| New York one by one. Other shows followed, and they, in turn, went to the storehouse or on tour, Through it all “The Gingham Girl" continued, | with nearly 250 performances to ita credit, and it is still a drawing card among musical comedies on Broad- WAY. ‘Peer Gynt’ on the Stage WDEER GYNT,” the Theater. Gulld's latest success, began an exten- sive engagement at the Shubert The- ater last Monday night, The trans- fer, In New York eclty, from the Garrick Theater, where it orlg- fnally was housed, to the Shubert Theater was made to accommodate the many who were turned away at the smaller playhouse, . The Gulld’s production of Ibsen's spirited drama s sald to strike & new note in modern stagecraft, The ocolorful and bizarre settings of Lea simonson, who picturesquely mounted the fourteen scenes into which this play of five acts ls divided, show an opulence of atmospheric beauty both in lighting end in settings, No mers animated gcene of folk life has ever besn staged than Ingrid's wedding, with the warmly beautiful kaleido- scopa of peasant finery, its riotous mingling of jollity and dramatic ao- tion, Throughout, the production is and ocontrast, of infinite oulminating inte & progressive whols, Joseph Rchildkraut gives a com- pelling and fiery performance in the yole of pees, ToM Wise. Garricke Cast of “ON THESLOPES of CALVARY” Prestdents AT THE THEATE! NATIONAL—“Molly Darling,” musical comedy. POLI'S—George Arliss, in “The G [{ morrow evening. f Slopes of Calvary, evening. i KEITH'S—Fritzl Scheff, vaudevil afternoon. COSMOS—"“On the Roof Garden,” morrow afternoon, lfl STRAND—Vaudeville attractions, ' GAYETY—"Rockets,” burlesque, RAM'S HEAD PLAYERS—Triple | PRESIDENT—“The Meanest Man in the World” (tonight). “On the | by St. Patrick Players, opens tomorrow BELASCO—"“The Demi-Virgin.” Periormance this afternoon. RS THIS WEEK. Opens this evening, reen Goddess,” drama. Opens to- le. New show opens tomorrow vaudeville, New show opens to- Opens this afternoon. Opens this afternoon. T T bill. Opens Wednesday evening. i e — LT NATIONAL—‘Molly Darling.” The big musloal comedy success, “Molly Darling” will be séen at the National Theater tonight, when it be- |. gins an engagement of one week, with matinee Baturday and a popular price matinee Wednesday n two | occaslons ‘“Molly Darling” has been ennounced for the National but each time the engagement was cancelled owing to the success elsewhere. The curtain will riss promptly at #:16 at the evening performances and 15 at the matinee performances, “Molly Darling” comes lere frem triumphant engagements at the Lib- erty_and Globe Theaters, New York, the Tremont Thester, Boston, and the Garriok and ¥Forrest Thea r Phila- delphla, with the same big cast, chorus and otien that was seen the nlxc! of i m&tfu performan not even one the big ehorus o danoing beautles selacted by the eran Julian Mi 1l ie missing, The authors nb allrenor- Teapon- sible for “Molly Darling” is in_itself & guarantee of 1ts more than ordinary werth, Otto H ch, who wrote the beok for “Mary,” “The O'Brien Girl” sical s of recen! o ar n,_who has “The Enm Qary Dunca; oyal Yagabend,” *“The Hlue Kitten" m"otzn u\u? u\guun tg his fl"‘fllt wrete Hfll 00! Tom oh‘- atene and Milten H. Schwarswald supplied fifteen musical numbers of the most tuneful, attractive and thor- eughiy medern variety, to ol v Iyrics from Phil Cook. The produc- tion and the big, colorful ensemble numbers were created and staged by Jullan Mltchell. Heading the original New York cast are Jack Donahus and Mary Milburn both more or less well known to 1 cal audiences, On the initial per- formance of “Molly Darling" in New York, Mr, Donahue created nothing less than a sensation and since ha coms to be known along Broadwa as “the man with the laughing fe They aro supported by Clarence Nordstrom, Jay Gould, Catherine Mul- ueen, Bill y end_Billle Taylor, Nina enn, Charles P, Morriuon, Ben Benny and Burke Western. Rose Kessner, Albert Riccardl, Cecll Summers and many ethers {neluding the original Globe Theater chorus of dancing beauties, *Molly Darling” is nted in two acts and eight magnificent scenes, POLI'S—George Arlis “The Green Goodel George Arlise appears at Poll's Theater this week beginning tomor- row night in “The Green Goddess. And after “Disraeli” Mr. Arliss paint- od for the stage quite a gallery of historieal personages. laygoers W to expeot each new production o represent further delving into his- torical lore, €0 that the announce- ment that with “The Green Goddess” he has turmed his back on the pages | 0f the textbool an, Current Attraclions WASHINGTON, D. C., SUNDAY MORNING, MARCH 18, 1923. | | | | | | sot ful imagina the s eresting. Tho; who ukurrl with Blanche Bates in Darling of the God: will rea what possibilities thera are in store/ in his representation of the suave, sinister, humorous but savaze Raja | of Rukh in the play of adventure| fashioned by William Archer. | “The Green Goddess” s laid in Cen- tral Asia of the present day. Rukh is & small independent kingdom in the northwestern range of the Hima- layan mountains. The Raja was edu- cated at Oxford and the polish and culture of Anglo-Saxon lite forms the | veneer of his orlental cruelty. He is| absolute monarch of all he aurveys. e rules his people through thelr| prejudices. He belleves in “the Green Goddess” only Insofar as It is neces- sary to retain his tyranical sway over his natien, No outsids influence has ever peneirated the fastness of this Himalayan retreat, until a fog forces three English travelers to land their airpiane in the very precincts of the famous goddess. Unfortunately for| the foreigners, thres of the Raja's| subjects are about to ho executed for political intrigue by the British gov- ernment. The Raja believes In the Mosalc law of an eye for an eya and a tooth for a tooth, but he {s willing to except the weman of the party if eha will grace his household, = This 18 the beginning of the colorful, pletur- esque and intense drama which Arliss | t the fanci- tellar is nember his plays Willtam Archer, the author, has been noted for nearly forty years as| the leading English reviewer of plays. | He has published many books, ~“The| Green Goddess” is hiy first play to bay produced. Mr. Ames has given the drama a beautiful production, There | ra four acts, *iPhe’ company includes - Hlisabeth Risdon, Ivan ¥, Simpson, Leonard Willey, Frederick Lloyd, Morris W. Ankrum, Vera Tompkins, R. Carring- tori Bhort and Roy van Allen, PRESIDENT—“Meancst Msn in the World”—“On the Slopes of Calvary,” Tonight at the President Theater, the President Players will present George M. Cohan's comedy, “The Meanest Man. in the World.” The St. Patrick Players will appear in the passion_play, “On the Blopes of Cal- Vary,” for the benefit of Archbishop jlight to every woman's heart, for the | it the |1tam Archer’s brain. lelers in Central As mors of huma savage b tribes of | camera in the first film they made. matter of fa this v undoubtedly be the first photopla: { which the entire company of one Europe's really great theaters have {little Helen's Coming Attractions NATIONAL—“Cinders. QI Edward Royce’s new comedy musie, “Cinders,” comes to New National Theater next week, ginning Sunday night, March 25 & fashion show it ought to be u de- gowns are the Jast word in style fron Paris, designed and made Ly Puul Polret. 5 ling m M. Polret mude & epecial voy-|terpsichorean age across the ocean to this country | last August to personally bring and gowns for Mr. Royce's firs personal production With his per- manent organization of players, ange Blossoms.” 1t was the in h's career that he costume designer of world stgued and executed e n worn in a theatrical production in it ders” is a long one STRAND—Jean Granese Among the principals are Nancy W e M et = ford, Qu mith, Walter Regan, . Fred Hillebrand, Margaret Dale. 4 | Ralph Riggs. Katherine Witchie, Lil- lian Lee, eorge Bancroft, KEdith Campbell Walker, Alta King and Jack Whiting. The music is the long promised and_the rd Clark score of Rudolf Frinm bo: and lyrics are by Ed PRESIDENT—'Six-Cylinder Love.’ The President Players ext at_the Presi S ler Love” Willla Metuire’s romantic comed George Barnes and Wanda Ly rounded by a brilliant cast of Presi- dent favorite: COSMO0S—“Hoot” Gibson’s Dough- Cy1y boy Story. Whils a bill of the length and quality of the ugsual standard ¢ 2 mos vaudeville bill will be presented next week, the management is viting special attention as an out- standing feature to “Hoot” Gibson's newest picture, . Gentleman From Americ the nusing and thrilling story of love and adventure of an Amerfcan doughboy, which was rudely interruptad L military Who I : the Green Godde: HE sinister six-armed Hindu delty who silently, ominou spell of evil over the scenes « Green Goddess,” in which George 11ss appears, is not a figament of Wil- The author has it {a true, adapted her to the needs of his drama, but in her app nce and n her mystic powers she is essentis 1y the same h!deous goddess travelers In India have seen or heard of. The Goddess in the play is made of green stone and, despite her dlabc cal appearance, she is much ad by connoisseurs. The sway she Lo over the imaginary people of th kingdom of Rukh, which amounts t fanaticism, is no less real in the stage in production’ than that she iwields actual life in Central Asia The goddess, squat of figure, evil ace, was suggested to Archer d ng his travels in the north of 1 where Le saw images « goddesses a eimilar charac Archer sars she i3 worshippe one of the tribes of the Nepaul. to the north doubtful if hun to this particular Geographt ong ago, an article de That b es aul, and printed a portr biain centles armed goddess who might Ko is western mind as the original for Arche | but their hold & iniEcination There is, too, a si ed_goddess | of the Hindu ra ereat- in a great cave of living roc Island of Elephants, £2ven Bombay the Ad: "Shiva”" Her temple was cut rock ar feet square. 1 the | est problems the B s from | has to face in 1 e is|this st 1 the | Arch a New York Theater Gossip. NEW tions between the Moscow ater and a prominent mot concern will furnish Broadw: deal to talk about within Art patheti |ogy of the half t few days. Lack of trua drama wrecks tha This extraordinary company of chances of success for the Equity at with “Roger Bloomer.” In actors has already provoked more novelty and daring the pla cussion than ary one theatrical ven- ture in American history, press agent has passed up footage of printed publici playing to eight weeks of 1 | proves it has 1 to it at and uninteresting, becav al quite as unprecedented, the engagem has been e a short tour of Boston. probably Philac ne close of the tour St s Russians will appear 1 sl ever posed. Members of this troupe have appeared now and then In Rus. sian-made pictures, which could not be successfully exhibited in America; but which showed the vivid effect pr duced by their expressive faccs, thel vigorous bodles and their oxtraordi- nary skill in make-up. The basis of negotiat is the production on the s Russian tragedy. “Tsar ‘e play it 6 poem from ated by actors, zes. But it ia s tho n at present een of the r Tvan A Pathetic Coincidence. *'WWANTED—A good time by a girl| ters, tho 1t nfontuna wilo 7| and the tiny waif of the make-be o never had one. Inall my | o3 s qimost fdentical with nineteen years I nover had one. I|joncing for “one good timer 1t wonder 1f you could help mo to find |call of youth. | v e story of “Cinders" some one who has a lot of stioney k:nd e Sioryaf Clndars could afford to give me a good time | ping gathered together (without pay) just for a week.” |at the time Jfis This was the touching appeal that|eventful Cinderella Miss W é appeared in a New York newspaper a | o M5 Welford < was written wa npan or reh made to New ¥ nd she didr short time ago. It was sent out by |izo untll just the day Ilelen Helen V. Collins, & little &irl, hope- | ready to g0 home that ! P | expressed in her new lessly crippled, from Amaterdam, N. Y. | XDressel in her new o 1f sho could have accepted all the offers | girl However, it gava her someth to think about and plan f confident that there are ma Cinders in real life and a Club” is being formed in the that poured in within one short day, “good time" probably Wwould have lasted & year instead of & week, The same day that Helen was leading for a good time another lit- o girl stood on & big, dark stage with a flood light shining on her, re- hearsing & new song: Just_one good timi ©One’ heavenly, wonderfu *Cause that's something I ne And'T wbt 16, erave 1k o, 40 bud! On, just one good time! 1'd’ give my very last dime To be able to suy I remember the d I had one good time. 1t was little Nancy Wolford learn- tng. her part of “Cinders” from Iid ward Royce, the great stage director. and almost as excited as was Helen Cinders™ company, plans of which will be given out later. It is assured that the club will be chiefly concerned with giving a “good time” to little folks who have never had one, o, 1 tim Garry McGarry Explains, Announcement has been ma Garry McGarry that, for re ready known, there will ba formance by the G Players at the § ter until East Wise will appear with an entirely supporting cast, no Curley’s fund for poor count: churches, tomerrow, Tuesda: Wednesday nights and at the day. matines, Thursday, Priday o ani and ednes- |had given her in oreating her first saturday | gic over coming to New York was Nancy over the opportunity that Mr. Royvce Meanwhile Mr. McGarry has gone to New York on business for his com- pany. Ho states that the theater will vdark” for two weeks, as s @ leass upon iy s big role in his new comedy with mu- re She similanity of the twe eharag-ibie