Evening Star Newspaper, April 15, 1923, Page 61

i : lvertime to mmke its spring produc- Part 3—12 Pages PTIMISTS may well plume their feathers and put on a haughty or happy look, as pleases them best, at the theatrical announcement for the current week. An American National Theater seemed al- most beyond the bounds of the possible, and yet here it is at our very door. There will be some disposition to doubt that Washington has been really honored with the premicr performance of its first produc. tion, becausc the native Washingtonian has Jong ago settled in his own mind all doubt on the point that Washington is the only appropriate place not only ior that performance. but for the headquarters of so im- posing an institution as the American National Theater. However, there will be no quibbling at this time. just when the Am someth 1g should arise to revive it with the highest hope. The wish for The Sundy Star. WASHINGTON, D.'C, DASZSON | BYRNE | Fecedsl l Nations] Al It is a fate truly American to find that | crican theater seemed most in danger of annihilation | the complete success of the movement will be not only ardent, but uni- | versal. The time has long been at hand for America to assert herself otherwise than commercially. world war. i, letters and in arts, and, above all, in manners—should be even greater and more briliiant, as befitting the ideal that has always stirred the native heart in its love of country. When America puts her best foot forward there will be no need of Americanization. It is only when she hides her light under a bushel that the ignorant and the mercenary can hope for toleration. It is refreshing also to learn that the great upward movement pered by the thought of cost. It is proof that there ns prize beyond mere money is to are some t puul( Shakespeare! \What wonder is it that centuries aifter his time they have sought to hand over to another, even to others, the glory was his, when the best of them can tell us only that he was born lie same day of the same month in 1564 as that on which he died in April conceded reluctantly to be his birthday. ghtful comedies, “As You Like It,” will help to 1ol0. One ni signalize. a little enough to count, the launchin, 2580is oi his t del g of one of the greatest of American enter- prises, while, at the same time, it will help to recall his birth. But the world seems to be swinging in the right direction in many ways. Has not Channing Pollock. with the wealth that is said to be rolling in from his play, "The Fool." started a movement for a theater for those who cannot afiord to pay more than a dollar a seat?> Our commercial theatri- cal managers have long bewailed the inroads of the movie into their bailiwick, but strange to say they ve never m the slighest_effort to head it off with better plays or lower-priced a ons i their own houses. Mr. Pollock, therefore. is entitled to credit for the innovatio ND when one starts out to re: the others are _prone to fol . Ethel Barrymore has conccived the idea of building up in_the provinces rehwhile audiences” who will appreciate what New York has sealed with its stamp of approval. In a recent interview she cites instances where really good plays in New York have been coldly received “out in the sticks.” But she admits that we have generously patronized some and have also patiently paid for many that were not worth the price. * ¥ THER cheeriug information for the week is that “The Demi-Virgin” has used up its patronage, and that the production of the Colored Art Cheater, “Salome.” will be continued for another week at the Howard Theater. The Hopwood trosity will give way to . Somerset Maugham's st of Suez. in turn, it is announced, will be followed by “Bluebeard's adapted Dy Carlton Andrews from the Erench of Alfred pman’s “Lawful Larceny,” Man" i “Why Men Leave Home,” another effusion oi Avery Hopwood. “Of course, there will be others,” the announcement reads, but these are fair samples of what George Marshall is aiming at in the entertaining line and to cstablish himself as a young and successful producer. Let me repeat the colored productioh of “Salome” is worth seeing. * ok ok ok D WYNN. “The Perfect Fool,” as he delights in billing himseli, will furnish much of the entertainment at the National Theater this week. His alliterative description of what he brings with him has an alluring ring. In these days of jazzy entertainment youth must be served. but there are many old fellows with bald spots and gray hair who will be found in the capacity audiences that usually greet “The Perfect Fool.” producers really care so mu a production. there hav y a short e ago, in © various girls who have play to make them popular obj in themselves and apart from the play. Wi pay duplicated more frequently * **RLOSSOM TIME.” the Shubert play with Franz Schubert music, also appears to be one of the really delightful entertainments that share honors of success with the sure-paying off-color plays. Word comes that *Blossom Time"” holds the record for the longest run of any theatrical at- traction that has ever been presented in Philadclphia. New York did not have to build up an audience for that production. at least, although Phil- adelphia may not be “in the sticks.” Still it serves to show that folks outside of the metropolis sometimes manifest signs of intellectual and artistic taste. the part traction v are not the good things that * r foreshadows the coming of the Ameri- The circus wiil be here_in two weeks. W. X. LANDVOIGT. April 20, 21 Busiy 100L will pre-tory of the school. The personnel of sent “The Shoes that Danced,” by | the student council and the various \nna Mempstead Branch, amd “The | SPFing play committees is given here- “Taming of the Shrew” in the Central | Geperal chairman, High Schoo! auditorium, ¥riday and ;‘_"""'" Butts: secretary Saturday. The Garrick test, with a | phoreh; orchestra. Afi few slight alterations for the comedy | ton, Mrs. Daisie L Huff, Miss. Selma proper to make it more suitable for | M. Borchardt. Mrs. Kate Outwater; nigh school production, will be used | fn8nces. Misses H. . Bell, Grace . for “The Taming of the Shrew.” The ' s A B . Yoder and Ethel V. more colorful Venetian setting also | { S a‘nd !h('f. Kate S, Outwater: has been chosen and Margaret Ryan, | properties and stage effects, Misses tJane G v ally, C a Titian haired Irish lasste, will or- | Matarey i emmos aily Pgunally, Cora U v Katharine. | McCarty; candy, ‘Mrs. Josephine C. ommittees of teachers and stu- ;. ace, Mrs. Edna P. Smith, Miss Minnfe & Dea % éd\'ertl;;ln‘ and program, dents are busily engaged with their | Kingatey, Catharing B Couiie: Soss® various assignments. The costume |Miss Emma-Louise Thompson, Joseph committee has ‘provided rich and |Finckel, It F. Lucas; order, A. L. rilliant period costumes for the | g Edelen and Misses BiLnL, cocnrE? forty-odd characters. The scenery t G and stage effects committee also has M. J. Watts, and S. A, Wallace. The casts for the plays follow: xecured some fine old pieces of ancignt | “The Shoes That Dances”; Watteau, italian furniture for Baptigta's rich home. Jullus aiman; Lancret, Clifton i Charridge: Courtin, Maxwell Stokes; Advartising goes merrily on with iingles and rhymes plastered all over Page, James Baucom; Boy, Edgar Boyd; Columbine, Beva Fish; Pler- 1he school and even on the coats of |rette, Madeline Key; Faustine, Louise certain dignified instructors. It has | Wood; Queen of France, Leona Zwis- Dheen arranged to have placards vlaced on the street cars, and on all sler; ' Lady-in-waiting, Catherine Chamberlain. sides may be seen Business High School spring play posters in the “Taming of the Shrew:” Baptista, Austin Swartwout; Petruchio, Ri school colors, orange and blue. The Business organization classes are de- Larcombe; Hortensio, Albert Harris; 3 servants of Baptista, Pedro, Bion- signing original posters. Home-made | dello, Perry Jacobs; servants of Pe- candy will be prepared by the mem- | truchio: Grumio, Walter, George De bers of the girls' auxiliary and of- | Vaughan; Nathaniel. Lewis Wolfe; fered by a committee of girls dressed | Gregory, Gavriel, Alfred Mills; Ralph, in clown suits of orange and blue. | Frank Felker; Adam, Nathan Freila- The peace and comfort of the au- |choff; Musicmaster, Albert Harris; dience will be looked after by & |daughters of Baptista: Katharine, corps of seasoned and efficient cadets | Margaret Ryan: Bianca, Hope Ritter: arained for this particular service. |Curtis, Constance Foglé; Tailor, Col- Tickets are now in the hands of |lette; Haberdasher, Arthur Dick: all pupils. The play will be offered | Cook, Randolph Shreve; wedding two nights only, crowded houses are | guests, Russel King, Isadore Brill, Tioped for and indicated by the ad- |Mahlon Padgett, Grant Smith, vance sale. Josephins_Lynch, Ruth Hahn, Laura The spring play is the year's big |Baulsir, Virginia Thomas. event for the student council and, in il i it e fact, for the whole school. The chair- man of the student council automati- | Helene Lackaye, the well known cally becomes executive chairman of | Washington actress, will appear in the spring play, and the success of Sam H. Harris' production of, “Cap- that particular chairman’s regime is|tain Applejack,” with Wallace Egd- measured largely by the success of | di r and Mary Nash, when the the epring play. For this reason the | Walter Hackett comedy is given here. present student council is working | Miss Lackaye has been a member of the cast of “Captain Applejack” since its first performance in ¢his country. HE American National Theater can National Predilection. Business High Play Mrs. Frances Miss Grace E. Emma-Louise Mrs. May Ash- meR an outstanding event in the his: in advance of the birthday, it is true, but still close | i “The Bad | which Holbrook Blinn has heen starred for two seasons, and | She has added luster to her glory in the | It is most fitting that her glories in peace—and that means EDWYNNE and KAY ANNIS ~National HARRY MANNERS Director, President Players | EDITH WYNNE MATTRISON National flBNADALEY Gayety . Current Attractions | AT THE THEATERS THIS WEEK. POLI'S—American National Theater production, “As You Like It.” Shakespearean comedy. Opens tomorrow evening. NATIONAL—Ed Wynn, “The Perfect Fool,” extravaganza. this evening. PRESIDENT—“Six Cylinder evening. BELASCO—"East of Suez" melodrama. KEITH'S—Emma Haig-Emma Shirley, opens tomorrow matinee. -~ COSMOS—Slatko, Sully, Oddity opens tomorrow matinee. STRAND—“An Evening at Home,” vaudeville. noon GAYETY—“Broadway Brevities,” burlesque. Opens this afternoon. GARRICK—"Getting Gertie’s Garter,” farce. Performance this evening. \ HOWARD—Colored Art Players, “Salome.” Opens tomorrow evening. Opens Love.,” comedy. Performance this Opens this evening. vaudeville. New show Boys, vaudeville. New show Opens this after- things of the guild. He has been glven full leeway, and_when Wash- ington sees his “As You Like It” it will see a fine example of the newest school of stagecraft. The players, it is announced, are the best that could be obtained. There has been no Rosalind of this generation. From reports of past performances, it was thought Mar- jorie Rambeau should have the role. A young American of great prom- inence. lan Keith, was picked for Orlando. A. E. Anson, for years playing the leads in the New Theater venture, was obtained for the role of Jacques. John Craig, for years a great favorite in Boston, where he essayed at least fourtéen Shake- spearean roles, was cast as Duke Ferdinand. Margalo Gillmore, re- membered here for her part in “The ¥Famous Mre. Fair” is to be the Cella. Others include Ernest Law- ford. as Touchstone: Arnold Lucy, as Adam; Walter Abel, as Jacques de Bois; J. Malcom Dunn, s the Duke; Percival Vivian, as William: Hor- tense Alden, as Audrey; Willlam Williams, as Silvius; Frank Aroun- del, as Amiens; Edgar Norton, as Le Beau; Jerome Lawler, as Oliver; Gwyned Vernon, as Phoebe, and POLI'S—“As You Like It.” ‘Washington is to be honored this t week with the inauguration of a new movement in the theater—the Ameri- can Natlonal Theater, which, with ita initial production, “As You Like It” at Poli's Theater tomorrow night, starts on a career that will be watched with interest. The story of the new movement ; already hag beer told in The Star. Naturally everything has been done to make this first production as meritorious as possible. Possibly because this has been = Shake- spearean year—four plays having had great success on blase Broadway— and because, it is explained, in no other work can the matter of diction be so stressed, the committee in charge chose, “As You Like It.” The next consideration ‘was the man to direct this production. Robert Mil- ton, who has a fine and long record of productions behind him, was in- trusted with this first task. Milton is a Russian and had four years' training at Petrograd before coming to America. Perhaps no group hasjadvanced as far as the Theater Gulild. So the committee went to the guild and se- 3 3 cured the services of Lee Simonson, | John S. O'Brien, as Corin. Tesponsible for . “Peer Gynt” the| The incidental music was written Shaw cycle and many of the best)by Theo Bendix, who has had muca SUNDAY MORNING, APRIL 15, EVA SulLy Coswos ce with the Shakespearean motif in recent productions. The shepherd dance has been conceived and the dancers trained by Alexander Oumansky of the Capitol experience | New York. The production, hers, will then 'be taken to New York for a short season. y of the New York theatrical dignitaries interested in the venture are coming down for the premiers, and many | government officials have made res- | ervations for the opening. NATIONAL—Ed Wynn, Perfect Fool.” “The | _After a year's engagement at George M. Cohan Theater, New Yor! a three-months phenomenal success in Chicago, and equally as successful Philadelphia_and Boston runs, Ed | Wynn, “The Perfect Fool,” in his very latest' and newest musical laughing riot, will be the attraction at the National Theater tonight for one week's engagement. The National Theater management feels rather a pride in this announcement, as almost immediately following the local en- gagement Wynn and his company are scheduled for a long tour to the Pa- fit coast and return. We are promised the entire origi- nal New York production and com- pany intact. A. L. Erlanger and B. C. Whitney have given to Ed Wynn's newest vehicle a sumptuous scenic and costume environment. The come- dlan himself is responsible for the book, lilting music and lyrics, while Julian Mitchell produced the many intricate and novel dancing surprises. In two acts and nineteen scenes of pretty stage pictures, Wynn presents 2 Gerios of inartistic and unique sur- prises, entirely new and distinctively different. He has been very happy in his many _melodic compositions, which are of the haunting. whistle- able sort, while the zip and speed which is given to the entire enter- tainment is declared remarkable. Besides Ed Wynn, his own comical self, the large company includes Janet Velie, who created Mary in the original_musical production of that name; Flo Newton, a clever ingenue; Estelie Penning and Anita Furman, remarkable dancers; “That Girl Quar- tet.” _ Misses Harriette Keyes, Ivey Kirkwood, Jeannette Fielding and Loretta Ferrati; Edna Hamel, Belle Cannon, True Rice, John Dale, Jay Velie, Cass Burt, George E. Romain, the Meyako trio, clever Japanese; Betty Wilson and the fa- mous “Wynn-ing, Wynn-some chorus of charm and beauty.” PRESIDENT—“Six-Cylindep Love.” Romping hilariously along, to big- gor successes every night, “Six-Cyl- inder Love.” the Broadway comedy success Ry Willlam Anthony McGuire, tonight Starts its third consecutive weelk's run at the President Theater. Washington is already echoing the success this famous motor-car roman- tio comedy achiaved in Manhattan; and its engagement has already made it one of the real ol;t:u';dlu hite o': the present seasor e Presiden Harry Manners staged the Presie dent piayers’ production, and he has mounted the comedy in a fashfon that is said to be superior even to its New York production. Wanda Lyon and George Barnes Theater, | after one week 1923. 5y 3% Ay CUsIcr > Garricks | have the leading roles. supported by |John Carmody. Anne Sutherland, Lee ;Pa!rh'k, Rita Coakley, Guy D'Enne | Antrim’ Short,” George ” Sweet, Con! stance Brown., Sam Spedden, Harry | Shutan and oth The play is a delightful comedy ou the habit of young cou- ples attempting to support a motor car on a cottage salary BELASCO—“East of Suez.” Tonight at the George Marshall will present “East of Suez” a melodrama of the orlent by W. Somerset Maugham. Mr. Maugham is'a famous and gifted British play {wright. A new play by him is al- Ways a matter of great interest. Although Mr. Maugham is known best as a writer of brilliant, cynical | drawing room comedies, he went to China three vears ago to write a life- drama_sbout the colorful and th sown life of the orient. He ! study of the effect of the ancient life |of the east on strangers from the | west. The result is declared to be a_vivid afd interesting melodrama. “East of Suez” is in five episodes and calls for a brilllant setting, which Mr. Marshall promises. The cast, headed by Hazel Dawn, In- cludes Ered ond, jr.; Jennie Bustace, Henry Danieli, Clarke Stl- vernall, Gerald Oliver Smith, Helen Flint and Mildred Le Gue. | KEITHS—Emma Haig—Eva Shirley. “Hits of Hilarity” week at satire- hi Keith’ ;| The collection of stars will include | 2 twin headline feature: Eva Shirley |and Oscar’s Orchestra, together with the diminutive dancer, Emma Haig. seen here not so long ago in “Our Nell.” Miss Shirley is a singing come- dlenne; Oscar's Orchestra is one of the finest of jazz organizations, and Emma Haig is a star from the first edition of the “Music Box Revue.” She will be assisted In a terpsichorean divertissement by George Griffin and Ruth Russick. Oisen and Johnson, the two clever clowns, “Likable Lads Loaded with Laughs™; the one and only Bert Levy, rapid-fire isketching king; Ona Mun- son, with Shean and Phillips, tn her newest edition of “A Manly Revue”; the Sharrocks—Harry and Emma a distinct vaudeville novelty, hind the Grandstand”; Pinto and Boyle in music and mystery, labeled “The Overnight Comedy Sensation,” with a novel twist, and Bronson and Howard, in “Nonsensical Absurdities, make up an exceptional bill of enter- tainment, which will b$ supplemented with Aesop's Fables, Topics of the Day and the Pathe News, COSMO0S—Slatko-Sully-0ddity Boys. A triple combination in one of its two big healiners is_the announce- ment of .the Cosmos Theater for this week, when Harry Slatko and com- pany, featuring Eva Sully and the famous Oddity Boys, will present the breeziest, swiftest revue of syncopa- tion and jazz, intermingled with dancing and incidental comedy, that has ever been offered at that theater. The attraction bears the significant title, “Making 'Em DI rent Today," and in_its construction and execu tion seeks to warrant the title. Nine people are offered in the entertain- ment, with Al Clough at the plano. The other stellar feature will present Willlam Macart, Ethlynne Bradford and company in a famous farce comedy, ke My Tip, which has been described as a whirlwind of smiles spreading out into & roar. It will be staged by Billy.Mac and four clever farceurs. Coley and Jackson, “The Minstrel and the Mald,” will provide a ple ing musical episode; Dwyer an: Orma, a hokum combination, in “Two Extremes of Fun”; Barto and Melvin, in athletics polished to a fine art, and Jason and Harrigan, a pair of pretty irls, with & piano wnd some fetchs songs. arming little Constance Binney, the stage star, will be plotured {n her most important photoplay, "A Bill_of Divorcement.” being a screen (Continued on Secoud Page.d Shubert-Belasco | ‘Coming Attractions { NATIONAL—Frank Craven in| | “The First Year.” ! To the New National Theater mext | week, John Golden will send, fresh |from an all-winter run in Chicago, !the Frank Cravem comedy hit, “Th | First Year,” which before its Chi engagement amused cap: ences at the Little Theater, New York, for two years. And not only will Mr. Craven appear in the lead- ing role, but he will be surrounded by the same caast which has been continuously identified with this comedy sinco the night of its pre- |miere—which has been declared one of the flnest acting ensembles th has graced the stage for many sons. “The First Year” ig comedy of small-town writing of which Mr. Craven is credited with employing a real | genius of observation. It concerns | those little griefs and joys, the smal triumphs and exasperations that are enacted every day on a million American hearths, with high lights of fun and humor. The piece has been staged by Win- chell Smith, and the ecast, in addi- tion to Mr. Craven, Inciudes Tim | Murphy, Jane Ellison, Leila Bennett, Lyster ' Chambers, ' Alice Owens, Merceita, Femonde. James Bradbury Harry Leighton and eor. Wright, jr. POLI'S—Pauline Frederick— *“The Guilty One.” After a successful tour beginning last August and Including New York, | Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, and other important cities, Pauline F‘rpd-l erick will come to Poll's Theater next week, under the direction of A. H. Woods, in her first spoken drama | in several vears, “The Gullty One.” The play is in three acts, by Michaeal Morton,” author of “The Yellow Ticket.” and Peter Traill. It i9 described an arresting and | compelling story of a young couple caught In the emotional maelstrom of London after tha armistice. The period of adjustment finds them un- adjusted and drifting, and they are saved from a catastrophe by the | heroto measures of the husband. It | is Miss Fredericks' first Spoken drama since her success in “Innocent” at the Eltinge Theater in 1914. Her supporting compaany includes Charles Waldron, Charles Dalton, Henry Warwick, Noel Lesiie, Lthel Intropidi and Florence Edne THE PRESIDENT—“The Gold- Diggers.” For the week beginning next Sun- day, April 22, the President Theater will present Wanda Lyon and George Barnes, with a big cast of Pre favorites, in “The Gold-Diggers, famous David Belasco success, in | which Ina Claire appeared for nearly | two years in New York, and which is | regarded as one of the greatest Be- iasco hits of recent years COSMOS—Ta Petite Revue. A gorgeous scenie, song and dance offering, ‘La Petite Revue,” will headline the Cosmos Theater bill n week. It Is beautifully staged and costumed and in other respects ranks| high in the entertainment field. . With it will come a supporting bill including Duncan and Joyce dances and musical trim: Barri of striking personalit entertaining powers, and Beck and Haynes. in “Her Guardian, ogethe with Gladys Walton’'s latest iver photopla: he Love Letter, ch: ing sto: d a_ three-act life, in the JO matter how ma nected with an enterprise, movement, there can usvall found the name of one person, or per haps a small group. who is res ble for the conception and the b ing of the affair. Such has proved to be the case with the American Na- tional Theater, a new theater ven- ture which makes its bow to the country Monday night at Poli's The- ater with the production of “As You Like It.” A wonderful production, as to cast, scenic_and costume investi- ture, and rendition is promised by those who purvey the advance news. The beginning will be auspiclous enough, if the signs do not fail; whether the purpose will be accom- | plished or not remains to be seen. Indications are that the rocks that have wrecked so many of these en- terprises have been removed from the start. From this new movement. contrary to most of the others, is not a rebelilon; it is a movement within the established theater, that is, it is| sponsored by fiftcen of the leading theatrical producers of the country, | under the guidance of ~Augustus | Thomas, their executive chairman. Mr. Thomas, who seems to be main- | pring, says: | “I have been associated directly or| indirectly with most of the few at-| tempts for a National or Art Theater | in New York, made in the city in the ¥ names are con or a Jusi- thirty-eight years 1 have been there. I belleve I was the first man who was asked to become associated with the New Theater, now known as the Century. It was too big for its pur- pose; some of us knew it before it was built and consequently did not enter into the project. But that is past. “There have been several attempts since. One I remember, was inaugur- ed by the same public-spirited men who bulit the Century or New The- ater. But their plan for financing was not sound, theatrically. They expected too much to be done with the money_at hand. Bricks and mor- tar weighed the project down. “Then one time the American Acad- emy of Arts and Letters wanted to do something for diction in America. Willlam Gillette and myself Were ap- pointed as a committes to devise means. After a great deal of thought we concluded that the best way would be through the theaters of the coun- try. We knew that it would be good publicity, but little else to award a medal each year and pin that on the coat of some actor who possessed good fiction. We thought of some way of organizing the little theaters throughout the country. But that would not help us unless we could centralize the movement, have a source. *“The greatest problem for the little theater is plays; the little fellow can- not afford to pay royalties for the current successes. So we thought of ing the theatrical powers for the use of & certain play every year that would show good diction to America and pass that play on free of royalty to the little groups of players. That was 1921. I mention that because it was before I had been asked to as- sume the executive chairmanship of the Producing Managers' Assoclation. “Then we began to interest the uni- versities. There are several notable groups in_the universities of the country., The universities responded readily, and the thing began to take shape. The plan was for & central production In New York, with the stage manager or director of the local group coming to New York to study the play, then golng back to hisgroup and endeavoring to reproduce what e saw sud learned i New York positive “personali | company STRAND—*“Seven Honey Boys.” Memories of minstrel days wiil be offered next week at the Strand, the “Seven Ho: Boys,” late tures of “Honcy Boy strels,” head the program. Th. is composed of minstrel stars who have made thousands of theatergoers happy with their comedy and A minstrel first part. songs dances with a bit of yodeling com- prise the offering of these blackfaco funsters. Billy Ber: return in ace Leona will . and His Fare Harry Mason & Company in a char: ter comedy, tting the Mones Paul and Georgia Hall in “Character sfons with Musical Sketches aymond Pike, “That Kapering In dances and juggies ra Kimball Young and s will be pictured in Woman of Bronze.” ard and Gi abby Tohn Y—"“Follies of the Day.” fest is promised er mext we “Follies of traction. of snap numbers are from_ t . noted “Zieg be the revue is made u music and dancin spectacular settl studios of Joseph Urba feld Follies” scene creator. Grant wrote the musical score an Seymour Felix staged the danc kpecialities. Barney Gerard himse!f wrote the book and Iyrics Shakespeare Society's Spring Play. The Shakespear Society's spt production of “Twelfth Night,” whic will be made April 27 at Gonzaga College Theater, will offer two dis tinct variations from the usual pre sentation. The principal one ls keeping the original balance of th characters in the play. The star system in the commercial theaters has had a tendency to i fluence the shortening of Shake speare’s plays 8o that the cutting ts every part but that of the ar. It gives one character undue eight and reduces others that should be of equal importance, least i some Scenes, almost to inslgnific: This is really detrimental to the lead ing role, as it reduces the foil intend ed to help bring out the main char. ter. The star system also re: the supporting plavers to und till they Titel tral background for the In the Shakespeare Soclety ever, the play, not the pla frst’ importance, and the manag ment states that in this productic the. scene. for example, depicting ti first meeting of Lady Oliv Viola. disguised as a pai the two the equality of impo intended. The scene will not and Lady Olivia will be p Th greater eeder” to Viola portunity here is e Viola's, and Miss 2 lowed full swee diffe the commercial t Le second i proposes is in e The story A shores, and haps more approp: Elizabethan England, Shakespeare put all own lfetime. T brother and sister, and Seamen W be Greek, as is usual For the performance College Theater the com by Walter W. Bec leading man of avers, who plays Mal Owens Wilecox. who plays duction is directed ress is per that of it Gonzaga ¥ will be the well the R Augustus Thomas Talks of The American National Theater tior Theatric: my These trained producin great impetus to ti appropriated the mone the first step—an ini produc A committes of the managers decide upon the play, “As You Like It.” No being burdened by economic consid erations, we were not limited to & budget required of a sound financi undertaking. We wanted to do the thing as creditably as humanly pos sible. The director was chosen ani the cast engaged. Now it comes to our first bow. Even if this initia attempt does not succeed it does not mean the end of venture; §ghts are seldom won in the first rourd. “It_has been Shakespeare have been Juliets no Rosalind for s T for the future are not set but will b formed, suiting the fortunes of th first sp. We hope to do Shakespearean comedy as this is launched. Then part of t plan would call for a tour of this to the largest cities and perhaps a second company. But this second company would perhaps re- vive one of the best American plays. It would be seen in New York and then sent on tour. Bu those plans will be announced later. “On our board of dircctors are such men as Otto Kahn and Whitney War- ren, cholas Murray Butler, Willlam Lyon Phelps, Brander Mathews, George Picrce Baker, James W. Gor , Arthur Hobson Quinn. Tho names of the theatrical marn- agers are given clsowh Many men cager to ‘become Amei - fcan National Theater movement are not listed as directors. The full list follows: Winthrop Ames, George Baker, David Belasco, Willia Brady, George Broadhiurst, Richard Burton, _Nicholas Murray Butler, George' M. Cohan, Samuel Harden Church, Owen Davis, John Drew, A. L. Erlanger, Danlel Frohman, Charles Mills Gayley, James W. Gerard, Wil- liam Gilletté, John Golden, Sam H. Harrls, Willlam Harrls, jr.; Arthur Hopkins, Otto H. Kahn, Frederick H. Koch, Brander Mathews, Henry Mil- ler, George C. Nicolal, Brock Pembor- ton, Willlam Lyon Phelps, Channing Pollock, Arthur Hobson Quinn, Franklin_Haven Sargent, Henry W. Savage, Edgar Selwyn, Lee Shubert, Otis - Skinner, Booth' Tarkington, Augustus Thomas, Henry Van Dyke, Whitney Warren, L. Lawrence Weba ber and A. H. Woods. Craig Biddle Appears. (CRAIG BIDDLE, one of tho younger members of the famous Philadele phia family, whose ambition to bes come a film actor has been recroded recently In the newspapers, appeara as a collegian in one of the collega dance scenes filmed by William do Mille for his Paramount production, “Only 38." The dancetook place in the library of a university constructed for tha purpose at the studlo. Elliott Dexter| appears as the professor, while May/ McAvoy, Robert Agnew and others) are among the fun-loving undergrad uates. Lofs Wilson and George Faw cett are also featured members of theb casly I ] Piercs