Evening Star Newspaper, April 16, 1923, Page 28

b8 AMUSEMENTS NATIONAL—Ed Wynn, in “The Perfect Fool.” “The Perfect Fool” is an apt title for the musical fantasy featuring Ed | Wynn, king of comedians, at the Na- | tional if the approval of a first-night audlence emitting gales of spontane- ous laughter, eager attention to every word: and leaving the theater with smiling faces may be taken as an in- dication of success. The Natlonal Theater was filled last night with such an audience. And it was an au- dience which proved that edgy jok and vulgar actions or suggestia re not necessary to side-splitting enjoy- ment. The outstanding feature of the entire production is its cleanness and the real wittiness of the fun. 12d Wynn himself is not only an inimitable clown in this production, but a pianist of rare ability. He is also credited with the authorship of the book, lyrics and music, which are equal to any follies production. Probably the most hilarious of all the comic: situations into which Mr. Wynn allowed his quaintly garbed xelf to get was the skit called “The World’s Worst Acrobats” in which he, with John Dale and True Rice. give a priccless burlesque of acrobatic stunts. Second in popularity with the audience scemed to be “Something Different,” a burlesque on household inventions that would prove a fitting gecompaniment to Donald Ogde Stewar.s book on “Good Behavior.” \ clever mind-reading sketch mysti- tied the audience and provided a let- down in the snappy. quick-fire tempo characteristic of the entire Show, which made succeeding quips and anties seem even more spontaneous and funny. Pictorially “The delightful, Wwith two tentious settings, “A and “A Daisy Anita Furman, whose Javanese dances were a fea- ture of the “Greenwich Village Fol- iies” first editio e interest- ing interpretative dances in the first of these The song sung in the dalsy scene is the motive song of the product and_was heard in hummed s along the street after the show. B The costumes are all artistic and dainty. Some old-fashioned costumes of 1850—particularly a bathing suit and riding habit—are very interest- ing as compared with the modern stumes. The chorus is good to look upon and dances in well-trained manner and full of life. The voices are fresh and pleasing. A quartet of older women sings popular melodie: in a manner to win much applaus and a trio of young Japanese, a fea- ture of Mr Wynn's entertainments for gave well- harmonize S selections. Later they danced charmingly. The two their geisha dance are especially picturesque. All in all, with its many facets of interest, this is the funniest show that's been in town for some time. PRESIDENT—'Six- The President Players opened their third week of “Six-Cylinder Love comedy of automobiles and moderate incomes, by Willlam Anthony McGuire «ut the President last night before an enthuslastic audience. Headed by George Barnes and M Wanda Lyon, the cast proved itself entirely equal to the lively possibili- ties of the play, evoking rounds of epplause and peals of laughter. Harry Shutan assumed one of the most im- portant roles he has yet been given Tiere, when he took the part of Rich- ard Burton, supplanting John Car- mody, who was transferred to the Brooklyn company of Arthur Leslie Smith and Henry Duffy. Harry Man- vers, the stage director took ‘up the part of janitor, formerly played by Shutan The story of the v around the troubles of two families who try to maintain an automobile. and it takes them through dire diffi- culty to & happy ending. Music by Meyer Goldman's Orchestra proved a popular part of the evening’s entertainment. BELASCO—"East of Suez.” The lure of the far. east with its passionate appeal to the senses and The cold douche of logic found in the fatalism of the orient are artis tically combined in “East of Suez. the melodrama of Somerset Maugham, which has thrilled New York and London audiences and which opened for the first time in Washington last night at the Shubert-Belasco Theater. The production here is admirable. George Marshall is to be congratu- lated. not only upon the selection of the cast, headed by Miss Hazel Dawn, but upon the effective settings and the faithful attention to detail which add very largely to the success of the play. The opening scene—a pro- logue, <o called—is a colorful picture of a street in the ancient city of Peking. Kipling’s famous poem, a line of which gives the play Its name, is sung by Austin Shaw, dressed in the uniform of a naval officer. Beggars. priests, men, women and children pass and repass; a dancer. nude but for sketchiest kind of veils, with sin- uous grace performs for the street crowd. “East of Suez” is the story of an Vurasian girl—daughter of an Eng lish father and a Chinese mother— tragic story such as may be expected of & half caste. Educated in Eng- land, and beautiful, at the age of scventeen she returns to China—to her Chinese mother, pennilets. When the play opens the girl has become & woman. There has been a number of men in her past—among them a wealthy Chinaman, educated in Eu- rope and the United States. She is intent upon marrying an Englishman who has fallen deeply in love with her. His best friend, it turns out, i the man whom the girl first when she returned to China a young girl. / Always in’ the background is hov- ering Lee Tai Cheng, the wealthy Chinese to whom her mother sold he He represents China, constantly cl ing in upon the unfortunate half caste. Perfect Fool” is unusually pre- Place in Java” ylinder Love.' play Tevolves st of Suez” is a temse, gripping melodrama, a story that holds the audience in breathless interest. The denouement, unexpected on the part of the half English, half Chinese Daisy, is the direct resuit of the clash between ideals of the orient and the occident. Miss Dawn has an opportunity to prove her versatility as Daivy. The part calls for emotional acting of a high type, and Miss Dawn's portrayal is without a false note. Clarke Sil- vernail, as Lee Tai Cheng; Henry Daniell, as George Conway, the lover; Jennie 'Eustace, as Amah, the Chi- nese mother; Fred Raymond, jr.. as Henry Anderson, the English hus- band, and Gerald Oliver Smith pro- vide ‘admirable support. Mildred Le Gue, the dancer in the prologue, is both graceful and beautiful. STRAND—Marshall Montgomery. With Marshall Montgomery, noted ventriloquist, and the Fletcher-Clay- ton revue as headline attractions on the vaudeville program, Nazimova, playing the part of Nora Helmer in Henrik Ibsen’s “Doll House,” as the motion picture feajure, the bill at the Strand Theater this week s quite entertalning. Montgomery performs all the tricks of mis irade, which means everything accomplished by past masters of ven- iriloquism. He was enthsulastically received. Briming over with a cluster 1. vivacious young women, the offer- ing of the Fietcher-Clayton company is one of the best variety numbers seen at the house for years. Popular songs, excellent dancing and much zowd humor abound throughout. LaZar and Dale, with their offering, “The Bagooma Hunters” have lost none of their laughter-provoking an- tics since their former appearance at the Strand. Francis and Wilson open the show with a snappy comedy acro- batic offering, and Lydia and Arthur Wilson, in "Sweethearts a la Carte,” sing many catchy songs. Starting with a proposal and ending with a wedding this act is sufficient to give those who have found the “happy state” a fallure food for thought. Mme. Nazimova, in the famous Is- ben play, s surrounded by a capable cast, headed by Alan Hale, whose work in “The Four Horsemen" ls still and Alla remembered. The picture was made under the personal supervision of Charles Bryant, husband of the noted star. GARRICK—George Marshall's Comedians. The one “ugly duckling” in an all- round excellent line of theatrical and photoplay entertainment provided in Washington yesterday. bobbed up at the. Shubert-Garrick in company with George Marshall's comedians. It isn't worthy of comment, however deserv- ing it may be of the condemnation of refined people. Those who like that sort of stuff know what it is and will find it without advertising it. Ph9t6plays. RIALTO—"“Brass.” Girls, even you who have girls of your own, go to the Rialta this week, without fail, to see “Brass screen version of Charles G. Norris' well known story. It is one of the best photoplays ever produced—a real play. A serious mistake has been made. probably, in the exploitation of th picture in stressing the subject of divorce, for the sto is not one of thos abom bl off-color products emphasizing wicked and forbidden things. Rather is it a story th brings true womanhood in all its beaut to the front, and the poor, foolish little flapper, impersonated so jadmirably b M. who gets a double dose of is in herself a lesson to womankind, from the youngest to t oldest The mother-in-law, also, whose silly pet- ting and humoring of her spoiled daughter robbed her of a good hus- band and started her fairly on the road fo woe, is rather a human sort of mother after all, even if she is a bit overpicturec There would b { but little use in ad- ng you to see “Brass” just les: liat was taught young ldwin in marrying a “flashy 2 against protest, because he did not know whether they had tastes in common or n The lesson might do them good, but, pshaw, they know it all already. Those who have weathered the storm of vears jn peaceful, contented married life may find here and there a bit of pain, perhaps a tear, espe- Gially 1f any of their girls or boys have lived their lives regardless of the experience and advice of their parents sut_all who play will come feeling that they fully entert: worth the cc Philip’s P g0 to see the photo- away with the certain have been delight- and that it was well nts, especially mother, had always cherished hope that Philip would marry neighbog's daughter, Rosen: Philip met Marjori cent flapper of the typ pite his ing. Philip married her and they w to live with her other. «Marjori even after the baby came, still want- ed to flap, and a par- ticularly wild cabaret being her idea of home and heaven. She returned one night, or rather early one morn- ing. a bit intoxicated after her night of revelry and neglect of her baby, and her husband saw the cabaret Romeo try to kiss her Words fol- lowed and a bit of violence. At any rate, the divorce came, nd the hus- band was left with his baby. ~ One of splendid women, of which e 50 many in the world, only - i is dimmed by the flappe came )ster mother for® the baby, and it grew to love her. So did Philip. And after a vain attempt on the part of his sister to link him up with a s ciety flapper, who needed the money. the foster mother and came to him, to his who really loved him, 1 It is a pretty but_not jtame or mushy. it jdrama, and it is wonderfully played by all who have a part pecially Monte Blu as the band; Marie Prevost, as Marjori Irene Rich, as the th “Mrs. G.":; Margaret s the mother of Philip, and Vera Lewis, as the mother-in-law t is and worthy one, but it is impossible, with the fleeting glance afforded on the screen, to remember it. It might help 2 bit if the operator would allow just a fraction of timeslonger, both to enable the audience fo get the cast and also to read the more important of the explanatory “subtitles.” ther’s pl th t 1 in it, hus. COLUMBIA—Pola Negri, in “Bella Donna. The deép, wide lobby lumbia Theater at was literally packed with patient humanity, waiting until the equally packed theater coyld empty for the 9 o'clock show, to see Poia Negri's | first American photoplay production And when 9 o'clock came the 1- & crowd poured into seatand was content even with nding room Thus the box office testified coloss: was not a success, how h the American sc version of the Hichens' novel—long since admirably dramatized for the stage, nor its Amedican direction, nor eve its Amer n production, had any right to share. It was an un- mistakable tribute to Pola Negri, and those who had scen the spléndid ‘tress in “Passion” must have yearn- ed for the return of Lubitsch and for the de-Americanization of beautiful Pola, at least so far as her “make-over” was concerned. True, one or two mammoth scenes have been beautifully but Pola Negr “Passion” {s missing. They have lit- erally “wiped her out” with their “wonderfully mproved American mak p. Now and then, in spite of her disguise, glimpses of her irrepre sible art breaks through—but that's all. There is but little of the poetic for the dran ic spirit of the exotic story left in the photoplay. Tts di- rector has indelibly stamped it with the _trix(h* mark of mediocrity, even Lubitsche gave the royal sign manual of art to “Passion.” If such a thing were believable, one would be tempt- ed almost to think that Pola's first American production had been staged for a failure, and vet it is such a pro- duction as has been ch n to chal- lenge Buropean picture art. onway Tearle fills in as the wily ‘Sheik,” Conrad Nagle is ver ‘Qv‘.f;;‘l as the poisoned husband and Lois Wilson lends all her beauty and art to the portrayal of the girl he jilted. W. K L. METROPOLITAN—The Pilgrim,’ With Charles Chaplin. Religion has always D with the theatrical world. 1 opera with a wonderful score was discarded because it called for ‘tha jmere appearance of Mary, the M 1of Christ. Yet Charlie (‘hil]!lil&?“!‘l:: undoubted clown genius of the films, has undertaken a’ burlesque on the Protestant minister that, while unde- mnb'!'y funny, did not seem to “set well” with the capacity audience that filled Metropolitan Theater yesterday afternoon to see this comical artist. True, the laughter was loud and fre- quent, but it had a quality to it that Wwas not care-free, that seemed to have a shame-faced echo. In plot, “The Pilgrim” is transpar- ent to the point of being ludicrously obvious. Of coursg, one does not ex- pect much of a plot with Chaplin, as he always depends upon his individnal mimicry to carry over whatever oriz- inality ‘his picture may contain, but it does not seem probable that this pic- ture will hold rank with “Shoulder Arms.” “A Dog's Life” and “The Kid" —undeniably his masterpieces. One cannot expect a masterpiece every time, of course, and in this film there are all the familiar Chaplin tricks and touches of pathos that have made |this slap-stick comedian great. The ¢éream of the jest is his burlesque in- terpretations of the Bible stor” of Da- ! vid and Goliath, i In brief, the picture tells of an es- caped conviet, who steals a_parson's clothes while the latter is in swin ming. He then takes a train for Devil's Gueh—“somewhere on the of the Co- al | ever, in that { o’clock last night | the’ photographed. | the great actress of | | | i i i i i i i { $ | big THE EVENING MONDAY, APRIL 16, *1923. STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C MUTT AND JEFF—There Is Something to this Idea of Jeff’s. YES, SIR SIDNGY, My -PaTeEssTed CHAR 1S JUusT LKa ANy OTHGR CHAIR ONW 1T HAS A PUSH-BUTTON oM THg RIGHT HAND SiDe! r He arrives Just a hazardous duel on horseback, peccts @ minister for [ with the animals on the very brink the little church and is, of cow of a precipice, contribute elements of mistaken for the real minister and itement and adventure to the ap- treated to all the cordiality and hos- i ve story which is the prin- Pitality of the community. ~ An in- snsistent point is the incident of wrefully higden botile of arly in the picture, whereas, later, town is said to be still thriving preprohibition day The hero falls_in love, as usuzl, with Edna Furviance, saves her and her mother from a thief's tricks, and is taken off | the sheriff and dropped over the an border to work out his own ion other picture on the program, qually of mely Mexican bord as the town e comedy, “Hot Water”; and Topics of the Day alty complete i News whisky. | Pathe and an the program CENTRAL—Barbara Ta Marr, in “Poor Men's Wives.” “Poor Men’s Wives,” a Gasnier pro- duction, was shown yesterday at Crandall's Central Theater to large owds The . standara | is Wil Brothers' “Wonders of the sunken treasure | story i one of sharp contras amson between the lives of the two shop day Ro with some is an small-town with in re- the admir of " the Just as Dr down to his life-long task, the oppor- tunity comes to sc dignified medical men who hang around rich homes and don't do much of anything. That's the thread of the sto but it is told with varia- | tions that make Harold Lloyd pic- | tures distinet and original, and et it be forgotten—funny uits of Faith™ vhile not so is of the same type of photo- “Dr. Jack” and should he most skeptical that Wi -rs is just as comical when s nothing as when he is h out the cowboy philosophy over the foothg in the “Follies.’ LINCOLN—*“The Christian.” he Ch an.” Maurice Tour- neur's screen production for Goldwyn f Hall Caine’s famous novel of “The Christian,” was shown yesterday at Lin n Theater the feature the t four days of this week. with Richard Dix, Mae Busch and Fhyllis Haver in featured role fhe story of Storm, tion community in is a deener and Mis, scenes of | girls, one who marries for money ers of the ocean fascinated |and & gay time, the other for a home audience Lulu McGrath, a|and happiness. Each grow ashington gi proves lovely |jealous of the other—one misses the mermaid in this picture. happiness of home; the other longs for the the night . : life that money The re- PALACE—Mabel Normand, in | it 'is' it both housenolds come “ “ | dangerously near the rock Suzanna. The “Artists’ Ball travesty with Picturesque southern California of | modern jazz trimmings of the anclent a long-past the background | Roman revals_—is one of the scenic ¢ o Matel Normands lat. | features. Barbara La Marr offers Suzanna,” Mabel Normand's lat-| convincing portraval, the young wif. irring me Swash-buckling | o 4 taxi driver, who is tempted by b Svoms, Jfalt S |herformerams tep out” into flowers to their to- | Smart societ trous re- reador heroes and peon slaves work | il iers comed r and idle in carefree happiness on Dristics comeds : Shalr Hasters sanaho. Pi “:l'l'l“:f\l I1‘.:u,nul,.|;. r: th(v lkum,:;-;lm:. Suzanna belongs to the latter class |4 a pipe organ recital complete and much prefers idling to working. | the Pill which holds for the week. Dressed as @ Mexiean senor in velvet | — i oro _jacket, with a! CRANDALL'S—"Dr. Jack” and and stumbles rides on the| “Fruits of Faith.” same horse with Ramon, eldest son! of Don Fernando Reyes, owner of | TWo pictures. which peccks the rancho. or lavs s on_her |ago presented one of the most whole- ittle black cock. pitting him in asome bills of the season—"Dr. Jack AEOE SEanbt 8 mitie ine S mice with Harold Lloyd. and “Fruits of e e i Faith” with Will Rogers—reappeared S Lie A e larat at Crandall's Theater, 9th and E Rl e gren 2 streets. ' yesterd fternoon for dnges Lo evmss e jand ocal three-day run for the guests. The eve can searcely |00 ictures nave been fave e her lightning movements as | oot PLOTUTCS ave, be she whirls and stamps to the twang | paym wil b done of Spanish guitars. and she seems | they furnish a. tepe never to pause for breath. Eager|inar comes once in yuths cast their sombreros before | Jnck 18 the Story of & each hoping she will ch his. | Dhysic who i overflowing decides her p: and | henove and love of d takes that of Ramon and they finish the dance together. Those are the gay s of the in which the spec remind- of the old Mabil nd. who Smiled her way through numbe es, keeping her audiences ual laughter. There “Suzi however, 1 side to has and th obedienc ive up his little hides her t Zives her mission bel which give ness. A very w h his inherent o course but o sweetheart smile | wed mise hand to a toll for little pr nexpected however, b g8 the tu to max. and Suzanna and Ramon find that the world dark. after a There are some exceptionally heau- tiful effects in the film—gypsy fires burning :at fiesta time, crum- bling mill wheels slowly marking time beside an old mission, and sun- baked plains stretched out as far as eye can reach. A thrilling b ght and a ride across the desert, foliowed She and per turn seenie J the N CAVAVAUAAEY, VA VA TA X/ TAXI CO.C Private Appearing and Richly Appointed Taxi the New Way Dodge Bros. “* Sedan FOR EVERY OCCASION SHOPPING BUSINESS Type “pA» PLEASURE FUNERALS, WEDDINGS, ETC. The extra satisfaction of riding in these cars costs you nothing—the fare is the same'as you pay otherwise. Per hour, $2.50; per trip, 30 cents for the first two-fifths of a mile, and 10 cents for each additional two-flft}\s.f Just pho‘ne WEST 84 Mt. Pleasant Branch, 2400 16th St.—Col. 9600 NEW TAXI SERVICE CO. 1140 21st Street N.W. intensely | for which he gets nothipg but| Jack is preparing to setile | re over one of these | con- | ‘Young clergyman, who cannot with-|their new production, at the Belasco | stand Quayl known drama i us Stor: The ac th w Jimmie and 1 tions. mus The Ha Universit i the acting 3 hed and convincing sort.. { BELASCO— morrow Night. Au e love @ beautiful young actres vherever known. and M on_ at i Adams new Christie comedy al _inte Louis N. Brown are other attr *Tal sty Pudd will pre is —By BUD FISHER. (Copyright, 1938, by H. C. Fischer, Trade Mark res. U. 8. Pat. of) Ton EDISON SAMS THe PUsH-BUTTOM IDEA :\S A CORWER™ You 60TTADO 3 PUSH THe T You CAR SLIP T wnbeR, (THE BaD owt oF THE I | at the piano and her accom COMMUNlTY CONCERT | added much to Mme. Low's s ¥ ¢ the|and was obliged to respond THe\twenty ulnthy concertico | enthusiastic recall. Communt Community Music Association’s series | o 0T gl cnon of last night, at the Central High School | awrence, and selections b senter, featured .Rosa Low, the New ' Washington Community —Orchest York soprano, who received an ova- """"3‘\,‘ l"! "”'_{::;::Yl;s V. Ban tion. Her beautiful voice charmed|' Tpe thirtieth free com the capacity audience. She is a singer | cert will be given next Sunda at rare vocal attainments and her de- | at Central High Communit _———— | livery is exceptional in ease and flu- 3 ency. Mme. Low's rendering of dra The first chapter of the Daught matic passages completely satisfied, | of the American ‘l'.u\'n!u' on t and the exquisite lighter numbers formed in China, and the secor were execu with grace and deli- the far east, was recent nge isted Mme. Low | ed in Shanghai he feels for ( Theater, tomorrow night, under the direction of Laurence Schwab, New York theatrical producer. Boxes for this_performance been taken by Mrs. Harding, B. McLean, Mrs. C. C. Wil- Irs. Gardner Minot, Mrs. Dal- rew, Mry, Charles MacVeagh, Robert Woods Bliss and Mrs. | William Phillips , 48 books are read or Richard Dix is cast Busch as Glory. is tempestuous Iways of the fin- ; have t ae Mrs. me: in “Hurry Up,” a the Kinograms srpretation supplie - |» Exactly. From, the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Our idea of absolute monotony is money that is inexhaustible, love that is mever fickle, married life that is always harmonious and life that is | | | ke a Brace,” To- | be of Harvard i | | e e il i S to T Good— “Toasted Cocoanut Vanilla” A combining of popular flavors that creates a new delicacy—baked Corby One-pound - Family Layer Cake The dainty layers are crowned with flaky cocoanut — toasted to ‘a rich golden brown—that gives promise of the treat that is in store for you. In this economical size you never have to waste; nor serve Cake grown stale. It provides just enough for generous helping all around—and makes possible a fresh Cake each day. 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