Evening Star Newspaper, December 2, 1923, Page 61

LENORE ULRIC National 3 Stars and P By phflam]er ]ohnson. HE spirit of the time is arche- ological. *“Hark from the tombs” is the motto not only | of the Egyptalogist, but also of the | musical show producer. A list of | names on the “Sally” program long enough to start a small city direc- tory mentions everybody from Zieg- feld to the man who made the shoes | jor the ballet: yet the inspiring genius of the play is r from a note past only to a few by the | fugitive lines: “She is the darling of my heart And she lives down in our alley.” Let it serve in lieu of an epitaph in surroundirgs of sparkling gayety, jor in some respects " s more irivolous than the them- selves. Follies * x | Says the biographer: “His whole | life a continued struggle with poverty, and it has been said thot | at last, in a fit of despair, he com mitted suicide.” This was the fate of Henry Carey, London poet and musician, a couple of centuries ago, | author of “Sally in Our Alley,” and, according to some authorities, of “God Save the King.” England owes much in its world esteem to the in- fluence of its literature. Some day it will be moved to add to its rever- ent solicitudes an anthem seeking divine protection for its poets, for many of them have been roughly treated. * * % * As a matter of fact, had the late and impractical Mr. Carey been present he would probably hivebeen a disturbing influence in the cal- culations of Mr. Edward Royce, who “staged” the production, whatever that means. If he is responsible tor some of the quips and sure-fire | episodes he is entitled to all possible respect as an old stager. * k% * It is after all on personalities and not on ingenuities or. originalities that “Sally” depends for the grateful recognition it Was had as a de luxe episode in spectacularity. ‘You may embellish your spectacle'as you will, but the shades of Humpty Dumpty and Columbine must hover about it or it will lack its true inspiration. * K kK First mentioned in satire, the ab- sence of plot in musical comedy has become a fundamental ~principle. ‘When the curtain rises on “Sally” a large number of . toy. balloons are exploded. The brisk popping has nothing to do with the case, but the scene constitutes a fitting prologue. Throughout the play the dialogue is like that.- But thanks to our seli- sacrificing ancestors, there are enough ideas easily at hand to ani-| mate any number of carloads of costumes and' scenery. It is not what the people say or 'sing that counts; it is what they do. The heart warmed in genial -memory glow when the dainty heroine turned at a moment’s notice from the duties of dishwasher to those of a queen of fashion. And the young man who loved her whether displaying her sleeves rolled up or her stock- ings rolled down—how he brought back the noble, protest of the hero of the melodrama, “What care I for high society! I will marry the rag- picker's. daughter!” And the aged sport, whose shiny silk hat is sat on and who gets his feet-hung up in the sungs #_ladder; - the waiter Spang’les‘ { who throws dishes all ‘over the stage and ifamiliarly joshes the guests avhether in the guise of a serving man or a nobleman; the dainty dittics about “clouds with sil- ver linings" and the “social game”— they were all as welcome as turkey on Thanksgiving! It was the mag- netic vitality of human presence that gave polish to the heirlooms of theatrical pewter and made them gleam more brightly than brand-new | silverware. Leon FErrol is a real. comedian, | omplishments beyond | gifted with a that which still remains prominent in his stock in trade. the ability to double his legs under him like a folding hatrack. And then the cast includes Walter Catlett, who is quite the most entertainingly voluble comedian since Charley Evans was a book agent. Marilyn Miller is a dainty danseuse and a charming ingenue. It is refreshing to sece clever people in so gorgeous a set- ting of scenery. E R It was reserved for the Shubert Garrick to bring forth something new in idea. “The Red Hawk” as it fluttered through the advance an- nouncements . looked like a melo- drama in the distance. On a little closer inspection it resembled a phoenix that had arisen from the ashes of Stevenson's “Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde.” On complete acquaint- ance it took on an identity all its own; a rare bird, a specimen of ab- solute drama, worthy in the course of its future career of the musical embellishments such as have been vouchsafed old tragedies as offered by the San Carlos Opera Company. Poet that he was, Stevenson did not trust his public to follow him into abstruse metaphysics. When he told the story of a struggle between the good and bad that are in every man he introduced-a medicine to account for the change, both moral and phy sical, displayed as angel or demon took possession of the man. * Kk k¥ The play on which George Broad- hurst and Mrs, Trimble Bradley have been working so closely dur- ing its engagement here uses the dual personality, but leaves itself frankly to the poetic- intelligence of the audience. the struggle be- tween good and bad there is no me- chanical device. One impulse or the other takes full control of personal- ity, even to the extent of effacingall recollection of the other self. The responsibilities placed upon the actor who essays the title role, now a priest and now a_ ruffian, are enormous. = Mr. ‘McKay Morris meets them with a proficiency. noth- ing short. of astonishing. He has temperament, but with it restraint. He perceives the dangerous moment that may make villainy seem absurd or benevolence mawkish, and pro- ceeds ‘with secure step to the final curtain, which holds the thrill of a new note in tragedy; an expiation more terrible than that of voluntary death; the vow of silent solitude, ‘That the good has conquered in the man there can be no doubt, but the tragedy is inexorable, and' there is a. deep note of solemnity in the clang of the door as it cloisters him forever from human fellowship that reverberates in memory as ‘it did through the auditorium. * ok k * It was wholly inartistic.of the au- diences. to linger to applaud after the play was ended. But it doesn’t WASHINGTON, D. C, BURTON HOLMES National happen oiten, and in this case the demonstration was more pardonable than usual. So great a triumph, both in authorship and acting, could not pass without a tribute, and the ! customs of the playhouse have as vet devised no other way to enable the public to show its gratitude. * % E D, Pr wdvance of “Sally”; in service a vet- eran, in efficiency a marvel of up-to- date pep. Another member of the Zicgfeld forces is George Lederer, who when he saw “Sally” must have recalled “The Lady-Slavey,” one of the noted Casino successes. * % ox % A glimpse behind the scenes oi “The Red Hawk”: McKay Morris, nervous, yet similing and satisfied; George Broadhurst, cool, collected, yet as earnestly energetic as when he produced his juvenile venture, ‘What Happened to Jones,” at the Columbia Theater in this city; Mrs. Trimble Bradley, outwardly serene, yet inwardly a-flutter as she consid- ers a multitude of details relating to the performance. *_k ® x One of the interested spectators of “The Red Hawk” was Mr. Tumulty, private secretary to former President Wilson. * % x % William Faversham is quoted as saying in Baltimore that he never received, in his entire career, more than three silly letters from girls. He is fortunate. An actor is never taken seriously who permits his press agent to pose him as a mati- ree idol. * % % ¥ Martin _Harvey, who is playing Oedipus Rex, is not unknown in America. He played Sidney Carton in “The Easiest Way,” but to small houses. Henry Miller had beat him to it. * K K K The San Carlos Opera Company has become a Washington institu- tion. It is reaping the benefit of the development of an interest in legi mate music as well as legitimate drama. * * * So long as he is busying him- self with American themes the-sug- gestion is respectfully offered that Mr. John Drinkwater consider the possibilities of a prohibition drama. * K kK Bare legs in the modern ballet have their disadvantages. Poor tle dancing ladies; they have no stockings to hang up on Christmas eve! * K Kk “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” has held its own as an attraction in legitimate time, as only the big films can do. Lon Chaney is the domi- nant figure in the film, which suf- fers only from the fact that circum- stances prevented Victor Hugo from having him in mind when he wrote the_part. Just a Whim. N instance of the whim of a screen star that had a more cheerful re- action on the director was reflected by Gladys Walton during the fiming of “The Wild Party.” High diving and swimming was part of the star's work. Herbert Blache, the director, was dublous. He recalled that in “Sawdust,” an earlier Universal production, in which Miss Walton was starred, she had almost rebelled at the idea of being pulled to the bottom of a tank by a steel wire. But presented with the working script for “The Wild Party” Miss Walton was joyous at the thought of the “water stuff.” Yet it was\ far more dangerous than the tank work in “Sawdust. "Can you beat that?” said Blache. T love to swim and dive,” she an- swered, “and in this picture I haven't ‘any strings on me’ I was afraid of being caught and held under in’ the other picture. o “Just & whim of mine, I guess.” 3 > . was the litterateur in | BOREY TOLSOM Reiths SUNDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 2, 1923. SNm % and - CILpA LE ; DOT RAWSON * Gaqe{q Current Attractlons At tl'le Theaters Thi.s Weelt. NATIONAL—Lenore Ulric, in “Kiki,” Belasco play. row evening. BELASCO—William Faversham, Opens tomorrow evening. POLI'S—“The Covered Wagon,” evening. Opens tomor- in “A Lesson in Love,” comedy. photoplay. Shown tomorrow KEITH'S—Powers’ Dancing Elephants, vaudeville. New show opens tomorrow with matinee. COSMOS—“Juvenile Frolics of 1924, vaudeville. New show opens tomorrow with matince. STRAND—Master Gabriel, in “Captain Kiddo,” vaudeville. this afternoon. Opens GAYETY—Jean Bedini’s “Chuckles,” burlesque.. Opens this after- noon. National—Lenore Ulric in Wyzep e o Kiki. A notable dramatic event will be the presentation, by David Belasco, at the National Theater next week, beginning tomorrow night, of Lemore Ulric, in “Kiki,” which had a run of two years at the Belasco Theater, New York, the longest engagement of any star or play at_that house. Lenore Ulric, in “Kiki," it s conceded, the impish, mischievous and altogether lovable French gamin, has contributed to her cosmopolitan gallery of stage porgraits an even more valuable effort than were her memorable performances of Lewanna, the Indian girl, in “The Heart of Wetona”; the colorful “Tiger or the Chinese girl, Lien Wha, in_“The Son-Daughter.” The original cast that appeared at the Belasco Theater will be presented by Mr. Belasco during the engagement here. It includes Sam B. Hardy, Max Figman, Thomas Findiay, Thomas Mitchell, Cariton Brickert, Harry Burk- hardt, Kuth Gates and Jane Farrell. Belasco—'A Lesson in Love' “A Lesson In Love” by Rudolph Besier and May Edginton, produced by by Lee Shubert and starring the American romantic actor, Willlam Faversham, will be the attraction at the Belasco Theater, this week, start- ing tomorrow-night. Because Beatrice Audley, an attrac- tive young English widow, played by Gllda Leary, refuses to receive one Who has loved outside of matrimony and has suffered the consequences, Capt. Andre Briquet, William Faver- sham, decides to teach her a lesson in life as well as love. Capt. Briquét is a French ex- plorer, who did his bit in éhe war, but pre-eminently he is an idealist in search of love. He finds it when he meets Beatrice Audley, whom he loved at first sight eight years before when he saw her at the races with her first husband. She is the per- sonification of his lofty idealism and he believes her exquisite perfection until he witnesses her icy attitude toward a former friend, who disre- garded soclal laws for a love affair. The climax of the second act is con. siderod to be one of the most thrill- ing love scenes of modern dramatic literature and art Mr. Faversham {s supported by Hugh Buckler, London's famous Drury Lane actor, who {s meeting American audiences .lcr the first time. 2 Poli's—The Cov;red anon “The Covered Wagon," James Cruze’s famous work for Paramount, | will be given its initial Washington | presentation at Poll's tomorrow even- ing, with daily matinees thereafter | excepting Friday. | Certainly the era of 1848-49 is just as’ pleturesque, with its buckskin- clad heroes, its poke-bonneted hero- ines and its dash for Pacific gold and wheatlands, as the times of recon- struction, when the gallant little “colonel” of “The Birth of a Nation” sustafned his first and only defeat by losing his heart to the fair northern- er, Elsle Stoneman. For in 1848-49 a regular fever of pioneering spread over the east and middle west and the urge drqye the returning heroes of the Mexican war to take part in the great American migration over the historio trek known as the Ore- gon trail. Indeed, they hated and loved, fought and quarreled, had hair- breadth escapes and lived life to the fullest as in no"other period of our history. J. Warren Kerrigan makes his comeback to the screen in a southern cavaller role in this “Covered Wag- and Lois Wilson plays opposite in the role of the fair driver of the Wingate prairie schooner. In the old “schooners” or covered wagons Cupid was kept just as busy as he is today in hotel ballrooms or sixty-mile-an-hour parlor cars. There were banjo thrumming and songs of swing and lift to fan romance. Fid- dles and banjos emerged out of the schooners with the players at the evening stoppages, and Virginia reels, round dances and breakdowns set a merry pace. Titanic struggle between man and man also is portrayed in “The Cov- ered Wagon"—attacks by Indians, prairie fire, buffalo hunt, desert pri- vation, crossing of swollen streams, blizzard experiences and a thousand and one other picturesque perils and events that, though dramatically, en- joyable in the. retrospect, were hor- rible in the enduring. One of the first touring orchestras ever heard here will ‘play the score arranged specially for this produc: tion by Hugo Refsenfeld, Keith's—Power’s Dancing Elephants. Christmas month is_ushered in at Kelth’s this week with a bill ranging from jazz music to the dramatic and FAVERSHAM. | ARY Fay Bainter in "The Other Rose.” Davia Bllasco, i asscelation with William Harris, jr., Bainter, in “The Other Rose,” a comedy | by George Middleton, from the French | of Edouard Bourdet, at the National Theater next week, immediately pre- | ceding a New York run. | Miss_Bainter's engagement “The Other Rose,” marks her first cia- tion with Mr. Bela Her role in the { play is eald to fit her perfe She will be supported and a_distinguished company, including | Efie Shannon, Carlotta Monterey, Ern- est Stallard, Maud Sinclalr and An- drew J. Lawlor, jr. “Swedish Ballet.” The Swedish Ballet, which has been appearing with success in Europe since its formation four vears ago and is now appearing at the Century Theater, New York, under the direc- tion of Richard Herndon, is coming to the Shubert-Garrick Theater next week, commencing Monday evening. Wallenberg, -the Swedish minister, Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Townsend and others prominent in ‘Washington society. At the opening performance here one of the ballets presented by Les Ballets Suedeis will be “Within the Quota,” the music. for which was composed by Cole Porter, for several years a prominent member of the American colony in Paris. The de- signer of the setting also is a Yale man and a classmate.of Mr. Porter. Rolf de Mare, general director of Les Ballets Suedois, will bring his entire organization, incluaing a large symphony orchestra, from the The- atre des ChampssElysees, Pars. Jean Borlin, the noted male dancer, and Mile. Ebon Strandin, premiere dan- seuse_of the Royal Opera House in Stockholm, are conspicuous in tne company. Elaborate scenery and unique light- ing feature all the ballet: Capt. Axel F. back again to trained elephants and unsters, mot to mention thrillers in the way of newly created ‘gymnastics. Bobby Folsom, who, to begin with, is a girl, starts the entertainment with her own method of putting gver the latest in popular songs, with the assistance of one of the finest jazz orchestras on the B. F. Keith circuit, the Metropolitan Orchestra, directed by Jack Denny. Mr. Denny is & com- poser as well as a conductor, and Miss Folsom wlill sing a number of his SOngs. The special added attraction, Pow- er's dancing elephants, Lena, Jennie, Roxie and Julie—sixteen tons of the best-known pachyderms in the world, valued at $100,000, with George Pow- ers, their young trainer, who says he would not part with Jennie, the shim- mying elephant. It took eight years to teach Jemnie: her dance. Roxle s the styongest, . while. baby Julle, Roxie's' daughter, is a natural ciown. War scenes, barber scenes, base bali games—in_fact, everything is in- cluded in their act. Others will include Mme. Besson and company, presented by Lewls and Gordon, in & new playlet, “The Broad- minded Woman,” written and staged by Howard . Emmett Rogers; Chain and Archer, two funsters with a new comedy combinatlon, “Not Now,” and plenty of laughs; Jack Benny, violin- ist, who. plays _some, funs a lot and combines his fiddle and patter into a rapid-ire act of laughter; Fleurette Joeffric, coloratura soprano, who has a Voice ail out of proportion ‘to her size, and the Five Balasi, on the soclety foot ball grounds, #n new gymnastic stunts, while Nathan and Suily appear with a dainty song-and dance offering. Aesop's Fables, Topics of the Day and the Pathe News Weekly complete the bill.. ' 7 ’ Cosmos—"Juvenile Frolics of 1924.” A juvenile Rpssian dancer whom the critics have acclaimed as “a pocket edition of Mordkin"—Sammy Krevofft by name, and the Mandell sisters, with Dorothy Herskind, a trio of femininity both charming and clever, are the glittering stars of the uvenile Frolics of 1924, that head- lines the Cosmos Theater bill this week, beginning with tomorrow's matinee. These players, though quite young, have nes eless been ac- claimed by the critics as genuine ar- tists, not precocious children. Thelr act, wherever presented, has been re- Earded as one of the distinct and out- oming Attractions vill present Fay | December 10, under the patronage of | Al Jolson in “Bombo." One of the big theatrical events of | {the season will be the coming of Al Jolson to the Shubert-Belasco next week, beginning Sunday, December 9, in the new de luxe edition of “Bombo,” | the Winter Garden success, written for him by Harold Atteridge, with music by Sigmund Romberg.” Mr. Atteridge is the general stage director of the New York Winter Garden and from his fer- tile brain and imagination have eman- ated ideas for the huge spectacles pro. duced at New York's famous place o amusement. The plot of the production concerns the discovery of America. Jolson, as Bombo, is the body-servant of Chris- topher Columbia in the days of 1492 He is said to have achieved in this new Dplece the greatest guccess of his career. His cast mclu%‘s Frankiyn Batie, Forrest Huff, Fritdi von Busing, Janet Adalr, Vera Kingston, Arline Gardner, Harry Turpin, Harold Crane, Frank Holmes, Frank Bernard, Phebe Brown, Ann Mason, Jeannette Dietrich, the Wainwright Sisters and Harry Sievers, with a singing and dancing chorus of | probably safe on the hook, | Manager The Cosmos Theater is angling for a 1 for its next wee hopes will prove one lights of a bountiful management adline attraction bill of the eason. Wh howe ithholds its 1 doubt ¢ remov verth Br {name and de |in_the matter is | Four splendid less. which h clude the famous New drome Four, late a feat ter Times' ‘superspectacle John Murphy. Harry . !Joyce and William™ Will voices are said to constitute | perfect blend” in harmony singing | Jeanette Childs. “the joy girl.” whose bersonality and singing methods s id to be unique; M. in_“Home, Sweet Home, with Korvin Macl Watler Stanton round of whol sense, and C Georgie Olp. in | Anthony ~McGuire. Cylinder Love.” The Cosmos show for the f Hoot Gibson | Kid.” with its Hoot and one taking races reen lawski W Terings been ; York Hi of the u, Torn whose travesty ird and n, in a laughable - rence Oliver Collec hor of a next week will als e here the n of ever shown Nifties of 1924, Next week the Gay offer Nifties of 1 the Joe Hurtig show, with many musement ele- ments, the most important being two featured comeai: Foster and Will H, Cohan, with Ben Meroft's hig band of eleve The first men- tioned are cla to b two of the cleverest delincators of Hebrew comi- edy on the stage todav, while the lat- ty Theat seventy-five. A new repertoire of songs and a new monologue are promised for Al Jolson. Russian Art Comedy. Beginning with the Monday mati- nee next week, B. F. Keith's Theater promises the most elaborate beautiful act in vaudeville, ‘the Rus- stan Art Company, a mammoth pro- duction with & great surprise in mu- sic and the allied arts. The company includes a symphony orchestra of twenty-six musicians, a male quartet, & soprano soloist and a premiere danseuse, Mile. Viasta aslova, & dancer who has appeared many times with both Theodore Kos- loft and Anna Pavlowa. The soprano is Mme. Olga Kazanskaya, who first came to this country with the Rus- sian Opera Company. The entire offering is framed with gorgeous scenery and presented by Meyer Golden, a creator of acts un- usual. | standing features of the new sea- son. Miacahua, “the Brazilian wonder,” will bring the novelty of the bill, a thrill in feats performed by a woman on a single thread of steel wire with- out the aid of a balancing pole or other assistance in preserving her equilibrium. Lauretta Rhodes and Ruth Watson, L girls with striking personalities and rare voices, will present “A Musical Menu,” written by Neville Fleeson: Harry L. Webb, widely known as “the black laugh,” will bring mirth and melody of the minstrel type and very comical; Arthur Hill and Marie Quinneli, in their new skit, “Fun in the Park” will offer a blend of comedy, steps and surprises, and Earl Bronson and Irene Renee will trek along variety lines with varied and amusing entertainment grouped un- der the billing “Vaudeville Hash.” Gloria Swanson's Allan Dwan pro- duction of “Zaza,” for’ Paramount, is Iisted smong the big and sensational cinema productions of the year. It {s the story of a beautiful but hot- tempered vet tender girl, who, de- serted by her parents in childhood, goes on the stage and brings ali aris to her feet. H. B. Warner has the leading masculine role, and the production has been pronounced su- pérb. A laughable two-reel farce or comedy, 88 you will, and beautiful and interesting gems of the Urban Movie Chats will be added attractions. Today's bill, starting at 3 p.m., will be made up of the offerings of last week headed by Norris' Springtime Follies” and _including Primrose Semon, the new Eva Tanguay, the Quixy Four and others. Strand—Master Gabriel in " 5 5 " Captain Kiddo. The Strand Theater this week, beginning today, will offer a new bill headed by Master Gabriel, the 33-inch lilliputian who created the title roles in “Buster Brown" and “Little Nemo,” in a bright musical fantasy in three scenes by Jack Lait, entitled “Cap- tain Kiddo Unlike most midgets, Master Gabriel is mentally normal and more than capable of giving an excellent performance. He has but recently returned from an extensive tour of England and Frante and after his ‘present tour will start on a_trip around the world. Dorothy Webb and George Macok appear in support. The added attraction will be Bob La Salle; late of the Zeigfield “Mid- night Frolic,” in a series of songs and dances with Murray Rubens at the plano. * Others on the bill will include Ked- "(Continued on Second 3) and | ter 1s the = tlon that pla | circuit las | Britton are £ {all of the plave | ists, Merhoft himseif 1 | six "different instrumer ing a very of exqu for the eight the ensemble. Royal Pekin Troupe. The Roval Pekin Troupe, orier wonder workers, introducing a line of magic, mystery. illusions, novelties and thrills, will headline the program at the Strand Theater next week. Others appearing will Gordon Sisters and “Twenty Twinkling Toe Olson, in “A Series of and Adams, in “The Man Sai $id Hall, assisted by Joe Simon and Della Vaun, in “Bright Moments. The cinema offering will bring here for the first time the screen version of the popular old song “On the Ban'ks of the Wabash, th Mary Carr, Burr MclIntosh, James Morrison, Lumsden Hare, Mary MacLaren, Madge Evans George Neville and Marcia Harris i1 \he cast. It was directed by J. Stuart Biackton. 1 provide attractive girls new incl ompany, Lenore Ulric. LENORE ULRIC, who comes Washington this week flesh” and on the screen. first stage appearanc waukee stock compan: Her first prominent role was that of Luana, the Hawalian princess, in “The Bird of Paradise,” in which she toured for two years. After that engagement Miss Ulr came under_ Mr. Belasco's directio: and created the title role of the India: girl -in “The Heart of Wetonu." portraval of unsophisticated girlhood that immediately won unusual recos- nition. Mr. Belasco then presented M ric, In “Tiger Rose,” and her charac- terization of the title role in that melodrama of the great northwest for two seasons was hailed everywher: as_remarkably conceived and splen didly played. When Mr. Belasco about for a successor to “Tiger o for Miss Ulric he decided to p her in a Chinese play. Junction With George S wrote “The Son-Daughter,” w a great success for two geasons. . the Chinese girl, Lien Wha, in tha oriental drama, Miss Ulric rose to new heights; some critics of her perform ance pronounced it flawless. As Kiki Miss Ulric has a role rud ically different from her great suc cesses of the past. Her portrayal of « girl of the Parisian boulevards, who is In reality universal, has, in th opinion of a famous critic, placed he at the head *f the line of com diennes. Meller Not Coming. FEAP.ING to make the ocean voy- age following a surgical operation which she will shortly undergo in Paris, it is announced, Raquel Me ler, the Spanish “singing trage enne,” has postponed her American engagement under the direction of the Selwyns until next season. She will not come to this country before next October. Preparations had been made br the Belwyns to present Mile. Meller In New York on November 25. “in th et Mil- made with a s Ul