Evening Star Newspaper, March 16, 1924, Page 59

Belasco S EYMOUR-Cosiod Drowsy Footl ig’ht Gossip And the Awakening By Philander Johnson. OR one who seeks repose amid the turmoii of current events, a refuge from the dramatic climaxes and emotionalistic dialogue of investigation, the thrill- ing pictures of heroism that hesi- tates at nothing in order to save a friend, the bitter denunciation of confidence betrayed, there is no olace like the theater, weaving along as it did last week through the lanes nd highways of ancient convention- ality. There was a time when the telephone was wonderful. The thrills of surprise attempted in the theater relate to that bygone epoch in the swiit development of inventive in- genuity. % ok % That the stage supplied a distinct social need is undeniable. When facts are being hurled through the air till economic systems are threat- ened with explosive devastation, there is nothing like an hour or tw of quiet, old-timey gossip to ease the mind and soothe the nervous system. There is always some use- ful and important function to be ascribed to the playhause. Its em- ployment as a sort of safety valve for scandal is deserving of a certain 2mount of respectiul consideration. ¥ ok ok % Sedate groups of decorous people assembled to listen to the discussion of various intmmate phases of do- mestic_ infelicity, ambling along through the familiar story from the prologue of reckless courtship to the epilogue of divorce. All this, while it has become a little stale to the jazz-stimulated appetite, is still sought with palpitating pulses by orthy people who are still suscep- tible to shock by contradiction of ancestral proprieties, Since there must be gossip. it is to the theater ihat we turn to find it presented in its most pungent and at the same time its most harmless form. There is no limitation to the heartrending athos or the contemptible pathos 1at footlight gossip may attain, save 1e imaginative resourcefuiness of hose engaged in its manufacture for a trade that becomes annually more select. * W The assumption that by instinct men arc_brutes and women co- quettes is so time-honored that more and more expertness, even talent, is required to make it serve. 'he author of “Kelly's Vacation” not an Avery Hopwood. The story is told without finesse and appeals to a viewpoint on a level with that of the houschold domestic who ob~ tains her ideas of going-ons by peep- ing through keyholes. It is the sort of story that might be told between clathespins, over a backyard fence, on a Monday aiternoon—only it tacks the realism and _vitality of so honest a narrative. Mr. and Mrs. . Kel'y got married under a mutual nisapprehension as to financial posi- tion, and Kelly came pretty near having to beat her up on her wed- ding night to make her know her place. * * % “Chains” is drama of higher grade, which labors under the disad- vantage of not having had its ‘ogue written by G. Bernard Shaw. The defiant woman who denounces tharriage takes a bold step very worse than motherhood without marriage takes a bold step very much in advance of the witty lady in “Man and Superman.” It sets a swift stride in story, but the conven- tional-pace is not rapid. Its thought is one that must have hovered through many a rebellious mind, and the theme is old by so many cen- turies that it is not likely to be vivi- fied into real breathing interest ex- ¢ept at the touch of genius. R Still another lady whose various ations became precarious was resented in “The Lullaby.” Alas the cruelty of woman! It is still dis- cussed, but to find her portrait. in artistic perfection it is necessary to appeal to .the musicians who have loaded Carmen and Manon Les- caut with golden chains of melody and locked them in the castle of grand opera. % * ¥ There is no dearth of good acting Ji acting alone could make a play acceptabie, each of the theaters would have been crowded to the doors. The actor, who with the sereme confidence of art asserted chim to full personal credit for any stage success in which he was a prominent participant, has every- thing his own way. Friend manager has left him to assume all responsi- bility, and he is now blamed for unwelcomed performances whose faults were not his own. The black type on the billboards assisted but little the reputations of those who held their coveted distinction. It only advertised the fact that no role can be so questionable in taste that persuasion or discipline cannot pro- vide it with an accomplished inter- preter. £ % % x The subtleties of expression of which Helen Gahagan is capable are not called into any great significance by the utterances of her role. With all her personality, she is held away from heart appeal and is left to hold the stage as a heroine more con- troversial than sympathetic. She is like 2 Juliet who, lacking a proper Romeo, has taken refuge in a course of radical reading. Miss Gahagan has not yet arrived at formai stellar recognition, though her merits would easily entitie her to the distinction. The Kelly family, as represented by Robert Ames and Alma Tell, are a robust and hearty pair, capable of commanding the warmest sympa- thetic interest could they be relieved of the necessity of interrupting straightforward ~comedy with a gratuitous flourish -of night gar- ments. Florence Reed adds no luster to her fame by “The Lullaby.” In- dividuality finds no opportunity for well directed assertion, and even with those we most admire, an ill- favored demonstration must be viewed with unresenting patience on the plea that it is all in the day's work. * & % Those who describe the American theater as a sleeping beauty await- ing the arrival of a Prince Charming will be excused for wondering what language or dialect she will speak when at last awakened, and set free from the scanda!-haunted forest. Morris Gest, wielding a polished lance of publicity, boldly advances his silver-shod Pegasus through the thicket of native weeds and briars. This Sleeping Beauty of ours, even in_her modest retirement, displays cultured susceptibility. When Duse speaks, her dreams call for a gentle, somniloquent responsc in Italian. Next week, as Mr. Gest advances, she will speak in pure Russian, toss- ing a little, perhaps, in troubled fancy and bereft of the smiling she disclosed when he chose for his heralding the fluttering drollery of the Chauve Souris. Mr. Gest's arts are more subtle than those which summoned the shade of Wagner to serenade her in German; which caused her to stir in agitation, but soon left her slumbering as before. She opens her eyes when Shake- speare’s old English is sounded in her ears, but not for long. When she awakes it will be at the lusty call of some one with a message close to her heart, thought out and spoken in her own familiar tongue, freely and unabashed. Cecilia Loftus. ISSIE LOFTUS, the great mimie, whose impersonations of famous men and women of the theater are | considered works of genius, is said to wield a powerful influence over the minds of her audience. It is claimed to be not necessary for Miss Loftus to use costume or make-up in order to present a living, breathing likeness of her subject. ‘The Englishwoman says that it is not black art, but the knowledge of one very simple secret which en- ables her to fuse herself into the very person of her subject. “The voice is the answer,” she says. “Listen to the voice of a friend in an adjoining room, and you realize that person almost more clearly than if he stood beside you. Every nbance, every inflection tells you something of his character and characteristics. The rich, caressing voice of the outherner, the cold, somewhat nasal ones of the New Englander, the short-clipped syllables of the Eng- tishman—each s pregnant with sug- gestion. “Now. I am an actress and a singer. More than that, my ear is exception- ally good. As a musician instantly recognizes all the different instruments in a symphony—knows where one takes up the motif or another is a little off key—so 1 am very sensitive to the vibrations of the human voice. The characteristic gestures and walk, etc., I can get in a single sitting. But sometimes I must ga to a dozen per- formances before I am sure of the voice. But when that comes—then I know that I have my subject once and for all” | he Sunduy St . WASHINGTON, D. C, MILLER_ ond RUTH CHATTERTON National Studio King's Problem. | WITHL flaring coat-tails and truding swords, the question of how men sat in armchairs in the days of Lovis XV was a problem at the studio where Rodolph Valentino is making “Monsieur Beaucaire. Lowell Sherman, as Louis XV called upon to sit in an armchair during a _theatrical _entertainment given for him in the hall of Mars of the palace of Versaliles. The camera was started and_Director Sidney Ol- cott shouted to Sherman to sit down. Sherman didn't move. Finally the camera was stopped and Olcott walked into the scene to discover what was the matter. “I can't sit down in_this outfit,” Sherman explained. “If I do, I'll ruin these beautiful clothes. What shall I do?" All the experts on the picture got their heads together to try to solve the grave problem. How did the king sit down? Did he carelessly smash his clothes whenever he wanted to sit down or did he have clothes made of a different material, and what did he do with his sword? It was decided that “Louis” must have been very profligate with his clothes and ordered a new suit every time he used a chair. Rut there was no permitting Sherinan to ruin_ a Paris-made costume, 8o a chair with no arms was found for him to sit in. They had chairs of both kinds in Louis' til however, so none of the experts in the audience will have a chance to call attention- to an anachronism. Marlowe's Name. A NEWS dispatch from Berlin com- pares Elisabeth Bergner, who is to act the title role of Bernard Shaw's “Joan of Are” in Vienna next winter, with Julia Marlowe, Eleanora Duse and Mary Anderson. Not long ago the Shanghai, discussed the career of Julia Marlowe. Tokyo young Japan- ese women who desire to make a ca- reer for themselves in the theater— wnd this against all traditions of the race—are pointing to Julia Marlowe as an cxample-of the great influence a woman can wield from the stage. In Rome, Eleanora Duse told the Italian press that Julia Marlowe was “the perfect Juliet” and the greatest actress of her time., She has acted in London, where Arthur Symons hailed her as the zreatest Juliet of her generation. Marlowe has re- ceived letters from unknown people in_Australla, South Africa and Samo: China Press, at It would seem that it is but little . exaggeration to say that Julia Mar- lowe is famous wherever the name of Shakespeare is known. | Discasded Fliahback: his production of “Thy Name Is N I Woman" Fred Niblo completely ‘glsnklrded the old-style movie flash- ack. When there is a fade-out the action goes right ahead instead of reverting to something which happened in the back slows up the action of his picture. Once the story gets under way It continues on the Screen in the same direct way it did on the stage. The practice of using what is called irect action continuity” is due to ithe fact that for many years Niblo was a stage director, and for that reason is more inclined to stage methods. In addition to discarding the flash- ! back, Niblo also did away with the mobs of extras, the pretentioys sets and all those things which have come lto mark the so-called superpicture | production. Instead he has substl- tuted good taste in costuming, art in his settings and the finest acting tal- ent obtainable. ) Running to Trousers. THE screen lassies of eminence are running to trousers—not with men in them, but for their own adorn- ment. And they scem to be getting away with it. First we had Anna Q. Nilsson, in “Ponjola”; then Marion Davies, in “Little Old New York,” and then Gloria Swanson, in “The Humming Bird.” Now comes the saucy Constance Talmadge, in “The Dangerous Maid.” Yes, Constance, shorn of furbelows and frills. strikes consternation to Conway Tearle and a king's entire army as a dashing young swordsman in doublet, breeches and boots, and, furthermo; she is said to fill her part and her wardrobe, both physi- cally and temperamentaily, with con- spicuous success. Indeed, the press agent this week says that even Doro- thy Mackall, with® Richard Barthel- mess in “The Fighting Blade,” pales before her. Given the “Double Cross. ITTLE “Spec” O'Donnell, the new freckle-faced film prodigy, discov- ered by the Warner brothers, was “double-crossed” by his director, Wil- liam Beaudine, during the filming of scenes for “The Country Kid.” Direc- tor Beaudine told “Spec” that a num- ber of close-ups were no good, and that In order to get the desired effect “Spec” would have to swallow some castor oil. What Beaudine wanted was an expression denoting a look of anguish. “Spec” balked, but as the camera ed the director told him he was Instead, “Spec” was drinking water flavored cran drinking the real thing. with sugar. was obtained. But the desired effect | pro- | 1s dim past. It has been found by him ' that the use of the so-called flash- | morrow evenin, PRESIDENT- this evening. KEITH'S—Ci: tomorrow. COSMOS—"Are You a Lawyer?” morrow with matinee. noon. day evening. Poli's—Moscow Art Theater| The Moscow Art Theater will open an engagement at Poli's Theater this evening., Reports of the great excel- | lence of the players and the unusual quality of the reportory they offer e by this time quite familiar to jWashington patrons of the theater. it was Morris Gest who induced |these artists to come to America. Their reception in New York last sea- ison was sensational. Superlative |were the criticisms accorded them by | the ~writers of the metropolitan | dailies, while the praise of the public !was evidenced by crowded houses at all performances. This condition ob- jtained in New York for months. {_ Their second visit tu America was made subsequent to a tour of the principal art centers of Europe, in- cluding Prague, Berlin and Paris. The Initial offering here will he Tsar Fyodor Ivanovitch,” by Coun Alexei Tolstoy. It is a historica drama of spectacular seenic investi ,ture. Court intrigue forms its basi structure and around the personag who lived in the days of this greatly discnssed ruler there revolves a serice of thrilling and impressive epi Practically entire first line company ition of this play, including Mme. <nipper-Tchekova and Ivan Moskin. dor Ivanoviteh” will be pre- masterpi i that masterpiece | matic literature, which is said to have contributed much toward the Russian revolution, will be presented Tuesday jand ¥riday nights. In this impressive drama is ‘made known the fact that jhuman life is wasted in the slums of jall great cities. But this wastage was imperial in its extent in Rus- isia_and among the rich and the aristocratic men and women of the upper classes theer was practically !no knowledge of it Then came Maxim Gorky's play and all this was changed. Critics have called “The Lower Depths” a prophesy of the dire happenings in Russia in recent years. “The Cherry Orchard,” which will be the swan song of Anton Tchekhoft, {is comedy, and the same artists who jexternalize the horrors and agoniex of “Tsar Fyodor Ivanovitch” and {“The Lower Depths" are seen in roles jvastly different in character. “The iCherry Orchard” will be seen tomor- row and Thursday nights. “Uncle Vanya," a comedy by Anton !Tchekhoft, will’ be given Wednesday night and Saturday matinee. Here we behold a young wife married to a :man much older than herself and the i{husband consumed by his own ego- zusm. The wife's love is aroused by janother and she in turn engenders a {mad passion in the heart of a man of her own age who has been so ab- sorbed In his work that emotions have played comparatively little part in his existence. The latter fails to realize these emotional possibilities {and we are shown the futility of at- {tempting to_attain impossible ideals. In “Uncle Vanya” the Moscow Art iTheater reaches the very pinnacle of ‘cumedy. “The ' Brothers Karamazoff” first |brought fame to its author as a novel, and its dramatization has increased the celebrity of Fyodor Dostoivsky. The tragedies of home life when members of the same family are at variance with each other and the pangs of unrequited love, culminat- ing in the death of the father of the brothers and the condemnation of the innocent man, constitute situations which are intensely thrilling. It will be presented Saturday night as a farewell bill. National—Henry Mijller in - st - "“The Changelings. “The Changelings,” by Lee Wilson Dodd, deseribed as an American com- edy with a universal theme, and whose author credits his inspiration o a phrase of the philosopher-states- 3 Talleyrand, “Plus o Plus clest la meme chos be presented by Henry Mille: Monday night, at the National The- ater, for an engagement of ono week. Mr. Dodd has evolved a series of circumstances involving two familles, friends for years. Wallace Aldcroft, a wealthy publisher (Henry Miller), nd Karen, his wife (Blanche Bates), have an only daughter, Kay (Ruth Chatterton), who, is married to Wicky Fabr (Geoftrey Kerr, son of Fenwick Faber (Reginald Mason), and Dora Faber (Emma Donn). "The_Aldcrofts and the Fabers have been triends for years, even before their marriages. Each couple had an only child and the marriage of their | | i 1 NAL—Henry Miller, “The’ Changelings,” comedy. Opens to- 0. . BELASCO—"The Highwayman,” comedy. Opens tomorrow evening. lorence Reed, “The Lullaby,” drama. Loftus, vaudeville. STRAND—“Queens of Syncopation,” vaudeville. GAYETY—"Vanities,” burlesque. Opens this afternoon. RAM’S HEAD PLAYERS—"“Easter.” HOWARD (Colored)—"“Stepping Out,” musical show. Performance New show opens with matinee vaudeville. New show opens to- Opens this after- Periormances begin Wednes- children has consummated what scems to bo an ideal arrangement and the fnal cementing of the bonds of friendship between the two families. These relations are further inter- woven in Faber being editorial ad- viser to Aldcroft in the selection of new manuscript. The opening of the play is laid in present-day Manhattan, and the ma- jor portion transpires in one evening, when the young couple have been married some two years. Wicky Faber, an instructor at Yale, has immersed himself in the preparation of a new thesis, to the neglect of his wife. She, resentful, has carried on what she deems an innocent flirtation with Clyde Hal- stead (Felix Krembs), author of pop- ular novels. The affair takes a serious turn and threatens the disruption of three deally happy families. The author takes his characters hrough a maze of conflicting cir- ‘umstances, each drifting toward an nevitable marital shipwreck, and then lets nature take its course. Belasco—'The Highwayman’ “The Highwayman," romantic comedy which launches its appeal chiefly to the feminine theatergoing contingent, will have its Initial exhi- bition tonight, with Joseph Schild- kraut and a distinguished company at the Shubert-Belasco Theater. 21 Schildkraut, well known for his strik- ] ing performance in “Liliom,” ‘fl! be sren” in the title role, with Elise| Bartlett opposite. 2 i “The Highwayman” deals with love | and the plundering of women's hearts rather than worldly goods. Joseph is £21d to be an adept bandit where love {8 concerned, nor does he neglect to demonstrate his agility in outwitting the landed gentry for the “one ‘woman."” In the cast which Lester Bryant, producing manager, has provided are Grant Stewart, ctor-author; John Westley, Jessie Royce Landis, Philip Lord, Corbett Morris, Hilda Graham, Theodore Westman, jr., Richard Earle and N. R. Creagan. ‘Lajos Biro, the famous Hungarian, wrots the play, and it was adapted by Gladys Unger, who wrote ‘“The! Business Widow,” It ran 300 nights in Vienna and has just completed a long run at the Playhouse, Chicago. The play will bhave the same person- nel and production which will open in New York on Easter Monday. It is fastidiously staged and considered one of the most expensive companies on tour. . wp “ President—"The Luulby. | Florence Reed, the dluun:\llphed} emotional actress, under the direc- tion of Leonard Wood, jr, begins a * second week at the President 'l:helter tonight as the star in the Edward Knobloch study, “The Laullaby,” in! which she played for a year at the Knickerbocker Theater, in New York. | ‘Washington has had an opportunity to witness the dynamic artistry of| Miss Reed, and Leonard Wood, jr., believes he is justified in holding the ; Knobloch work over for a second | week because of public approval and | mand. de“'.l‘he Lullaby” depicts the life of a French peasant girl from the time when she embarks upon a first love ; affair, which ends disastrously, until the curtain of activity is about to be rung down. Miss Reed is called upon to_portray Madelon at divers epochs of life, and Dr. Knobloch plo- tures the vicissitudes of this desert- ed girl to “play the game of life” ac-1 cording to man-made rules. “The Lullaby” is accounted Flor- gnce Reed's gToatest achievement in the American theater. In her support are Ralph Kellard, Walter Scott Weeks, Peggy Coudray, Bernard Pate, Henry Crosby, June Webster, Robert Harrigan, Emily* Smiley, John _De Vere, Marg. | a Hume, Anne Warrington, Robert Crain, jr.; Addison Smith and a troupe of Arabs. Walter F. Secott, Miss d's own director, staged the play, utilizing many of the original properties and costumes. Keith' issie Loftus. Cecilia Loftus, the great English imimic whose long list of successes reads like a catalog of greatplays of the past, will headline a bill of ex- ceptional variety at B. F. Keith' Theater this week. Miss Loftus, bet- ter known as Cissle, returns to the American e in a repertore of imi- tations ineluding not only the great stars of the past but many now on SUNDAY MORNING, MARCH 16, 1924. LEONARD Gayety Sothern and Marlowe Coming. E H, and Julia Mar- * lowe will make their first ap- SOTHERN pearance in Washington in two years, and their last here for ambther two years, at Poli's Theater the week of Monday, April 14. They will present five plays—-Romeo and Jullet.” “Ham- let,” “Twelfth Night,” “The Taming of the Shrew” and “The Merchant of Venice. the stage at the zenith of their careers. She will be assisted at the piano by Billy Griffith. Charles Cherry, the noted Ameri- canized English actor, is featured in 2 clever satire, “The Bachelor,” by Edwin Burke, presented by Lewis and Gordon. He is supported by a Broad- way cast including Grant Mills and Beth Martin. Walter C. Kelly, better known as the Virginia Judge, will appear as a special comedy feature, with his nar- ratives of actual Lappenings in the little Virginia courthouse that need no_introduction. Pear] Regay, a dancer who origi- nates every number, will be seen in an_elaborate act, with Lester Shee- han and with Hal Finley at the piano. Since her last appearance in vaude- ville she was a dance feature in George White's “Scandal Wade Booth. youns American baritone, & student of Jean de Reszke and Mario Battistini, will offer a program of numbers that display his baritone voice with “the temor George Watts and Belle Hawley, in “Laughs Coated With Melodies,™ ‘are followed by the Tom Davies Trio, in motor cycle feats in a bottomiess bowl high above the stage. Their offering is one thrill after another. More thrills are promised by Willie range.” Rolls on his roller skates, including | 2 thrilling somersault on a twenty- eight by thirty-eight platform. Aesop's Fables, Topics of .the Day and the Pathe News complete the bill, Cosmos—Musical Comedy. One of the brightest little musical comedies of the season, full of tunes Hthat tinkle, dances of grace and comedy that makes you laugh with- out feeling sorgy, is promised by Lew Seymour and company at the Cosmos Theater this week, starting with the matinee tomorrow, in “Are You a Lawyer?’ Just why that name was given it is not explained, but it is said the story will show 'that it fits. Seymour comes heralded as an amusing comedian, but his “company is_described only as “a quartet of peppy, pretty girls that know their business.” Balancing the headliner in_ the stella fleld will come Maud Gerad and a galaxy of dancing boys in a terpsichorean specialty which Miss e calls “Danceland.” You can seldom judge in advance, hut the critics eleswhere say it is quite a de- lightful number. Others will include Sophie and Har- vey Everett, with 2 new idea, possibly inspired by & visit to the bureau of engraving and printing, for it h: two characters, “Gold” and “Green- back,” in {t; Frank Richardson, an old Cosmos favorite, known as “the joy boy of song,” but reaMy a black- face comedian, with a unique way of putting his songs over the footlights; Kessler and Morgan, singers, dancers and Instrumentalists, with excellent voices, in a promising musical num- ber, Larimer and Hudson, in feats heel with Interspersed humor and fun. ‘The photoplay for the week will in- troduce an old favorite, who has not been seen here on the screen for some time, Leah Baird, in a comedy of thrills, called “The Destroying An- gel,” the story of a young millionaire Wwho lost his wife on a wild wedding night. Reginald Denny also will be in evidence in “Something for Noth- ing,” another of those ‘“Leather Pusher” pictures. Bobette and her versatile band will head the bill to be presented today, tarting at 3 p.m., as the new show starts with a matinee tomorrow. Strand—"Queens of Synco- pation. “An exceptionally fine bill” is prom- ised by Manager Sparrow at the Strand Theater this week, beginning today, headed by one of the smartest of little revues, featuring Miss Edith Murray and her “Queens of Synco- pation,” including the famous Caprice sisters and a bevy, of pretty and tal- ented girls. Mary Walton and Fred Brant, in a laughable skit,” “Huh,"-will be the added attraction. Others will include Kurt and Edith Mme Or¢A KNiPPER- ICHERHOVA A Brief W I‘\' an organization of the brillianoe and magnitude of the Henry Mil- r Company, which has been gather- ed to interpret the Lee Wilson Dodd comedy, “The Changelings.” r_mxch might be said in description of in- dividual careers if there were the space for it. Therefore it may be of interest to look briefly at some of the figures and refresh the mind with a few of the high lights in their pathway along the theatrical journey. Blanche Eates, since her return to the stage, has been Mr. Miller's co- {star in plays like “The Famous Mrs. Fair” and “Her Friend the King.” An artist of the first order, she stands as one of the foremost women of our stage todav. Ruth Chatterton, perhaps the most brilliant of our younger stars, was “discovered” by ~Mr. Miller in a Washington, D. C., stock company. Her development to stellar honors and her work in such widely diversified roles as ‘The Rainbow,” *“Daddy Long-Legs,” “Come Out of the Kitch- en” Earrie’s “Mary Rose” and Ba- taille’s “La Hendresse” have stamped her as a leading figure on the Ameri- can stage. - lasco and remembered for her per- formance in “The Governor's Lady” |and her never-to-be-forgotten por- itrayal of “Old Lady 31" has won a permanent place in the hearts of theatergoers. Geoffrey Kerr, the young English Kuehn, in a comedy, “Melody Pantomimicalism”; Noel Lester and | company in balancing, wire walking, imagic_ond ventriloquism, and the | King brothers, athletes, in thrilling apers. Wesiev Barry, In his latest_photo- play, “The Country Kid," a Warner Brothers production, will be seen as Ben Applegate, a boy left alone in the world, with two younger brothers to support. After a long. grim fight Ben manages to keep intact the old home and impoverished farm. The cast includes “Spec” O'Donnell and “Baby” Bruce Guerin, also Kate Toncray, Helen Jerome Eddy, George Nichols, Edward Burns and George C. Pearce. Short fil be shown. and I 1 features also will Gayety— Vanities. The Gayety Theater this we brates its seventeenth annives with Barney Gerard's “Vanities” as its attraction. “Vani is in two acts, with twenty-one scenes and a bewildering array of costumes and fashion creations. Joe Marks, rated among the_speediest comedians in | burlesque; Elsa May, formerly lead- ing lady with Fred Stone, and Harry Séymour, a diminutive funmaier, will lead the cast that includes also Wal- ter Johnson, Nita Bernard, Hender- son ‘and Weber, Harry Kiibey, Mae Leonard, Danny White and Rastus Wilson. ' Forming a background for these principals is a young and grace- ful chorus whose ability to sing and dance is said to match their enthusi- asm and ginger. For 2 rapid succession of satirical skits, travesties, funny comedy scenes and unadulterated humor, plus jingling tunes and lively danc- ing, many pretty settings have been including “The Garden t Leather Forest, “Beads and Span- gles” and “The Music Publishers.” Manager Jarboe announces that at every performance this week every lady will be given a souvenir. i Ram's Head Players in “Easter.” “Baster,” a play In three acts, by August Strindberg, will be the final production this season of the Ram's Head Players, and perhaps the final production for all time at the present little Rams’ Head Theater, since next year the new playhouse at Wardman Park_will be ready for occupancy. ‘The Ram's Head Players are sched- uled to open there early in the fall for a season somewhat longer than twelve weeks, The Strindberg play will be given Wednesday evening. Robert Bell, who ig personally directing the rehearsals of “Easter,” feels that while it is in no sense a religious play, still “Eas- ter” is particularly appropriate for the Lenten season, the entire action of the piece taking place within the three days prior to Easter day, and symbolizing in _the troubles of the family of Fru Reyst, the tragedy of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Eas- ter eve, The incidental music of the plece will be Haydn's “Seven Last Words ¥From the Cross,” arranged and adapt- ed for this production by August King-Smith and sung by a quartet of women's volces under his direction. “Easter” is perhaps the sweetest and . gentlest play ever written by Strindberg. Capitol Theater Artists in Benefit. Tuesday thirty artists from the Capitol Theater, New York, under the direction of S.'L. Rothafel, will ap- pear at Poll's Theater in perform- ances at 2 and 4:30 p.m., for the benefit of the Walter Rood‘ Mount Alto and the Naval Hospitals. The ‘Washington appearance of this fa- mous group of artists was made pos- sible through the enthusiasm of radio fans who have been enjoying the cntertainment broadcast direcy from Emma Dunn. long with David Re- | Polis hO‘S Wl‘lo.“ leading marn, was brought to this country by Mr. Miller to create the hole of Prince of Wales in “Just Suppose.” by E. A. Thomas. He is the son of the noted English acter, Frederick Kerr, and was seen last season as the prince in “Her Friend the King" and as the motion picture actor in Bataille’s “La Tendresse. Felix Krembs has become on the foremost “heavy” men legitimate theater. Honor Grniffith. OR his work in making “America,’ D. W. Grifith has been made an honorary member of the Minute Men of Lexington, the oldest military or- ganization in this country. At the first showing of the film in Boston the Minute Men were present to weigh the historfeal accuracy and dramatic truth of the pictured event. When convinced of the faithfulness and appeal of the scenes at the Com- mon, when 77 Americans met 800 British regulars, the Minute Men voted the honorary membership. The famous bronze button of mem:- Ibership, worn only by direct de- scendants of the men who fought in the battle, was presented by Capt. E. F. Breed of Lexington. In’ his presentation, Capt. Breed said: “With your film, ‘America,’ you have done the impossible, Mr. Grif- fith, in adding greater luster to the memory of the Battle of Lexington.” the Capitol “Roxy."” as he ic familiarly known over the air, brin ith him a dis- tinguished company. It includes Da- vid Mendoza, who, although still in his twenties. is the conductor of the Capitol Grand Orchestra, having re- ceived his training under Kneisel Dr. William Axt, a musician and com- poser of note, who conducted operas during the regime of Oscar Hammer- stein, and for several of the larger productions for Morris Gest; Yasha Bunchuk, solo cellist of the Capitol Orchestra, who received his musical training at the Petrograd Conserva- tory of Music, and whose instrument was presented to him by the com- mander of the Russian army, and is valued at $18,000, and Eugen Orma dy, concert master of the Capitol Or. | chestra, who has been associated with several prominent sympho: endoza, Ormandy, Burn- ki constitute the Capi- tol String Quartet. Other artists who will appear are Gladys Rice, clever daughter of the one-time famous vaudeville team of Sally Cohen and John C. Rice; Betsy Ayres, soprano; Marjorie Harcum, go- prano. and Susan Dunbar, three fair daughters of the south; Florence Muil- holland, contralto; the Capitol Male Quartet, consisting of Douglas Stan- bury, Peter Harrower, Joseph Wetzel, Ava 'Bombarger; Wiiliam Robyn, a diminutive tenor with a lyric voice; Phil Ohman and Victor Arden, clever pianists; James Parker Coombs and Evelyn Herbert. Special mention should be made of the presence of May Irwin and the hallet mistress of the Capitol, Mlle. Marie Gambarelll, the youngest pre- miere danseuse on Broadway Arcade. Beautiful decorations similar in color scheme to the famous peach “of >merald hue” have transformed the big Arcade Auditorium for the crowd of dancers expected to attend the St. Patrick’s dance tomorrow _evening. Cora Shreve's troup of dainty little |Hibernian dancers and “Airs From Erin” by the orchestra will be added attractions. Thursday evening a bril- liant dance is promised. under the auspices of the Mutual Relief Asso- ciation of Lansburgh & Brother, when favors and prizes will be distributed and pure, unadulterated fun will be the order of the day, or, rather, nig Janet Richards Tomorrow. Miss Janet Richards in her talk on | public questions, tomorrow morning, i Wi™ give an interpretive review of i the principal events in the world" work for the past week. She wil | speak particularly of “Politics in Con- | gress,” as demonstrated by legislation | @nd the pending investigations, and of |the progress of events in the Kuro- i pean_situation. The talks are given in i the New Masonic Temple, 13th street {and New York avenue, and during Lent will begin at 10:40. Howard—"Steppin’ Out.” [E 1924 edition of “Steppin’ Out” will make its appearance at the Howard Theater, T and 7th streets, this week, commencing tonight, with matinees on Tuesday, Thursday and aturday. | “Steppin’ Out” is the colored musi- ,cal comedy road attraction that cre- ated much favorable comment here ast season. The cast has been aug- mented by many names celebrated in the colored theatrical world. Amon, them are Billy Higgins and Cliffor Ross, two inimitable funmakers; Ernest Whitman, smiling and unc- tuous “straight man,” with the voice of an opera singer, and Rogers and Rogers, with their nimble, flying feet. The female members of the company include Aurelia_Rogers, whose sing- ing, dancing and playing of numerous |musical instruments are said to be of the ‘highest order; Julia Moody and Edna Davis, who have achleved popu- larity through the phonographic rec- ords; Susie Sutton, exponent of terpsichore, gud the “Steppin’ Out” quartet. A scenic and massive scenes { I investiture of gorgeous .is_announced.