Evening Star Newspaper, March 22, 1925, Page 53

— The SHunday Staf WASHIN RELVLS Mutgal Scete from, "RAIN'P (‘lfluC\d Playgoers Evidently Prefer Schubert and Sheridan By Philander Johnson. One of the rewards of merit which serve as buoyant influences in the hopes of all good actors is that of appearing some day in an all-star revival of “The Rivals” or The | School for Scandal” One of the| distinguishing traits of George C.| Tyler is a desire to assist the ambi. tions of actors and authors on legit- | mate lines, and it is to him that the public naturally turns in expec- tation of some such delightful dem- onstration as the presentation of a group of favorite players i a Sheri- dan comedy. It not an ord The play, which, aiter #I, is responsible point of interest. is time-tried and dependable. The ar- tists, too, step securely among foot- prints they have already left in the sands where they have trod some- times at merry pace, sometimes haltingly fair or murky weather among the varying breczes of pop- ular approval or disfavor. the in A good actor is not always good, so far as the immediate public sces him. He can be convincingly good only with a good play Tvler is one of the most interest- | ing figures in the theater, because | he may be ranked as the only critic- producer actively in evidence. With remarkable practical sense he combines a profound admiration of the traditional excellence oi the theater and a keen recognition not merely of novelties in plot and climax, but of genuine literary val- ues. Not only has he restored au- thors who had come to linger in the shadows of obscurity to luminous attention, but he has promoted many a novice to distinction which even fondest bition could scarce- Iy have expected. However, Tyler first of all, a reputation wor- shiper. He plays favorites with sportsmanlike boldness and leaves the unmistakable impression that the zest of pursuit and attainment mean more to him than the glow of pecuniary comfort It is pleasant to contemplate the endeavors of a manager of this type at the present moment, when sacri- fice of standards in order to meet monetary exactions must, in view of previous services and future expec- tations, be condoned. * % Tyler has never wavered. His plays. good, bad or indifferent as they might prove in the course of rapid try-out, have always been | drama and never examples of | sheer catch-penny exhibition. When Charles A. Dana conducted the New | York Sun it was described facetious- Iy the only newspaper in the|i world that appeared to be conducted for the personal entertainment of | himself and members of his editorial | staff. The Sheridan revival leaves | the impression that its chief pur- pose was to afford delight to its promoter and to the players whose distinguished attainments entitled them to the serene pleasure of re-| viving the old mutual courtesies of | the stock company, each munb:r\ taking the center of the stage in | unchallenged security whenever the | author’s imagination so placed the | role. as As for the public's part in the en- | terprise, it went far to vindicatg a | incompetent he m. | attest, but one seasons, long-cherished theory to defend in recent that popular taste is ready and ecager to respond to good plays in good the- aters. Meretricions demonstrations have their places in more auditoriums, where they flourish comparative immunity cales of prices. It is the intrusion this type of entertainment into theaters of legitimate tradition that is most resented—and where we may judge from this resentment, their influence on thought and cus- tom likely to be least. The un- compromisingly coarse footlight dis- play is permitted to flourish uncen- sured where it all probability, likely to do most harm hard in at is “Blossom Time” i ample enthusiastic poy sponse straightiorward excellence with classic in a setting of idealistic romance Blossom Time" flourished in serene luxuriance midway between “Rain,” at the President, and “Mud,” the Shubert-Belasco. * “The Rivals,” with its superlative finesse of diction, arrived as an in- teresting coincidence with a revival of attention to the fact that our political life still has room for glit- another s ex- ilar re- genuine reminiscence of at N obscure | reduced | tering interchange of rhetorical skill. | It was a week of renaissance in evi- dence from the dome of the Capitol to the pit of the theater. Sheridan was himself no slight politician, so far at least as earnest and graceful expression was concerned, however have been, as failing fortune practical in- of of the closing days in matters trigue. Attentive admiration centers on the roles of Mrs. Mala- prop and Bob Acres. In our realis- tic mood we have dropped away | from the suggestion of character de- scription in naming a role such as Acres, Malaprop, Absolute, O'Trig- ger, Miss Languish and so on. Charles Hoyt was the latest writer of comedy to employ this method with any great prominence. * k% * ine of the There are two distinct lines satire in “The Rivals.” One of play’s most admirable qualities the deft accuracy with which they are wov n)gcthcr in compact nar- ratiy r Lucius represents the in- fluence of the code of the duello carried to the most fantastic degree. Miss Lydia Languish presents the young lady whose mind has become overwhelmed by the absurd senti- mentalism of the novelettes read by herself and young ladies of her like in hours of surreptitious ecstasy. Welded together the threads of nar- rative become a graceful, whimsical and comparatively distant echo of old Cervantes himself in protest against the grotesque results of a too devout reverence for the arti- ficial heroics of chivalric tradition. * % k% ‘While these two figures appear as the basic representations of extrava- gant sentiment for dueling and clandestine courtship, attention soon turned more strongl from their subtleties to the more emphatic revelations of the low comedy char- acters; to Bob Acres, more laugh- able as a victim on the field of honor, and to Mrs, Malaprop, as a ably | | Rolana s. | mate, | were | independent of the comedy quality, | played with the easy confidence of LINA- BASQUETTE Natonal JUAZEL DAVN / a “N.V. A, Week.” N. V. A" week, the National| * Vaudeville Artists’ own ‘week, will celebrated this year between April 12 and April 19, inclusive, accord- ing to an announcement from Manager Robbins _of B, F. Keith's Theater. Friday night as clown night serformance will promptly at 11:30. souvenirs and an prise April 17, will be known when a special midnight be given, beginning There will be many abundance of sur- droll martyr to the desire of her kind to reflect in daily discourse all the periphrastical elegances of bellcs- lettres. So to this day, when “The Rivals” is scheduled, curiosity is centered on how two favored play- ers will enact these roles. N James T. Powers was a Bob Acres | of the irrepressible kind, who made his audience laugh so heartily that it became difficult to grasp the serious side of the situation as the country boy involved in quarrel to the death must himself have. viewed it. There was not a particle of sympathy for this Bob Acres. He was making everybody have too yod a time to permit the suspicion that he himself was not getting a shade of enjoyvment out of the occa- sion, despite his protestations. The work, nevertheless, was strictly legit- resembling that of Stuart Robson as Tony Lumpkin. All eyes turned on Mrs. Fiske, who, it was no surprise to find, gave the Malaprop character a meaning which she was, still scrupulous to observe. She evidently accepts the line referring to the *she dragon” as an important point of suggestion and tinges the unconscious fun of the part with an acidulous earnest- ness. Tom Wise stormed effectually enough, but was really at his best in the genial unction that has dis- tinguished his various roles, espe- cially the one most delightfully ren- dered, though perhaps least appre- ciated, Sir John Falstaff., Never were sentimental “sweetheart and dashing lover more agreeably -por- trayed than by Miss Fisher and Mr. | Thompson, while Miss Robb as Julia caught the rare art of “wear- ing an archaic costume in a way that made it comprehensible as an interpretation of irresistible beauty a century or so ago. George Tawde gave more genuine acting than it usually received. and less. clowning, to the part of David, while Faulk- land, Fag and Lucy did all-there was before them and did it well. | * ok ox % The chroniclers refer to:the first production of the play as a narrow escape from failure because of the unsatisfactory performance of Sir Lucius O'Trigger. “A-Mr. Clinch is immortalized in' the theater because as soon as the player generously left to oblivion was replaced by him the comedy was.an instantaneous success. - It is a most responsible role, one which enlisted the talents of W. J. Florence so congenially that our jaunty Irish balladist, Chauncey Olcott, had his compar: sons to face when he essayed it. Players are not always modest in sclf-estimate, but for this por- traiture it would be the indis- putable privilege. of Mr. Olcott, should he care to exercise it, to dis- pense with the services of -press agent or critic and write his own adjectives. As a reflection of the Irish gentleman he evidently knew precisely the effect he was after and the artist who knows exactly what he is about, to the last subdivision | oi a second and the faintest flicker of an cyelash, GTON, D. C, SUNDA 1, Y MORNIN( MARCH 22, 1925 dcete trom CHAUVE -SOURIS At the Theaters This Week POLI'S—Balieff’s Chauve NATIONAL—Zicgfeld's BELASCO—"Seduction,” drama. PRESIDENT—"Rain,” drama KEITH'S—Albertina Rasch Gir vaud Souris. ollies. George N. Brown, D—"Sce America F “Step Way, Al Reeves, burlesque. Poli's—Balieff's Chauve- Souris. Chauve-Souris. company, returns This Balieff's Russian the to great Poli’s Theater tais week, opening tomorrow | evening. This vear, realizing that are quick to welcome novelty, ruthless and exacting in their de- mand for ever better and more in- creasing entertainment, Balieff is said to have spent a fortune and many Americans but weeks of an imagination keyed to the | highest pitch in devising a wholly new program, which he is disclosing to Washington. That program won acclaim In Paris through October and | November, in London and in New York ever Among the outstanding numbers are | “Love in the Banks,” a dangerous competitor for ‘““The Wooden Sol- diers”; “Stenka Razin,” an intense mo- ment in the life of Russla’s Jesse James; “The Zaporozhtsi,” a dramatic re-creation from Repin's Cossack pic- ture,'and “The Arrival at Bethlehem, which Paris and New York hafled, but’ which London was not permitted to ‘see, through the action of the Brit- ish censor. National—Ziegfeld Follies. The Ziegfeld Follies, opening at the National tonight, is heralded as alert with the spirit of honest laugh- ter and extravagant in plcturesque adornment. The Follies® has grown in since. December info a national instftution, with the | glorification of the American girl as its slogan. One edition treads upén another’s heels; none is ever du- plicated; none ever blazes a fixed star. But as an institution it .main- tains a high standard, recognized as distinctive and apart from other re- vues. The cighteenth of the series, now offered in Washingfon, ran all last season at the New Amsterdam The- ater in .New York. ‘It has broken Follles ‘records, in the cities visited It is acclaimed as gorgeous, beauti- ful, speedy. and spectacular, bul- warked - with wholesome, up-to-the- minute comedy skits, travesties and satires. It glorifies.a new galaxy of young American girls, Paul Gerard Smith has provided the words, Gene Buck the lyrics, Dave Stamper and the late Victor Her- bert the music, Joseph Urban the scenic investiture, and It was staged by Ned Wayburn. The company of 117 members in- cludes Hazel Dawn, Johnny Dooley, Edna - Leedon, Charles King, Lina Basquette, premlere danseuse; the Moscon! family. of sensational acro- batlc dancers; Bert and Betty Wheel- er, Hilda Ferguson. Dorothy Van Alst, Lon Hascall, Quinault and Rowe, novelty dancers from Paris; Horuce Ruwe, Ruby - Steven Performance this eves . vaudeville. vaudeville burlesque Opens tomorrow evening Opens this evening. Performance this evening ng Opens this afternoon. eville. Opens this afternoon. Opens this aiternoon. Opens this afternoon. Opens this afternoon | Johnny Stanley, Ivn Nolte | from Helen Paine, Caro- the versatile Emplire Girls London, seen here for the first {time; Kelso and De Monde, Dave | Stamper, a prolific Follies composer ‘\\ illiam Roselle and Alexander Ya- Kovleff, the Russian whirlwind. Ben Ali Haggin has created a new living art spectacle, and a very funny nov- ie!l v will be presented in the Shad- owgraph, an optical illusion that is said to afford startled surprise, nerve | thrills and an uproar of laughter. | “Attention is called to the rise of curtain promptly at §:15, as the tertainment is a long one. Belasco—"Seduction.” Entering on its third and last week this evening at the Shubert-Belasco | Theater, De Witt Newing's romance | of the desert is being greeted with larger crowds at each succeeding per- formance. Great detail is shown in its various scenes of the life of the Orient. The interior of the houses, the robes of the sheiks, the costumes of the dancers, all are more or less interesting, while the atmosphere of the desert is apparent, much sand be- ing in evidence. The dancing of the girls is a big feature of the play. The premlere dan- seuse, who is sald to be one of the anost ‘excellent exponents of the Rus- sian school of dancing. has herself | trained the ballet appearing with her. “Seduction,” in three acts of color and action, is a story of revenge, | with the wits of the Occident matched against” those of the Orient The cast, headed by Frank Wilcox, Allyn King and Henry Herbert, in- cludes Charles Denniston, Dorothy Holmes, Willlam Podmore, Adrian Morgan, Mattie Edwards, Edward Davidson, Erin O'Brien Moore, Hamld X. Goshall and V. L. Granville. President—"Rain" (Fourth Week). “Raln,” W. Somerset Maugham's South Sea drama, which has been win- ning its way at the President The- ater with Katharine Hayden in the principal role, will open in its fourth and positively final week's engage- ment at the President tonight at 8:2 o'clock. ' There will be the usual mat- inees on Thursday and Saturday at 2:20. o'clock, and attention is belng directed to the fact that ths popular price scale, inaugurated last week, ranging from 50 cents to $1.50 a night, and witlt correspondingly low- er matinee prices,-will be continued throughout the engagement. “Rain” was presented at the Na- tional Theater for a week early in February by another company, headed by Jeanne Eagles, and achieved a ‘ensational boxoffice record. It is the dramatization by John Colton and and “1"!5"&1'(‘ mous magazine story by W grippi ,* Miss Thompson, Maugham, a tense. cter study, located at the port of Pago-Pago, in the Pacific island of Tutufla, and it re- | vesls the outcome of a dramatic con- | flict between a harsh, arbitrary re- | ligious zealot with political tenden- cies and a woman of obviously doubt- ful character whom he is attempting to oust from the island. Katharine Hayden appears in ired role of Sadie Thompson, sup- | ported by Broadway cast that in- cludes Frederick Smith, Edward Keane, Josephine Morse. Jack Veitch, Gyace Ade, Harry Burkhardt, Joseph Robison, William McFadden, Albert arr and May Anderson Keith's—Albertina Rasch Girls. At B. F. Keith's Theater this waek there is a double headliner, composed of the Albertina Rasch Girls, beautifully trained ballet artists, of- fering a new and different dance ar- rangement assisted by the Eupropean comedians, Zozo and Kiki, and the Avon Comedy Four. Joe Smith and Charles Dale In the latter act, together with Eddle Miller and Frank J. Corbett, offer “A Hun- garian Rhapsody;” an act full of laughs and muelcai numbers. Others are George die Burt, with a new act. called Several Herschel Henlere, Mirthful Muslc' Master,” who re- | turns after & three-year tour of the | world, and who Interprets the lighter moods in music; Jane Dillon, dramatic actress, in a' series of character studies called “Glimpses of Life,” ar- ranged by J. A. Murphy; the Me- Carthy Sisters, Margaret and Dorothy, in a selected program of comedy and syncopated songs; the flve Dubskys, foreign athletes, In “Ten Feet of Feats,” and Mankin, the Frog Man, | sensational contortionist. The big bill will be complated with the screen specials, Aesop's Fables, Topics of the Day and the Pathe News pictorial. Earle—George N. Brown. The bill at the Earle Theater this week is headed by George N. Brown, the champion walker of -the -world, | who has an invention of his own, re- sembling a treadmill, that he uses on the stage to demonstrate his walk- ing ability. Sharing headline honors is the act called “You Gotta to Dance,” around which “theme"” is built a clever revue presented with a quintet of youthful dancers. “Another S'Message” features Eck- ert and Francis, two entertainers who amuse with song and story, and others are the Bison City four, a quartet of men with remarkably good voices, including Messrs. Vic Milo, Frank Gerard, George Hughes and Ed Roscoe; “The Wizard of the Harp, Roxy La Rocca, a musioian, who in- terprets music in many moods, and the Kelly La Teel company, a trio of wire walkers. The film feature will be a.Para- mount plcture, “The Alr Mail.” Strand — "See America Fir!t.“ The ‘Strand Theater this week has as its headline attraction, “Seo ‘America First,” a song and dance act in six scenes, featuring Bill Adams condueting a' transcontinental musi- cal tour with the Girls of America. Agnes Finlay and Charles Hill, in the Amy Revere, Clemence Randolph of the new. fa=!“Vaudeville a La Mode,” follows as: South | 20 | Whiting and | AL BERTINA | TAsCH BAwLicrre ARNOLD - DANCE LJAN 1 LGH In th_e _S_B(ldight ACKSLAPPERS" first hearing | March 30, under the John Henry Mears and will Atlantic City management Paul Dickey its at | Gareth Hughes will play |ing role in “The Dutch Boy | opens shortly in New York { been appearing only vears, the lead- which He has Lucy Monroe, daughter of Laughlin, who played a part in “The Wizard of Oz stage debut last week in 14th." Anna prominent made her R H director, cable to Watch tts, Burnside, was stage Your former Hippodrome last week invited a London revival Step” for Sir by of “The Sapphire RingY{ opened in Providence last Monda¥ night and “The Little Minister” got under way at Newark at the same time. Belasco recently the' producing rights in two new plays by author of “The Harem David purchased English nest Vajda Bert and Betty Wheeler, recently with the “Follies,” have been signed by Charles K. Gordon. Mr. Gordon is on the lookout for a musical comedy for them A play by Zelda Sears, with dental music by Harold Levey, will | be produdced soon by the Ameri Producing Company, of which John P. Beury is the head. George McFarlane will have the leading role. inci- The William Anthony McGuire play, “Tin Gods,” will be seen in Baltimore tomorrow night. Louls Calhern will be featured. The Shuberts Laudner, French beauty, under a long- term contract. She ' will appear Philadelphia in “The Student Prince.’ have placed Tom Powe: Wild Duck” of the cast the author of of he is “The special added attraction. Others are Wayne Beeman and Alma Grace, in “You'll Be Surprised”; Harry Bussey and Donia_ Case bring “Bright Mo- ments of Versatility” and Ponzini's Monkey's, sixteen simian comedians, in_“Cute, Cunning Capers” are en- tertainment for both young' andold. ‘The photoplay is Trio Productions’ adaptation of Harold Bell Wright's story, “The Mine With the Iron Door.” The story was flimed in the exact locale described in the sfory and un- der the supervision of the author. The clsf is headed by Pat O'Malley in the role of the hero and Dorothy Mackaill, in the leading feminine role, and others are Robert W. Frazer, Creighton Hale, Mary Carr, Charles Murray, Bert = Woodruff, ~Mitchell Lewis, Raymond Hatton, William'Col- ler, Jr.; Clarence Burton'and Lillian Leighton. 'A'comedy, “The Mysterious Strang: er”; the Fox News and Director Man- vall's band music will round ‘out the bilL Gayety—"Step This Way 515 This Way Hia this: wedlee At traction at the -Gayety: Theater, with 1 B, Hamp, featured comedian : with the Jacobs & Jermon shews for . the past three seasons, in the star role, im- personating -a' Swede character. Fred Binder Is chief support for Hamp. Al Golden is “straight” man and-Arthur Young is prominent in the cast. Gertrude Beck is the soubrette. The La Van Sisters will be seen in vaude- ville offerings and the Six Rockets in the especially -Imported acrobat -act. Songs by the talented prima donna, Bernice La Barr; singing and ‘dancing by Fox and Vanetta and numerous mu- sical interludes by chorus and. princi- pals are included. There are 18 chorus girls, costumed in the latest modes, and . 14 scenes, which represent different intéresting quarters of the globe. (Continued ‘ou_Second Page,) Louis "the Alfred | Lillian Foster and | Odette | in | ed which has production luled for | -winiam .a. Braa ¢ 1o he | the sole proprietor of ng Bur- | gundy.” in which anell is ear shortl r and in films in recent | Among the listed for production he nd Duchess,” an adapt ¥ Harry Graham from the Fren f Alfred Savoir, which Henry Mil has acquired this Sur A new comedy f and Flliott Nugen the Wor will be this Sumr Tohn interasted in m the pens « entitled given Golden ducti n s due Another light presentat feg having adapted by Karl Hajos, and spons Ly Fred and B. . Whitney. An orate: singing prom the of “Blossom Time pears to warrant further sxperimer in a popular ting for « melodies th Grieg oper on, based of « The Cherry Lane of New | York have abandoned fheir conter plated product of “Princess Ida which they have been rehearsing, and instead a play entitled “Wild Birds | will be presented during the | April & P layers week of “Ostriches,” by Edward Wilbraham will be produced in Brooklyn tomor- row night by William A. Brady, jr the t being headed by Janet Beecher and Orr vhnson Vivian Martin is to succeed Hayes in the role of Dinah Quar antine.” now running in New York Miss Hayes is to be Cleopatra in a Ne York production of patra.” Helen Caesar and Cleo- Kilbourn Gordon returned to York from Palm Beach last week and has issued a call for rehearsals of “The Mud Turtle” for this week, lLack of theater accommodations caused #he postponement of the productsm New Katharine Havden, star of in" at the President Theater, with Edward Keane, Clarence Jacob- sen, the manager of the company, and | Mrs. Jacobsen, were guests of honor at the Belleau Wood Memarial As- sociation’s mi-carema ball at the Neuw Willard Friday night, whele Miss Hayden and Mr. Keane dance\ Staf. ford Pemberton's version of 'tk Pago-Pago fox trot”" This is dance introduced by them earlier in the week at Le Paradis, where the entire company was entertalned by Meyer Davis. Miss Walter ‘Wynn, biind, paralyzed war veteran, substantial sum as the result of a benefit “ given by the management of “Rain” at the:President Theatér last Wednesday evening. The local Amer- ican Legion members co-operated in .| making the Wynn benefit a success. crippled and received a Every vaudeville theater patron knows that this organization during a weekly period each year invites the public to assist in swelling their sick and benefit fund. “N. E. V. week this year promises to be the best in the his- tory’ of B. F. Kelth's Theater. Extra and extemporaneous features are being planned to help bring together a great carnival of joy, Swanee patrons will have an op- portunity to see several of their fa- vorite radio entertainers next Tues- day night, when Ben Levin and Ray Kendricks are scheduled to appear at the Davis dance palace and present a group of their comedy vocal and ukulele numbers which have made | them one of the star acts of the WR( station Ben Levin has been termed “deazd ringer” for BErooke John except that for the Johns banjo he has substituted the ukulsle,