Evening Star Newspaper, April 26, 1925, Page 55

Part 3—12 Pages OTRANSKY - President Ag’ain an Old Play Outshines the New‘_ By Philander Johnson. The theater continued to disre-| gard the calendar and to display a[ full line of Winter fashions. New | plays have been presented, cven| after the buds were on the trees, with a certainty of soon being com- pelled to suspend a run, even in the event of exceptional success. The Spring production is a favorite method of theatrical incubation, as it permits a thorough trial, an analy sis of weak spots and a Summer v cation in which cure defects. “The Gorilla,” which bears about the same relationship to dramatic | art that a mechanical toy bears to painting or sculpture, had a fine start in this city, and will probably able to play well along toward the Junetime hefore going mto dock for polishing and reinforcement. It was remarkable to note how in | a play whose form is mechanical rather than literary . new material develops which can casily be in-| serted. The cffort at extempora- neous revision of a manuscript by a producer or stage manager with a turn of mind more practical than poetic is what gives a bald-headed author a slight advantage in the matter of physical cox(nn since he has no hair to tear. This kind of supervision, with a view to superfi- cial effect, even at the sacrifice of logical consistency, is responsible for the gradual drifting from the well studied and proportionate drama which “The Second Mrs. Tanquer: is a specimen to a demonstration of simple, vet scientific, program making, of which the “Greenwich Follies” is a no less satisfving ex- ample. Much new material was in- | serted in “The Gorilla” during the | week, * % o ok The mellowing touch that time be- | stows has brought the Mrs. Tan- queray play, once viewed only as a| contender in a larger field of so- called problem plays, into full re- <pect as a classic, worthy even of | the services of a lecturer in advance, | s in the case of “The Rivals.” It | is one of the newest of the old plays. | It tells its story with even greater effect than it did years ago. The role played by Ethel Barrymore with the power and securi that render it so intensely human more deeply and more swiftly understood than it was when the play was mak- ing its way into early reputation. Possibly this is due to the fact that everybody has been dabbling more “or less into psychological subjects, dismissing the old standards of hu- man measurement dividing us all into either saints or heavy villains | and studying moral erraticisms from | the viewpoint of the dramatist, him- self in search of some lucid analysis | of relation of mental impulse and| conscientious resistance. | * ok ok % “Something of the same protest| agminst “Mrs. Tanqueray” was made as was leveled at “Ladies of the Evening,” though naturally less violent in phraseology, in order to keep the comment in proper rhetori- cal relationship to the style of the play itself. The story of the woman defiant of moral standards, whether figuring in the most ancient Hebrew classic or the most modern collo- quial crudity, has been reprchended by every authoritative sense of pro- priety, and, nevertheless, accepted mreservedly by popular interest. [here are two chapters of this life story of the woman lost who seeks {o find herself socially. The play must limit itself to one or the other of them. The first is the effort to escape by means of a sincere love om an environment which has be- come repulsive. This chapter ends with the culmination of the romance, a defiance of conventional restraint, a faith that the sound of wedding bells of itself brings the assurance that they will live happy ever after. I'he second chapter delincates the future that the socially ill-mated pair must face, and its end is eithe tragedy or a shallow pathetic recon ciliation. The distance in the social <cale between the tyvpes of wonran- hood portrayved may be great, but the distance in actual human nature i< not. Mrs. Tanquer could not he for a moment classified as a lady of the evening. She had enjoyed. at least, the early advantage of being lady of the afterncon tea. But { was last seen in the careers of the two figures of un dying pathos parallel curiously step by step. 'EEE We still go to darkest Africa in search of our thrills of terror “White Cargo” is enjoying a run which many a play of much loftier subject might envy. The gorilla im- ported into the drama, though hide- ous of aspect and vicious of nature, is really a siore agreeable little play- mate than the human product that fiction brings us from the mysteri- ous haunts of the dark continent One of the most effective episodes of this play was introduced after the opening performance; the into the promises to bring more pennies into the managerial tin cup than any organ grinder ever dreamed of. B Two men were seated close to the spot where this gorilla halted for a moment during his wild dash through the auditorium. “Let's get out of this reaching for his hat. “You surely don’t imagine it's a real gorillal” rejoined the other re- assuringly. “No. chance on a real gorilla. is an actor inside this one, and you know how temperamental actors are!” said one, B It is a matter of record that very eminent tragedians have, when en- gaged in sword combat, become so self-impressed by the mimic fury of the role that they have pursued an antagonist with such apparent lethal | determination that he was forced to | flee unceremoniously for refuge be- hind the scenes. It would be only proper discretion for the manage- | ment to see that the gentleman who | plays the gorilla is immune to the temptation an artistic person often experiences to go too far in losing | himself in the role. o Natior’xa’l’playersr' E;ading E | Tady. GREAT deal of activity is in evi- dence around the executive offices of the National Theater. The local representatives are busily arranging all the detalls pertaining to the open- ing of the local stock season, which is announced for May 18. Last Sunday it was announced that Mr. Clifford Brooke, the well known New York stage producer, would be in full charge of the stage, and now comes the announcement that Miss Leneta Lane has been placed under contract as _leading lady. Miss Lane is not very well known in the Fast, but she has been leading lady for the past two seasons in the Middle West, and she has appeared also in several New York productions, always in a difficult role. It is confidently predicted she will | take her place in the long list of lead- ing ladies who have appeared in stock in previous seasons at the different theaters in Washington and will surely become one of the local favor- ites. The entire cast for the coming sea- son has been “hand picked.” rious members have all been in some of the best New York hits, and from time to time their names will be an- nounced along with the different plays to be presented. Rehearsals for the first production will start in about ten days, that the Washington public may look forward to a summer of first-class popular- priced dramatic amusement. Francesr Starr in Vaudevil_le. M ISS FRANCES STARR, most pop- ular, perhaps, of the several David Belasco stars who have been seen in Washington, will make her vaudeville debut this week at B. F. Keith’s Theater in a new one-act play- let, “Colette,” written by Jean Archi- bald. Miss Starr was born in New York State and was educated in the Albany public schools. She entered upon her professional career via the stock company route with much suc- |cess and at an early age. “Colette” was w f ““Call the Dector, ¢ produced remembered that “Shore Leav: other appearances here include Tige! “The Easiest Wa "Marie Odile.” David Belasco has personally direct- ed Miss Starr’s playlet for vaudeville and it is declared complete in every detail, “‘absolutely up to the Belasco standard. will be T might be willing to take a | But there | The va- | r | rea r{on ‘The Wanderer he Sundiy Shae [rwemoric, | WASHINGTON, D. C, SUNDAY MORNING, APRIL 26, HEATE | | | | escape | aisles of this monkey who | | BETTY PALMER Mautual {Rachel Sewall's Marionettes. NOTHER performance of Rachel Sewall's famous little marionettes will be given tomorrow evening at $:15 o'clock at the Parish House of the Church of the Holy City, Six- teenth and Corcoran streets north. | west. The program will include three se- lections by the “Brass Band,” featur- |ing a very amusing leader and a_cor net_soloist; Plantation Scenes—Uncle Ned, the banjo player. and the Picka- ninny Dancers; the ballad of George Washington and the Cherry Tree; two Italian opera singers on concert tour; Aesop’s Fable of the “Bear and the Peasant” (Guy Wetmore Carol’s ver sion) and a circus scene, with the clown, the dog, the elephant, a ballet dancer and the tight-rope walker. By special request Miss Sewall will re peat her famous presentation of the balcony scene from ‘Romeo and Julfet.” “Dressmaker From Paris. Washington soclety is promised one of the most elaborate fashion shows IQ\'P!‘ staged here when 40 members |of the Sigma Epsilon Sorority will | appear in a benefit performance of | “The Dressmaker From Paris,” at Wardman Park Hotel Theater Mon- day, Tuesday and Wednesday eve- nings, May 4, 5 and 6. Young soclety debutantes of the Capital will appear in gorgeous crea- tions, loaned for the occasion by Jel leff's. The show, or pageant, will intro- duce many novel features, includ- ing a boudoir scene, dressing room and a garden scene, with musical numbers, under the direction of Miss | Marie Moran. Everything to delight the heart of milady, including many filmy things, will be shown on living models. This will be followed by ‘“The Dress maker From Pari: featuring Lea- trice Joy, Paramount’s gorgeous of- fering of 14 internationally famous modeis, wearing specially designed gowns and lingerie. William Collier, Jr., Makes Good. **\WE have followed the work of young William Collier, jr., very closely for several months,” says |Jesse L. Lasky of Famous Players. “His brilliant personality was clear- ly manifested in ‘The Devil's Cargo’ and ‘Eve's Secret,’ soon to be re- |leased. And from what we have al- glimpsed of ‘The Wanderer’ portrayal promises to be as triumph as was Betty Bron- ‘Peter. Although work will keep Mr. Col- lier occupied for several months, we already have planned some ver: | portant parts for him.” | Young Collier, who is 23 years old, |has been acting in pictures for the past nine years. He is the son of Willlam Collier, the well known actor and playwright. | Collier | fine son in -| Letty,” ) Hoicn KAY BOOTH | JASLON-Earle Current Attractions At the Theaters This Week NATIONAL—Ed Wynn, “The Grab Bag,” musical comedy. tonight. BELASCO—"Queen Mab,” comedy-drama. White Cargo,” drama. KEITH'S—Frances Starr, vaudeville. PRESIDENT: EARLE—“Carmen,” vaudeville. noon. GAYETY—“Bom Bay Girls,” burlesque. MUTUAL—“French Follies,” burlesque. NATIONAL—Ed. Wynn, in “The Grab Bag.” Ed. Wynn is coming back for a brief engagement here at the Nation- al Theater this week, opening to- night, in his latest riot, “The Grab Bag,” with the original cast and production intact. The new Wynn plece is sald to be more uproariously amusing than his previous vehicles, and, like its fore- runners, it's been written by Wynn, musicked by Wynn, designed by Wynn and starred through all the way from beginning to end by Wynn. This year the world's funniest come- dian is under the direction of A. L. Erlanger. Nearly 100 people appear in “The Grab Bag,” which is_described “another of those fool Wynn things.” ‘While Wynn himself is author of all that is creative In the composition, he has surrendered to Jullan Mitchell the responsibility of “putting it on.” Report says Wynn's girl ensembles typify the finest symmetry, the rich- est vocalism, the last word in pul- ‘chritude. More important than any of these attributes, however, is that they are all potential funmakers themselves. “Any girl may have good looks,” is the Wynn formula in selecting feminine choristers, “but chorus girls with humor are hard to find. I think I've got such!" Some idea of the pretentiousness of the production may be gleaned from the fact that there are fifteen novelty scenic effects, and the song and dance numbers run to over twenty. “The Grab Bag” is said to have a plot for the first few min- utes, while the comic principals get involved one way and another, and thence on the plot is submerged, lost strayed or stolen in an avalanche of the rattle-de-bang, hurly-burly, helter-skelter fol-de-rol sorts of whimsfc, mimicy, quip, wheeze, gim- crack, and other eccentric forms of side-splitting. BELASCO—"Queen Mab.” Oliver Morosco, producer of ‘“Peg o’ My Heart,” “Upstairs and Down,” “The Bird of Paradise,” “So Long “Civilian Clothes,” “The Brat,” and “‘Abie’s Irish Rose,” and who rare- ly picks what is known as “a_ bloom- er,” will bring his latest production, “Queen Mab,” by John Hastings Tur- ner, to the Shubert-Belasco Theater this week, opening tomorrow night. Opens Opens tomorrow night. Performance tonight. Opens this afternoon. Opens this afternoon. STRAND—De Carlos and Granada, vaudeville. Opens this after- Opens this afternoon. Opens this afternoon. “Queen Mab” deals with the love affairs of a young queen of one of those strange, little-known countries, which lie somewhere hidden away in the hills between the Baltic and Black Seas, and in the shadows of the Urals. “Queen Mab,” however, is sald to g0 plays of the type of “The Prisoner of Zenda” and ‘The Swan” one bet- ter. Instead of the young royal maiden ting her affections on a romantic hero whom she will under no circum- stances be allowed to marry, she has already acquired a husband before the play starts, and to further complicate matters, he drives a delivery van through the prosaic London streets, while she herself is a shop girl in the British metropolis, with no idea what- ever of the overwhelming fact that she 18 of royal birth, and will be sud denly called upon to assume the er- mine and purple, and wield the scep- ter of her ancestors. “A typical Morosco cast” is an nounced, including Mary Duncan, Carlton Brockert, Minnie Dupree, Ed- ward Emery, Marion Vantine, Lums- den Hare, Edward Emery, Carolyne McLean, Charles Brown, Margot Les- ter, Harold West, Frank Hubert Leigh Lovell and Francls E. Malloy. PRESIDENT—"“White Carge In view of the extraordinaty de- mand, “White Cargo” will be con- tinued at the President Theater an- other week, starting tonight. This will be its last week in the Capital, according to announcement. Leon Gordon dramatized the story m Ida Vera imonton’s book, ‘Hell’s Playground. The company will give but two matinees this week, Thursday and Saturday. KEITH'S—“Demi-Tasse Revue.” Ned Wayburn's latest musical pro- duction, the ‘‘Demi-Tasse Revue,” will headline the bill at B. F. Keith's The- ater this week, beginning with a matinee today, replacing Miss Frances Starr, who will headline the Keith bill next week, beginning Sunday mat- inee, May 3. g The “Demi Tasse Revue” is said to be the liveliest, costliest, merriest and most tuneful attraction of its kind of- fered in vaudeville. It will be present- ed in 10 settings, with a bevy of beau- tiful Ned Wayburn embryonic stage stars, enriched with more than 100 gorgeous gowns. In contrast, Frank Fay, Broadway's | the fifteenth century 1925. ,'/-‘—4%“’4/1/&1}[1411 1'// 7 FRANCLS STARR Reiths DUPRLL Belasco Life Funnier Every Day. D WYNN in his newest spectacular | ou laughquake, “The Grab Bag,” say the world Is getting laughabler every day, and the people in it never so ready “to ck a smile.” “You've got to move around a lot,” | | | says Wynn, in support of his conten- | Gatjetq il “T}le Dream Gil’l." ITH a - Victor Herbert score, a charming story founded on the | r play, “The Road to Yester- and with scenes laid in the present in the Merrie Old England of | with love and | and adventure, Wwooing | biades, lovelorn maids and dancing | £ypsy girls, “The Dream Girl” is s nounced for, Poli’'s the week of May | 10, with Fay Bainter and Walter | Woolf in the leading roles. | “The Dream Girl” has been thor- | oughly tried out by a long and_ suc- cessful season, although much of the time since its original production last April has been spent in Boston, York, Chicago and Philadelphia. this music play Miss Bainter is pre- sented in something of a new role. While there is said to be plenty of scope for her undoubtedly dramatic abilities, ““The Dream Girl” and the role of Elspeth Tyrell, which she plays, are credited with being of a lighter and more fantastic quality than anything in which she has hitherto appeared. Walter Woolf, with his virile per- sonality, fittingly essays, first an American athlete in London, and then a highwayman who, in a dream, sings his way into the heart of the heroine. “The Dream Girl” is probably best described, according to those who have seen and heard it, as a comedy drama set to m romance tavorite son, will dispense his unique brand of fun with his apparently im- promptu chatter of wit and humor. Others on the bill are Alma Nielson, in an artistically staged dance offer- ing, assisted by Dan B. Ely, Dave Rice and the Frivolity Five; Fred Galetti and Tola Kokin, in “Comedy Novelty Surpris * which introduces the only featured monkey in vaudeville; Marie Walsh and Frank Ellis in “Ours Is a Nice House, Ours I8, a frolic of pat- ter and song; Ryan and Ryan, offering “Song Steps and Ski Dancing’’; Wel dano’s Sensation, a trio, who perform from a trapeze suspended from & whirling tower, and Larimer and Hud- son in “Moving Moments,” & unique bicycle act. The bill will be surrounded by the popular _house features, including Aesop's Fables, Toplcs of the Day and the Pathe News Weekly. EARLE—"Carmen One of the most popular of grand operas, “Carmen,” has been condensed for: presentation in vaudeville and opens today at the Earle Theater for a week's engagement. Presented by 26 grand opera singers, the vaudeville Version is not merely one scene from the opera, butris the complete story. told briefly, including all of the f: mous melodies. Thomas P. Jackson and his com- pany, in “The New Stenographer,” have appeared in_vaudeville through- out the world. The comedy playlet always scores. Harrison Greene and Katherine Parker come from musical comedy flelds, where they appeared under the management of such pro- ducers as\A. H. Woods and Weber & Fields. Paul Gerard Smith and Les- ter Lee are authors of “A Girl of To- day,” presented by Jack Fulton and Dorothy Quinette. Adelyn Jason and Helen Harrigan, two talented girls, sing and dance, and the Romas troupe complete the program. The photoplay is “The Night Club,” with Raymond Griffith, the light co- median, in the leading role. It is a Paramount picture and said to be a comedy supreme. STRAND—De Carlos & Granada. The Strand Theater announces for this week De Carlos & Granada, as- sisted by their own Argentine Orches- tra, in “Character Dances and Melo- dies” as the headline attraction. The act is reputed to be one of the best of South American entertainments. Others appearing include Arthur Thornton and Sam Carlton in “Not Now'"; James Kennedy & Comany, presenting “The Squire”; Billy Goelet and Vera Hall, offering “Songs, Dances and Music,” and Charles Russel and Walter Hayes opening the bill with “Let’s Sing." “The Last Hour,” Trio Productions’ version of Frank R. Adams’ story “Blind Justice,” is the photoplay. Milton Sills and Carmel Myers are the featured players, the former in the role of a reformed crook, and the lat- ter is seen as a girl, well educated, and far above the usual product of the so-called underworld. These two are id to provide tense dramatic scenes. | tion, “to know just what the is disposed to take with a grin. professor with his dire prophecy that we'll soon be a laughless world ought to get out and mix with the moving throngs. Stage folk are the greatest mixers in the world. In a single sea son’s tour a plaver with his eves open and his ears registering will pile up world | enough laughs to keep his mother-in- law in good humor all during a dull Summer. ‘One cause for the general fun sense of America is the ‘funnies’ of the perlodical press. Insiders know the cartoon artists and comic writer: of the newspapers are the savinz spirit of our industrial life. Take any one of the strips any da and the family has laughing matier for breakfast, dinner and supper. fter the cartoonists and newspa per humorists come the consumers and readers, when it comes to ap praising the country’s fun fonts. I'll wager there's more spontaneous wit and humor swapped any day between America’s mill, factory, shop and store workers today than would have been sparked during any several years in the days of the oldtimers. The stage adds a lot to the country’s sense of humor, but, even the stage, like the country's politics, must get its cue from the people to whom it caters. The fun on the stage, to be instantly sure-fire, must hit angles of passing_life. Shooting folly as it flies’ isn't a bad line, and the man who got sore the other day because the copyright department at Washington wouldn't give him a title to it was but one of The | | take wit r country’s million of daily uncon- ous humorists. “Times change men with them, and styles of fun. Since the automobiles got going I've heard a million wheezes, many of them screams. Ra- dio still is in swaddling clothes, vet there isn’t a day I don't have some one send me a radio laugh. The learned professor must come out in the garden, like Maud, to get an earful of what's going on funny in the universe “The war hasn’t dimmed our coun try's wit nor even sprained its fun nybone. Both those factors are work ing overtime. Go into the subway lines of New York, see the newcomers getting tangled in the turnstiles Hear the advice. Stall your ear. Lis ten to what the funny guys whisper as they pa Listen to vour present da newshoys and their shouts, dif- fering with different cities. Go in the market places of the workers, I mean the real honest-to-goodness food emporiums, and listen to the gi and and humor that passes be- tween customers and market men. > Into department store in any city in the country and get the by play and fun by-products of the cus- tomers and the salespeople. Mix it with a lot of cops on an cuting like the annual New York police hold, and get the sense of fun of men appren ticed to the most serious job in the world. “Grab a lot of firemen In a fire- house in any city during_ their dull periods, and if you can’t laugh, see a herb_doctor. “No, there's nothing to matter with the world's sense of humor. Why within the year I've counted as many as 31 millionaires among my audienc- es laughing as unrest gods in the galleries. No nation need worry when it finds its rich and poor sharing the same sense of fun and laughing as heartily over it In the Spotlight (GLADYS MILLER has been en gaged for the cast of Zelda Sears’ “Broke,” now In rehearsal. Ruth Shepl “The Back A unit of 24 cers has been addition dals.” has joined the cast of Slapper.” Albertina Rasch dan- engaged for the next of George White's “Sean- “Night” a play by Harry Dunbar, from the Italian of Gino Rocco, will be produced at Stamford, Conn., May 1, with a cast headed by Olive Tell and George Nash. Gene Buck, lyric writer for the “Follles,” announces that he will be- come a producer next season. He plans to present “Gunpowder,” a play by J. C. and Elliott Nugent. Arthur J. Lamb will begin rehea als of his new play, “The Soul,” on May 4. Crosby Gaige and Sam. H. Harris Pat O'Malley, Jack Mower, Alec B. Francis, Charles Clary, Walter Long, Eric Mayne and Wilson Hummell complete the cast. Short films and music by Director Manvell and his band will complete the program. GAYETY—"Bom Bay Girls. Two shows will be offered by the Gayety Theater this week, when Jack Reid's “Record Breakers” and Drake and Walker's “Bom Bay Girls” will divide honors on the program. Before intermission Jack Reld, known as “The Information Kid,” will be seen as star of an entertainment including songs. dances, chorus num bers and comedy scenes, supported by Sid Rogers, Joe Melino, Billy Roscoe, Tony Vallevona, Rose Sharon and Evelyn Craig and a chorus of 20 dancing girls. After intermission the colored folk will take the stage, and Drake and Walker's “Bom Bay Girls” will offer different style of work. The Cyclonic Jazz Hounds will inspire syncopated instrumental strains for the dancing, which includes buck-and- wing, cake walking and Charleston stepping of a dozen creole girls who form the chorus. MUTUAL—“French Frolics.” Betty Palmer and her “French Frolics,” open today for a return en- gagement at the Mutual' Theater. Charles Le Vine, Billy Tanner and Eddy Dyer, are featured as the prin cipal comedians, and among those as- sisting are Howard and Hirst, Harr Connors, Arthur Lyons and a lively chorus. Betty Palmer is a dancer of sur- passing pep and agility, and others in the cast include Buelah Baker, the prima donna, and Loretta Fradlin, a specialty dancer. . Many changes have been made in the show, it is stated, new numbers (Continuedson Second Page.) announce that next season they will offer matinees of a burlesque pro- duction of “Romeo and Juliet.” with an “all-Hebrew cast,” headed by F: nie Brice and Harry Green. Elsie Ferguson left for the ¥ cific Co: last week to play the leading role in “The Grand Duchess which Henry Miller and his compat will produce in San Francisco, M 18. The play, from the 1'renc Alfred Sav , has heen ad Arthur Richman. It will be a Full production in New York of Charles Frohman, Inc. William Francis Dugan, autho producer and director of “Thrills assumed the leading role of his play in New York last week. Allan Kearns and Madeleine Fair- banks, leading juvenile and ingenue of “Mercenary Mary,” have signed a three-year contract to appear mn- der the management of L. Lawrence Weber. A motion picture corporation has secured “Cape Smoke,” the African | melodrama now renamed ‘“The Witch Doctor.” Tt fs reported it is to be made a screen vehicle for Douglas Fairbanks. Laurette Tayvlor will have the rols of Rose Trelawney in the revival of Pinero's “Trelawney of the Wells” by the Players. in New York. June 1. John Drew, president of the club, will return to the stage to play the part of Sir William Gower. Morris Gest has gone to Montreal for a week with the “Chauve-Souris” company. He is still negotiating for bringing to America the Moscow Art Theater Musical Studio next season. Aarons & Freedley when “Lady, Be Good in London next Fall Astaire will be starred. nnounce that is presented ed and Adele Alf Weinberger, now stage manager for he Fall y,” is to head a cor- poration which is being formed for the presentation of foreign plays in this country next season. Schwab & Mandel, producers of “The Firebrand,” announce for the Fall a musical comedy which they are now writing, to be called “Girlfriend.” Gregory Kelly, now in Chicago with Madge Kennedy in “Badges,” has been engaged by Crosby Gaige for the leading role in ““The Butter and Egg Man,” which George S. Kaufman is feverishly finishing in time for a Sum- mer tryout. Lillian Walker, the well known cinema actress, will open soon on the Keith-Albee circuit in “It Happens to Everybod: a playlet by Irwin Franklin. Fred Hand, manager of the Earle, was the original producer of the ‘Thomas P. Jackson playlet, “The New Stenographer.” This sketch, it is said, has been played throughout *he entire English-speaking world. 2