Evening Star Newspaper, May 10, 1925, Page 54

BAINTERL - Polis Variations of a Permanent . Classical Theme. By Philander Johnson. % Perhaps one reason for. the pub- lic’s willingness to be treated rough In the matter of stage dialogue or else in extreme contrast, its demand or the intellectual courtesies of the classic drama, is the formalized- and perfunctory method of stage story telling, which has grownstronger season by season. Since King Co- phetua saw the beggar girl from his window away back yonder in fic- tion's musty chronicles, the story of the charming girl who loved above her station has been related in every form from farte or comic opera to tragedy. It fevealed the gentler, more sympathetic ph:s. of Mr. Zangwill's. authorship in “Merely Mary Ann,” after having run-for centuries through the English- speaking novels. This season it has appéared week after week in deft variations until, perhaps, pardon should be extended to the playgoer whose exhausted patience can find a certain relief by attending dramas such as “Rain” or “White Cargo,” with their facilities for an evening of vicarious profanity. * X kX Cosmo Hamilton’s new play, sub- mitted at the close of the present season with experimental int. jons looking possibly to the beginning of an extended run next Fall, is a de- lightful literary production. The author proceeds under the restraints of scholastic refinement and permits himself no broad strokes of humor, no passions torn to tatters and no very intimate revelations of charac- ter, as they might verge on rollick- ing gayety or on the grotesque. The play is a highly polished plane sur- face, which reflects a gxou? of .peo- e whose chief responsibility. (and no light one at that) is to. display the manners and customs of. a circle accustomed to luxury and with a sense of social superiority which rather disdains the ‘morals, as well as the.manners, of usual hu- manity. This group forms the back- ground for Ruth Chatterton, who appears as the little gardening girl and typifies the elemental prole- tariat with her customary charm. * X X X It is an easy, graceful flow of nar- rative which ripples sparklingly at many turns, but never causes any . spectacular emotional splash. * ok ok x The. story of “The Family Up- stairs” again brings to the footlights a little girl who loves beyond her po- sition or,at least, who thinks she does. The playwright obligingly makes the young lover's fortune the mythical product of a hopeful imagination on the part of the Family. The fun is rect, in the spirit of broad farce. The characters are natural and so multitudinously available to the ob- servation of. any book agent or bill collector that they leave the specta- tor with the impression that there is little imagmative cffort involved; that the author has merely photo- graphed from real life. This im- pression is superficial. The play re- veals keen perception and a very human understanding of the social struggle in circles quite the opposite to those depicted in the Cosmo milton play. Some very appeal- ing sentiment is disclosed in the pic- ture of devotion of the two young lovers, whose perfectly sensible at- tachment is nearly wrecked by. the impetuous aspiration of their well meaning parents. * ok x Estimated as a .prospective com- mercial property the Family has an advantage over “Abie’s Irish Rose” in that the role of the father gives scope for a dominant personality, who is_waited for with confidence that hig every demonstration will create a glow of interest and prob- ably a laugh. ‘The public dearly loves a star. The same comparison gives “The Rose” the advantage of more ‘incident and a consistent scheme of broad caricature. * ok ok * ‘i Walter Wilson is In every sense of the term tht head of the Family. Fastened to the orchestra chairs there used to be boxes which would yield opera glasses if you dropped a dime in the slot. Facial play was an important consideration in’the popularity of an actor; one which has been largely subordinated to agility of ankle. Mr. Wilson revives it ‘in"his comedy and some of his scenes are as subtly enacted as that of Mr. Golightly when some come- dian of standard celebrity discovered that his pockets were empty in the farce “Lend Me Five Shillings.” Facial play is still employed in the films, but to such an energetic de- gree that it partakes of the general theatrical tendency to athletics. Mr. Wilson’s playing is the first that has ecn seen for some time since stand- ardization was introduced in the playhouse that would invite a re- vival of the opera glass. * *x * x Forecasting the pecuniary pros- pects of a play is a fascinating diversion, but about as reliable as formulating tips on the races. There is a potent, though indefinable, ele- ment of handicap. The finer speci- mens do not always have the best chance; which ‘must be admitted when_“Abie’s Irish Rose,” an object of widespread intellectual scorn, is still playing with enormous profit, while “The Sapphire Ring,” a source of genuine delight to a séries of most exacting audiences, could be bludgeoned into inanimation before it has had a fair chance to catch its breath. Perhaps “The Sapphire Ring” was not liked because it ven- tured a departure from the story of the little girl who loved above her station. * ¥ %k % Announcement is made that the Producing Managers' Association will dissolve, thereby enabling its in- dividual members to devote less at- tention to commercial stratagems and more to producing and manag- ing. The opening of the Summer theater season is proclaimed by the announcement of “The Nervous Wreck,” which sounds appropriate, as it suggests the state which the theater has gradually. been approxi- mating. This play, after its first performance in this city, proved a stalwart specimen, and no doubt the general theater will so reassert itself after spending the Summer in getting away from an irritable tendency. to hypochondriacal intro- spection. George Washington ramatics. THE Dramatic Association of George Washington University last week presented - the Initial performance of its first .dramatic festival .in the new gymnasium-theater of the university. The festival is a series of four en- | tertainments given by the four dr: | matfe “clubs of the university—the { Mimes, -the Players, the Dionysians and the Troubadours. Tuesday evening the Mimes had their opportunity to try for the cup which s to be awarded the club giv- ing the best performange. As the Mimes are chiefly interested in one- act ‘plays, their offering was in the form of three short plays, varied in character and ushered in by a pleasing platio recital by Kenneth Mulford. “Judge Lynch,” the first play, is « brief exposition of the horrors of lynching, laid in southwestern Texas. It was directed by Marian Barker, with a capable cast, including "Ann ‘Wrightson, Lounelle Davison, Alston Stevéns and Charles Hayes. The second playlet, “Modern Pler- rot,” introduced the modern element known as jazz, and in it E. Morgan Preble as Plerrot and Evelyn Davis as Plerette danced dalighttully; while little Ella. Bergling was an adorable Pierrot, jr. "Soclety Notes,” a comedy of social lite, was thoroughly enjoyable. Its scant plot. rgveals the troubles of a modern and sincere debutante, with her Victorian and superficial mother, resulting in the deb having “her own way.” Mary Keane was a convineing deb, and Ben Cain was appealing as the young doctor, who was ‘the deb's way.” Mary Griffith was interesting ns the ‘exclanmiatory newspaper re- | porter. Others in the cast were | Phoebe Gates, Raymer Johnson 'and E. L. Brandenburg. The Sunday Fay Bainter. (ONCE upon a time, as the story books say, there was an amateur dramatic performance in Los An- geles, with a “bables’ chorus” as the feature. It happened that one of the youngsters, who had been pushed for- ward by her doting mother, and who had two or three words to speak, for- got her lines at the critical] moment and another “infant,” not previously prepared, sensing the predicament, sprung into the gap and made the hit of the evening. This precocious young lady was Fay Bainter, the star of “The Dream due at Poli's this evening. At that time the embryo actress was just five years old. A few days later her parents were informed, in a message from the Burbank Theater, where the Morosco Stock Company was playing, that there was a child’s role in the play for the following week. and that little Fay could have it for the asking. That is how Fay Bainter started on the road to success. When she took her first long jump to New York, after many disappoint- ments in producing managers’ of- fices, she secured a part with Mrs. Fiske in “Mrs. Bumstead-Leigh.” Then, on the advice of Mrs. Fiske, she returned to “stock” for a season or_two. It was William Harris, jr., who gave Miss Bainter her first real op- portunity, in “Arms and the Girl," which was. a Broadway success. There were other plays leading up to “East Is West,” in which she made a phenomenal hit, and then came “The Dream Girl,” with a character as whimsical and dainty as that of Ming Toy. Mrs. Jimmy Barry Doll. A BLACKHAIRED DOLL, almost three feet tall, dressed from, head to feet in the latest gown, with hat to match, will become the prop- erty of some lucky little Washington girl as the result of a voting contest to be held by B. F. Keith's Theater trom May 10 to 16, inclusive. This. lifelike doil is known as the “Mrs. Jimmy Barry” doll, because the complete outfit of the little miss is a | duplicate of the one worn by Mrs. Barry, who with her husband will ap- year on the Keith bill during the week. The doll opens and closes its eyes, | says “Mamma” and is declared the last word from dolldom. Beginning with the matinee today and continuing throughout the week, up to and including the Saturday night performance, each patron will receive a blank ballot to fill in the name of the favorite little miss who should |- own the doll. The little girl receiving ] the most votes for the week will he awarded “the “Mrs. Jimmy Barry' doll. ~ The doll is on display in the lobby |- of B. F. Keith's Theater. Le Paradis Attractions. E PARADIS attractions now con- stitute a city and country en- semble, with the Chatean Le Paradis at Ammendale, Md., appearing in the role. of a very smart country cousin 1o the Cafe Le Paradis and Club Chantecler on Thomas Circle, ex- clusive dinner and dance resorts. Paradis Roof Garden is also expected soon to blossom into life. The Chateau Le Paradis, located within easy driving distance of either Washington or Baltimore, is proving 2 magnet for amusement seekers from both_cities, attracted by the Mever Davis Tent Band., which has made a tremendous hit during the last season: The Tent Band has been personally coached by Meyer Davis, and the suc- cess it has scored at the Chateau since its opening, more than a ‘week ago, has beer:most unusual. It is said to bid fair to be a’ worthy partner to the Le Pa Chantecler musical ensemble, which holds forth nightly at the Club Chantecler. N Hoffman-Hoskins Revue. Hoffman-Hoskins' *“Kiddie Review” is scheduled for the National Theater Friday and Saturday of this week; “bigger and better than ever.” One of the features is a baby chorus of wee tots under the age of five, who imitate the Tjller Girls, with special settings and gorgeous costumes. .The program will be short, snappy, and guaranteed to hold interest from the rise of the curtain at 8:15 p.m. until the closing number. Other features include a field of clover, where bumble bees and beauti- ful colored butterflies dance on their Jittle toes; a pantomime base ball dance by the boys, inspired by Wash- ington’s success of last vear, and a barefoot ballet of-color, together with Spanish gypsies. a group tambourine dance, group dancing of a waltz clog called “On Ninth Avenue,” Night” and “Spider and Flies," bler's . “The Cross-Word Puzzle” and a large jazz number, radis Band and the Club T Ringling Brog. and Barnum aud Bailey Circus ¥, LAURCTTE - Mary Shir (o] WASHINGTON, - D, C, SUNDAY MORNING, MAY 10, 1925. ! - TAYLOR_> MARIOVE . Tt HOWARD GIRLS Tarle MABEL Lea- Mutual ~ - " At the Theaters/ This- Week': BELASCO—"The Fall of Eve,” comedy. . Opens tomorrow evening.. POLI'S—"The Dream Girl,” musical novelty. Operis this evening. Opens tomorrow- evening. PRESIDENT—“Bringing Up Father in ‘Ireland,” musical comedy. KEITH'S—Laurette Taylor, vandevjlle. Opens' this afternoon. EARLE—“The Night Clerk,” vaudeville. Opens this afternoon. noon. STRAND—“Broadway Bits and Hits,” vaudeville. . Opens this after- |- GAYETY—“Bathing Beauties,” burlesque. Opens this afternoon. MUTUAL—“Round the Town,” burlesque. Opens this-afternoon. BELASCO—"“The Fall of Eve.” Tomorrow evening at the Shubert- Belasco John Emerson will present a new comedy, “The Fall of Eve,” by himself and’ Anita Loos, famous -for their delightful screen comedies. It will bring clever Ruth Gordon, who will be recalled for her irresist- ible playing ' of . the feather-brained friend in “Mrs, Partridge Presents’; Reginald Mason, notable in ““Oh, Lady, v’ “You and I” “Adam and Eva,” “The Dark Angel” “Tiger Cats,” “The Man in Evening Clothes" and ' the delightful “Dover Road"; Claude King, who first came to this country to play with Kthel Barry- more in ‘Declasse’”; Diantha Patti- son, who madé a hit in “Our Betters’ and since has played with the Wash- ington_Square Players, the Actors ‘heater, ' with - Margaret Ang| X under Robert Milton’s dirsction;‘Cara Witherspoon, Evelyn Wight, who was graduated from the Little Theater, Arthur Albertson -of - Ant ‘In the Next Room" and “Home Fires.” g ““The Fall of Eve” is described as a.| ‘scintillating comedy wifh a very mod- ern point of view. POLI'S—“The Dream Girl.” - Poll's promises a distinct musical noveltz this week, ‘béginning tonight, o long uns <o lia eroait fn Now eral.long runs to its In York, Baston and Philadel- phia. It stars Fay Bainter and fea- tures Walter Woolf, but it also offers the last musical work of Victor Her- bert, composer of ‘many lovely and lively melodies. Miss Bainter's charm- ing impersonation ‘of Ming Toy in “Kast 1s West" gave her a distinction |] that accentuated her successful work in previous productions. Those who recall Walter Weolf’s singing and per- wonality in “The Lady . in Ermine” will not find it difficut to believe that he has made another notable hit as Reformado Jack in “The Dream Girl.". Of the 15 songs musical comedy by the composer, the most important fall to Mr. Woolf -and Miss Bainter. Mr. Woolf's singing of “My Dream Girl” and “The Broad Highway"” is said to exceed anything. in his previous career as a singer. With Miss Bainter he sings ““My Hero,” and Miss Bainter is credited with a novel bit of interpretation in a little song of loneliness, "I Want to Go Home." g In the company are Robert Wool- sey, Maude Odell, Clara Palmer, Vivara, John Clarke, Irma Bertrand, Edward Basse, William O'Neal, Bobby Dale, Edmund Fitzpatrick, Wyn Rich- mond and Mary Howard, with a big singing and dancing ensemble, a male double sextet, a gypsy chorug and other novelties. PRESIDENT—“Bringing Up Father N Teelan & ehfleorx&» llslnnm‘ cartoon '.comedy |" aracters, Jiggs. and Maggle, a oo especiall vehicle ly written, entitled {Bringing Up Father in Ireland,” with the land of” the shamrock gorgeously. pictured, ‘is’ the entertainment an-| nouncement for the President Theater this week, commencing tomorrow. : “Bringing Up ‘Father,” as a. pro- duction, 15 entirely new. each ‘succes- sive n. Al that i3 retained in the present production is the original McManus characters, ‘Jiggs and m gle, and, of course, Dinty .and of the ‘gang.” “A ‘new, scenic-pro- duction with electricdl. effects,.: new:| faces and dances, likewise new mrusic,’ of any other producer. “Bringing Up Father” is in a class all | by itself. Music, comedy, grils, are the yeritten for thig: nucleus. of .all that is pleasing .to the eye. and ear. No attempt “is ‘made to fallow the daily cartoons; in fact, the play is quite a distance'abead of the newspaper characters. It has been sald that when McManus runs short of new material he pays a visit to the play for ideas. Matinees will be given Thursday and Saturday. KEITH'S—Laurette Taylor. Lauret(8 Taylor, as the ‘latest guest artist, will top the bill at B.! F. Kelth's: Theater this week, in- a tablofd-. version .of the wordless drama, - “Plerrot the * Prodigal, L'En- ‘tant Prodigue,” by Michel Cerre, Fils, with music by, Andte Wormser. As a prelude Miss ‘Taylor tells the story of the pantomimey. The production has been staged By Ottokar Bartik qf ‘the Metropolitan Opera .Co. < Mr.and Mrs. ;Jimmy Barry - will he featured . in ’ Mr. Barry’s rural 1dyll, ““Scandals ‘of Hensfoot Cor- ners.” 3 5 Ben Meroft will come.with his band of jassologists supreme, assisted by, Frank and Milt Britton, in “The High Hat,” ' introducing ~humorous songs ‘sung: by Méroff and a varlety of dancers, exceptional and amusing. Others will include: - Buddy" Doyle, “the 20th:Century Minstrel’; ‘Wally Bradley and May Hennessy, in:* "< the 'cowboy banjoist; Lucas and Inez, in: thelr art classic, “Adagio,” ‘a, muscular demonstration and: gymnasticrexhibition of rare ex- cellenceé: Dave .Winnie and Dolly, in personalities ~of the air, and the ‘ncreen_ features, ~Assop's Fables, Topics'of the Day and the Pathe News weekly. ; EARLE—"The Night Clerk.” “The Night ‘Clerk” heads' the bill at the Earle Theater today, with a matinee. Jack West is the featured com of - the ‘musical comedy; which is said to.present a_half hour of great fun. Others include the How- ard Girls, in an asrial novelty, “Class in the Air”; Ed. Morton, with nge; in ing for Fun."” ne-of the unusual scenes ned by Tom :in” making the daiero,” the.) fight, made in Spain. Nghters’” tmlori _wanted so much ‘money that it Jooksd at firat as if l,!hien wouldn;.“!;e‘(;ny lllll:‘hun( e‘l’!l‘ the picture: nero, the great: Savelhe. witiation by weluntsering wved’ the, si Yy vol 3 fiaownmrvb-diflthouothhu ) e States, | a Metro-Goldwyn picture. . - is & ‘bul Reithe President Tl’xe Circus . HURSDAY, Friday and Saturday Washington will have its turn with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey’s Greatest Show on FEarth at the Camp Meigs showgrounds. There are now five rings in place of three! And no end of new features and novelties. Trained horses are to the fore this season. with 350 equines in the various displavs, one number alone an “‘equine ballet” requiring 150 horses. Eourteen of* the world’s greatest high-wire artists will appear, includ- ing the Australian wizgrd, Con Colle- ano; Mijares, Maximo, most famous of all high-wire comedians; Berta Bee- son, aerial dancer: the Cuban, Bonar; the Valdo-Meers troupe, the Rositas and Manola. The bare-back riders, headed by May Wirth, greatest of somersaulting equestriennes, include George Hanna- ford, “Phil the Marvel” and Charles Ernesto, assisted by the Hannaford, Wirth and.Ernesto {amilies, with the Riffenach Sisters, the . Rooneys, Cor- reas, Bradnas. Comptons, Mardos, Renees and Suttons. Acts performed “high in the air” are almost countless, employing Lil- lian Leitzel, famous aerial gvmnast; Mlle. Aimee Fillis, France's premier Shaw and NTIL the Actors’ Theater revival in New York last December, “Can- dida,” Bernard Shaw’s brilliant com- edy, had not been done professionally in_this country since 1903, when Ar- nold Daly gave it his attention. Daly was, in fact, responsible for the first professional ‘production of the Shaw classic in America, and outside of the performances accredited to him and his associates the play was allowed to remain inactive over a period of more than 20 years. ‘The Actors’ Theater, which has set out to create and maintain high stand- ards of acting and - production, be- lieved that there were potential pos- aibilities in a ““Candida’” wevival from & strictly ‘modern point of view. This is probably its line of reasoning. As & matter of fact, “Candida,” in spite of its age, is a modern play and can be -thoroughly enjoyed in a mod- ernly_receptive way. “Fhe story has the touch of the masses, and divesting ® Shaw revival ot the maze of critical platitudes that are apt to be woven about. the event, it will be found that a Shaw play is just ‘good theatrical fare, highly seasongd . with incisive English’ and meant for general ‘con- sumption. ‘The so-called intellectuals delight in the pose 'of atiributing this meaning apd that meaning to the Shaw dia- logue, but when it comes to a real, common-sense diagnosis it will be found that Shaw is just a keen analyst who expresses in brilliant fashion his opinions of the peoplé with whom he comes in contact. In “Candida,” for instance, we-find a wife, a stenographer, a clergyman, his assistant, a poet and a plain citi- zen. Ordinary folk these, yet under the Shaw touch they are molded into ‘wonderfully outlined human beings. 1. |Alan Sears, 5| and the Osaka boys, in “Japanese Pas- ““The Scarlet- Honeymoon,” the pho- toplay, will bring Shirley Mason in ‘the role of a New York stenographer, who meets her great romance in a Broadway automat. Plerre. Gendron, J. Farrell. MacDonald, Rose Tapley and Eugenia Gilbert have important roles in the, produetion. If names mean anything, patrons of the Gayety Theater'may’ fiid a happy in | combination” this week in Rube Bern- ‘atein’s “Bathing‘Beauties,” a new edi- tion opening this afternoon. “Bathing ‘Beaufles” ‘of last season has been re- peopled with-. musical comedy and ‘vaudeville luminaries, a new book and - musical interiudes, brand-new scenery and 16 pretty costume changes for the 18 charus girls. _-Two,'of Columbia ‘Burlesque’s best fun-providers have:the leading laugh roles—Jack: Hunt and Clyde Bates, whose -portrayal of the tramp char- acter 18 ‘humorous at ‘all ‘times. h'n:: straight man, Dudley Farnsworth, a fine" singer. Happy Will Smith is trapeze artisi; Mile. . La Marletta, “pinwheel of the air’; Mle. Jenne, Ernest Clarke, greatest of all men on the flving trapeze: the Millettes, Mile. Emily, De Marlos, Schuberts and Mons. De Long. e The Colleano, Melini, Picchiani, Nel- son and Sarratos families perform re- markable feats of ground or semi ground g¥mnastics, introducing “loop the loop” apparatus, springboards, stilts and tall ladders. While discarding all “trained wild animal acts,” this year's circus has increased its menagerie to more than a-thousand zoological rarities. These include five troupes of elephants who play at “London Bridge,” Hulings' seven companies of seals, the Pallen- berg bears that have the run of the stages during an entire display and pull at the oars and propel huge row- boats and start, steer and stop gaso- line-driven autos. A hundred clowns introduce every- thing from a “shimmy patrol.” in which Ford cars wriggle and sway, to cross-word puzzle take-offs and a brass band in which the players are on stilts. The advance sale of tickets starts tomorrow morning at Lansburgh & Bro. Store, 420 Seventh street north wes ‘Candida.” The woman in Shaw not a super or sublimated person. but rather the essential quality of woman as she exercises her nature among the parts of life. She is a creature near to the sources of our essential human life, close to birth and death, wise and sad from the pressure' of our lives necessities and patient out of her fa- talism and sweet understanding. _She is the intervention betweey humanity and the world of nature and natural law. In her problem she has to consider the living forces in Marchbanks, the poet, and in Morell. the preacher, re- former, popular orator. husband and champion of causes. She knows that Marchbanks is the stronger of the two because his quality is more complete ‘within itself, his flight is straight and wild, ironical and far. She knows that Morell is the weaker because hé is all a muddle among many confusing tal- ents and reactions. The poet has no good intentions and no conscience be- cause his ideas and his actions are one, as his nature is. Morell needs to ex- ercise his conscience, his goodness, his nobler self. He Is the one who needs the gentle breast of a wise mother life. For him Candida decides. To him she gives her hands and her pity. She knows that Marchbanks, will suf- fer, but she also knows that his is the tragedy of all life. For her there is nothing new in the tears of things. So it will be seen in going over briefly the symbolism of the characters in “Candida” that the play is nothing if not a great human document based upon the things that happen in life it- self. “Candida” is not Shaw any more than life is Shaw. But the play is a great and wonderful understanding of characters in their relationship to each other, expressed in language that only Bernard Shaw can employ. “Candida™ i= the ‘effective young juvenile; Vinnie Phillips, a charming ingenue, versa- tile and talented; Kitty Madison and Marfe Hart are two -soubrettes that shine, and Hazel Romaine is a blues singer of unusual caliber. Kathleen French and the Airplane Girls furnish an up-to-the-minute sen- sation, while the “Bathing Beauties chorus must be seen, not. described. Friday evening a Charleston dancing contest, open to all, will be held. The audience will select the winner. MUTUAL—“Round the: Town.* The principal comedian of “Round the Town~ which comes fo the Mutual today, is Pat White. This ix a return engagement of this attrac- tion and it i announced' that several new bits have been added; as well as new n'zse settings and costumes. A rlew book has been . provided, bearing: the titles “On. the Joyland Limited” and the “Three Lovers," both the work of Sam ¥hor and Al Martin. The supporting cast includes Mabel Y May Raymond, Pauline Russell, Gladys Clark, Lottie:Lea, S8am Rage gor, Al Martin and: Henri Keller.