Evening Star Newspaper, September 13, 1925, Page 71

VIRGINIA WAREL e Lincoln Brity COMRFON - Tivoli Newsand Comment NOTHER week dawns, bright with promise. Three favorites preen themselves before our footlights—two in new and glistening theatrical raiment, the third in a French piece shown for the first time on an American stage. * k k X AVID BELASCO and E. H. Sothern come to town together to present “Accused,” a play by Ernest Brieux, transmuted for the British and American theater by George Middleton. “Accused” has its premiere at the Shubert-Belasco. Messrs. Belasco and Sothern, an incomparable pair, of course, separated for many years, should get it started lustrously for a long stop-over on Broadway. Sothern essays something new. One is accustomed in late years to associate Sothern with the name and work of Shakespeare, at least with “Accused” is modern, a 1925 model, Glowing in the reflected light of well—very dramatic modecls of other periods advance noticed as of marked power. names as Belasco and Sothern few plays are so for- such tuitously placed. ek K MONTEREY and 4 1 BRUCE MCRAT | | \ | | ' BILLY HAMLPT Mutual HE Nugents come to the Nationul with a mysterious, not a mystery play. Still it may be a mystery play, for all one knows. At any rate, the Nugents have consistently refused to divulge what it's all about, but there's the Nugent record for those who want to know what they are paying for—"Kempy,” just for one instance. For the second consecutive week the National has a triple-threater. J. C. Nugent, the father of the stage Nugent, wrote, produces and plays “Gunpowder.” Last week Noel Coward paraded a real talent in the same three fields in “The Vortex.” * ok ok ok OLI'S offers Bruce McRae, the human synonym for “amour” in “Lovely Ladies,” fresh from the typewriter of Jesse Lynch Williams, crstwhile newspaper man, who collected 1000 Pulitzer dollars : for ‘writing “Why Marry?” The offering is comedy in the Williams manner, an excellent manner, one may guess on Williams past performances Carlotta Monterey plays opposite McRae this time, as what promi- nent feminine luminary has not at some time or another? *x k *x X LTHOUGH there was no excessive blaring of trumpets over the event, last week had some of the attributes of “home-coming.” Thomas, who has devoted the last 25 years to fashioning vehicles in which others rode before the footlights, found in prohibition in particular, and reform in general, too glorious an opportunity to resist creating a vehicle for personal chauffeuring. A prejudice that evidently was too close to the heart made Mr. Thomas oblivious of the mechanics of the theater Augustus that every one knows he knows so well, and the result was below the | Thomas standard in compactness. character of the Senator won more prai went into creation of the character in Washington “Still Waters,” paradoxically, needs some damming. Then, Mabel Normand, long a figure, but never a voice, at least so | far as Washington is concerned, proved that the drama of silence was not the only kind that fitted her talent. Long absence from the stage m the vast celluloid reaches of Hollywood has not robbed Mabel of a con- tralto_that revealed itself to Poli's audiences throughout the week in “The Little Mouse.” BR(}A])\\'.-\\' gets its glimpse of “The Vortex” this week. a London success, that opened last Monday at the Na earmarks that bespeak Gotham's approval. cyclonically at others along the neurosis theme, epidemic- among play- wrights. Noel Coward, its author, demonstrates he is an actor as well, in the difficult role of a sniveling fatalist, who finally. does a right-about-face. x K K ok R This piece, nal, has the Lillian Barthwaite, a superh importation irom London, is the female | Subject, of course, to the omnipresent weakling, and a splendid_one. and the mew characters it brings vagaries of Broadway, “The Vortex™ should get 3 nice welcome. ok ok X GRH.\'IER Movie Season closed last night, but there are still some ex- cellent movies to be thrown on various screens about the Capital. “The Iron Horse.” heralded and reviewed as the 1925 equivalent of “The Covered Wagon” and other masterpieces of even more remote periods, continues through another week at the Rialto. Cecil B. De Mille’s "Ten Commandment s the offering of the Colum- bia. The film lays its emphasis on the modern rather than the early need for the decalogue that De Mille has fashioned for the screen. Lewis Stone, wearer of one of the most excellent faces on the screen, is offered at the Metropolitan in “Fine Clothes.” Alma Rubens, as she has capably done hefore, plays opposite Stone. he Man Who Found Himseli,” with real ‘pictures of Thomas Meighan behind Sing Sing’s husky walls, is the Palace feature. It is re- ported to he a typical Meighan piece, with story enough to bring out the eighan talent, It runs apathetically at times, | Mr. Thomas' interpretation of the | . deservedly, than the work that | ixcessive, vehement oratory may | be thrown out before the piece gets its Broadway baptism. but as it opened | "NELLIE NELSON + Gayety Nora Bay:s. { Although Nora Bayes, who will be | seen here this week, is an interna- tlonal favorite, and spends much of her time on thé other side, she pur- chases all of her clothes in this coun- try. This came as a surprise, in view of the fact that Miss Bayes is considered one of the best dressed women on the stage today, and smart clothes and Parls have long been considered synonymous, Not that many of Miss. Bayes' cos- tumes don't originate in Paris, but | she purchases them in New York. She recently returned from six months in London and Paris, and went on a regu- lar orgy of shopping along Fifth ave- nue. In explanation, Miss Bayes says that she has found all too often that one selects a model abroad, pays a big price for it, and comes to find it worn by every other woman she meets. “It is impossible to tell in_ Paris what is being copied in New York,” she says, “but here it s very easy to select among the models the ones that are not. So 1 do my buying in my own home town—and all the news- papers in London and Paris congratu luis e vii Wy gowns.” e Palace MARY DUNCAN National THOMAS MEIGHAN JIM LLOYD Tarle At the Theaters This Week. NATIONAL—"Gunpowder,” comed BELA KEITH'S—Nora Bayes, vaudeville. RLE—Ritz Serenaders, STRAND—Gunnar Kasson-Balto, GAYETY MUTUAL—"Kuddling Kut NATIONAL—"Gunpowde at the ional to morrow night, has its first production on any stage. There are many things to make this one of the most interest- ing first nights of the budding season. It is the first individual offering of Gene Buck as independent dramatic producer. The , indefatigable and successful actor and author, J. C. Nugent, and his son, EHiott, have written powder.” The paternal Nugent began it 15 years ago, and has kept working on it until it should be up to the winute. The adroit, wary Nugents do not reveal theme or classification of the new play. But they relieve sus- pense by admission that it is not a var drama, and concerns not explo- ives. A play of the period, and its probiems, presumably, with a weave of crisp, distinctive Nugent comedy and satire. The cast is headed by J. ( Nugent, who has also staged the play and includes Mary Duncan, Fran Conroy, Sue MacManamy, Fritz Wil- liams, Helen Carew, Frank Thomas and the Washington child player, Ed- win Mills, a nephew of Mary Eaton The stage settings have been com: | posed by Joseph Urban BELASCO—"Accused.” E. H. Sothern will appear under jthe direction of David Belasco in “Accused,” @ play by Brieux, English {version by George Middleton, this week, in the Shubert-Belasco Theater, for the first time on any stage In this country and immediately preceding the New York engagement. Mr. Sothern's appearance is by arrange- ment with Mr. Lee Shubert. { Additional importance is lent to the {engagement by the fact that it marks |the first association of Mr. Belasco jand M. Sothern since the days of the | Lyceum Stock Company in New York many years ago. Mr. Sothern was Mr. Belasco's se- lection to originate the leading role in this play in this country, and, ac- cordingly, he held it until this distin- guished actor was available. ““Accused” is one of the most pow- erful plays written by Brieux, and scored a great continental success. It is a modern play in_three acts. Mr. Sothern, in the leading role, has a characler that promises to prove a noteworthy addition to his notable gal- lery of stage portraits. The supporting company includes Lester Lonergan, Henry Herbert, Mof- fat Johnston, Roy Cochrane, Leigh - Lovel, Ann Davis, Mabel Bert, Oc- npowder ydrama. Opens tomorrow evening. CO—*“Accused,” modern drama. POLI'S—"Lovely Lady,” comedy drama. vaudeville, huckles of 1926, burlesque. burlesque. “Gun- | Opens tomorrow evening. Opens tomorrow evening Opens this afternoon. Opens this afternoon vaudeville. Opens this afternoon. Opens this afternoon. Opens this afternoon. |tavia Kenmore, France Bendtsen and Harold Seton. The play will be produced under-the personal direction of Mr. Belasco, who will remain here throughout the en- gagement. POLI'S—"“Lovely Lady.” | Lovely ladies will be given an en- | tertaining expose of thelr charms when directed toward shaping the destinies of a father and son at Poli'st Monday evening. On this occasion the 1925 models of feminine captor, mod- | ern mother and new generation girl { will “be themselves” with no exag- geration, 'tis said, and no bogus buf- foonery. Just a “fine lot of girls,” in the language of the day, voicing dia- | logue from the fascile pen of Jesse | Lynch Willlams, in the new comedy, | “Lovely Lady,” produced by Wagen: | hals and Kemper. | "Mr. Williams wrote an excellent story mot so long ago. in which a | { father and son failed to understand {each other. Although advance infor- (mation doesn't even hint that this! story is the basis for his “Lovely Lady" there is little doubt that it fur- nishes the lump-in-the-throat element | so necessary for a perfect play, even | though that play be a comedy. | As Washington is the first city to view the comedy it is a case of walt and see. Messrs. Wagenhals and Kemper like Washington. This city | has been unusually kind to them. It was here that ““The Bat” and “Span- !ish Love” back in 1920 won universal | approval by critics ana theatergoers. And because of this, “Lovely Lady” is | miven its formal premiere here. | The cast assembled includes Bruce | McRtae, Carlotta Monterey, Lily Ca- | hill, Mirlam Hopkins and William | Hanley. { Collin Kemper staged the play, | giving it. onme is told, an unusuai scenic _equipment. ! Mr. Willlams is a journalist, novel- ist and historian with at least two | plays that are easy to recall, “The Stolen Story” and “Why Marry?” The latter was awarded ths Pulitzer prize as the best play of a few seasons ago. And only three weeks ago he was honored by Michigan U; ‘versity with the Fellowship in creative art, a place formerly held by Robert Bridges, poet laureate of England. Certainly . the ‘D thor, the cast and the producers of Lovely are all somebodies. (Continued on Second Page) - | JAack HoLr Ambassador ‘Belasco anad Sothern Here. AVID BELASCO, accompanied by, E. H. Sothern and the members of Mr. Sothern's supporting company, arrived in Washington today for th premiere of Mr. Sothern in “Accused,” the play by Brieux, English version by George Middleton, which occurs tomorrow night in the Shubert-Belasco Theater, immediately precedeing the New York engagement. Mr. Sothern, whom Mr. Belasco is presenting by arrangement with Mr. Lee Shubert, is said to have one of the finest roles of his noteworthy career in this modern play. Mr. Belasco will remain with Mr. Sothernis company for the entire en: gagement here. Balto, Dog Hero. ALTO, canine 'hero, and Gunnar Kasson, indomitable driver of the team that ran the last thrilling lap of the perilous race with death to Nome carrying the precious diphthe- ria serum, will appear at a local thea- ter in person. this week, and it is in- teresting to know something about this pair who made this race about which a Naton exclaimed in wonder. Gunnar Kasson is a typical fron- tiersman. Six feet two in his walrus- hide boots, lean-limbed, 200-0dd pounds of bone and sinew, he Is of the type that wrested the West from the wilderness, that led the gold rush to California, and that later braved the rigors of Alaska in the first gold rush to the Klondike. Balto is a pure-blooded Stberian. He is six years old, the prime of a carry- ing dog's life, is a brownish black and was endowned by nature with white stockings. Unlike the malamute, which is half | wolf, the Siberfan has an unswerving | affection for his master and turns a friendly eye toward all human kind. Only when his master or the load he is carrying is threatened with at- tack will_he uncover his saber-like fangs and emit the ominous smarl that usually is sufficient to drive away any enemy. Balto was thé first “shaft dog" of the team—the dog nearest the sled. When the blinding blizzard stopped the lead dog Kasson substituted three other dogs, but each refused to break trail or.face the killing storm. Ka: son then took Balto from his position, harnessed him at the head of the line —and Balto, the smallest dog in the outflt, bored into the storm, found and heid the trafl and literally dragged the exhausted team into ‘Nome, ALICE JOYCE, RICHARD Dix Q)]umbla 3 At the Photoplay Houses This Week. COLUMBIA—"The Ten Commandments." and evening. RIALTO—"The Iron Horse." METROPOLITAN—"Fine Clothes.” ning. PALACE—"The Man Who Found Hir and evening TIVOLI—“The Des AMBASSADOR— ning CENTRAL—"“Tides ning NCOLN (Colored)—“The Lady Who Lied.” and evening. Shown this afternoon Shown this afternoon and even Shown this afternoon and eve- Shown t rt Flower.” Fine Clothes.” Shown this afternoon and evening Shown this afternoon and eve- of Passion.” Shown this afternoon and eve- Shown this afternoon COLUMBIA—"“The ments. | Cecil B. De Mille's spectacular ture, “The Ten Commandments,” wiil be shown for the first time locally at | the popular prices at Loew’s Colum | bla_Theater as this week’s attraction | The cast of thousands includes Rich {ard Dix, Leatrice Joy, Rod La| Rocque, Nita Naldi, Theodore Roberts, Charles de Roche, Estelle Taylor, Ju lia Faye, Edythe Chapman, Robert Edeson, Agnes Ayres and Charles Ogle. It is based on a story Ten Command- traction at” Crandall's Metropolitan Theater this week The leading roles are played by Lewis S Marmont, Alma Rubens, and Ravmond riffith. Auxiliary att tions | comedy and the Metropolitan Survey. Fine Clothes™ is the story girl who wanted many things that her purse could not encompass. Her anxfety to secure the fineries in which she saw the rich. led her to the brink of disaster and almost into the clutches of a wily nobleman. MacPherson and starts with the an-| The production is said to be one |cient version laid in Egypt, which re- | of the most pretentious that John M Veals'the luxury of the Pharaohs and | Stahl has ever made and the stors's the slavery of the people, including | appeal is thus amplified by highly the Israelites and leads up to the pro- artistic treatment 4 nouncement by Moses of the curse of | The Metropolitan Symphony, under the plagues on Egypt, the escape|Daniel Breeskin in addition to its con |through the Red Sea and the drowning | cert overture combining gems from of the hosts of Pharaoh. “Die Walkure,” “Die Meistersinger The modern version points out the |and “Rienzi." by Wagner. -Saeon |application of the Ten Command-|anq Delilah hy Saint Saencr pn |ments to modern existence, in which | goheme.” by Pucelnt, and “Carmen - | Plous mother with a God-fearing £on | by Bizet, will contribute as the theme and another son of irreligious views | v LPEt WL COMTIDULE A the theme |sees the law that was given to Moses | TIURY Tarrle Jacob Bond's e | worked out in the destiny of her two I Bl ave Yo a8l boys with the same deadly accuracy it | hoPUIAar e LouriRRC oW tar revealed in the time of the children of | TOMOITOW. ) lsreal. This latter part is made; PALACE—“The Man Who Found against a modern background repre. Himself." sented by San Francisco o Owing to the unusual length of thi FEomabe: BSIEhEn will jat Loew's this week begin- inh\g this afternoon in he Man production, all the usual added fea {tures have been curtailed. | RIALTO—“The Tron Horse." | Who Found Himself,” a dramatic ro- OWIng to the success achieved by |M27Ce especially written for Melghan he Iron Horse,” and in order to|bY Booth Tarkington. In the accommodate those who were unable lare Virginia Valli, Frank Morgun to gain admission, this photoplay will | Jujja He Fontan S B ita phot {Julia Hoyt, Lynn Fontanne, Norma “The Iron Horse” gives to the|Trevor and Victor Moore, and Alfred screen a masterful production of a |k. Green directed. Tom J. Geraghty virile subject.. Pages of history and | made the adaptation romance unfold rapidly as one| Meighan has the role of a small watches this pretentious battie to lay | town banker’s son, whose father ix a pathway of steel across our conti-|not in sympathy with his desire to nent, menaced by hostile Indians, |train with a yachting crowd for busi- constantly engaged in battles to per- ness purposes, and whose sweet- mit of continued work, and living |heart strongly resents his attentions on the product of this parren wilder- | to a vampish debutante. All this ness for bodily nourishment makes it easy for a rival banker, who To George O'Brien goes the honor [has maneuvered the young hero into of playing the leading male role,|a dangerous legal position, to con- while Madge Bellamy has the leading | vince the girl that her lover is dis- feminine role, and the large cast in.|honest and to further persuade her cludes.Cyril Chadwickk, Fred Kohler, | he sends him to jail on a technicality. Will Walling, Judge E. S. Bull, James | How the young hero becomes a Gordon, Jack O'Brien, Colin Chase, J. [trusty and utilizing that liberty Farrell MacDonald and many others. | breaks jail, calls on his sweetheart Mischa Guterson’s musical setting [only to learn she is married to the is entirely admirable and adds greatly | man who sent him to jail and then to the enjoyment of the picture. beats up the new benedict just for | luck, leads up to a thrilling climax METROPOLITAN—"Fine Clothes.” |and at the end finds the villain pun- “Fine Clothes,” First National's | ished and the lovers reunited screen version of Franz Molnar's | __A_new Christie comedy, “Soup to Play “Fashion for Men," IS the at. | (Continued on Third Page.) pic- will include a World by Jeanie | be the star Palace