Evening Star Newspaper, November 1, 1925, Page 81

Theaters Che Sunday Shee Part 3-—14 Pages \\"ASHL\'(.’ ’\ TON, D. MORNING, N()\'EMBHR I‘LOI?I‘:NCE QEED GEORGE ARLEY ~ Belasco Good Old Music, But a New_‘ Offenbach. By DPhilander Johnson. as utilized for “Blossom Time™ that in its so-cailed “heart interest” the story is little more than a mechani- cal copy. There is no genuine idea supporting the gorgeously elaborate | structure of scene. music and dance —cnough equipment to provide em- bellishment for a dozen new ideas. * xox % Scenery may be so stupendous as to overwhelm. The human touch is needed to give the spectacle sym- pathetic appeal. If “The Love Song” had offered little else, it would have been worth while for its revelation | of romping comedy combined with delicate artistry by Odette Myrtle Her fillip of the stagy Offenbach with her violin bow expresced in a | passing gesture a volume of intuitive criticism. Her sudden Charley Chap- linesque tragsitions of mood make her anothe® edition of Beatrice Lilly—plus the violin. * o ox % Musical innovation without restraint in bits of melody to the intricacies of lcurrent rhythms. If radio could | reach into the tombs every composer |from Beethoven to Victor Herbert would be turning in his cerements as he listens to the jazzification of S('w fond relative remarked when he made a m{(take and attend- ed the wrong funeral, “It is. indeed. uncle, alas, how changed!” 1at remains in “The Love Song” the real Jacques Offenbach, whose obsequies were observed anew with | did ceremony last week, carries little suggestion of the original figure evond the garlands of melody and the name on the doorplate * okx ok One of the missions by “The Love Song” evidently to correct an ancient impression con- cerning the composer whose melo- dies he made to sparkle in a way that seemed as witty as the satires| which inspired them. His melodies <cem fairly to speak and to remain stelligible as songs without words— \e merriest of songs; come of them yve songs, indeed, but touched only with a careiree romance of flirtation and passing fancy. No doubt Offen- | hach had his heartaches and his; cerities. No man could have toil- d s0 indefatigably and so ambitions- v without that. But a roguish im- pression of him has survived since the days when enterprising Euro- pean publishers introduced some of hic cancan music in the American | as < hool books, to the consternation of | his most delicate themes. simerous boards of education. The| There was nothing extraordinary incans were lively with the spirit of [ in finding the graceful flow of the vouth and had been equipped with|“La Belle Helene” waltz transmuted words about tripping away in glad-|into a snappy two-four tinpan <ome measure the hours of harmless |allegro. The composers who supply pleasure that made them the em- [ tunes by a process of recollective im- fiodiment of innocent exuberance.!provisation hold forth the glittering were enthusiastically studied | hope that they are creating a gen- with a view to featuring them in uine native school of music. As a commencement exercises; but during | matter of fact, this is the case; for the Winter “Orpheus and Eurydice” | the music is of the kind which fol- came to town, and the staid proprie- | lows the demand of the time for ties were shattered by the first| quick work, standardized production limpse of a genuine impetuous cye- | and a well capitalized sy Bewildering cancan, A slipper was |ploitation for the purposes kicked across the footlights at each |rapid clean-up p-r!ormzn-(- The Offenbach of vhe-‘ * ok kX school books forthwith went to the! The new music is exemplified in cancannery. The sudden suppression |an exceptionally good style in “Lady, one of the most cheery incidents } Be Goad.” The songs by Ira Gershwin the singing exercises was an in-|and his brother George have several explicable mystery to the students, |turns of originality, and jump along 18 or 19 years of age, whose families |through the entire show with an ease did not consider them vet old enough | and agility that harmonize agree- to attend opera houffe. ably with the footwork of the chorus. oo | The great difficulty about the new The school-book words did not go| music for comedy purposes is that te so far a< the magnificent dem-| it has to be written for so many onstration under the Poli auspices in | people who dance but do not sing. subduing French abandon to discreet Perhaps the law of averages provides poetical measures. The old song. |for the manner in which as ragtime “Sabre de Mon Pere.” lost its lusty | becomes more and more the chif liffidence when it replaced “Bring | fonerie of the chorus becomes less Forth the Saber” with “Bring Out and less. the Wine Glass.” The waving of imaginary wineglasses in the air, even though hinting at Volstead de- fiance, was hardly sufficiently robust in suggestion to stand comparison with the old song which a German, ordering a sandwich, delighted to! the entire evening. arm‘lv into “Bring Forth the Cheese | itude of audiences. Knife.” The production was a thing Kk ok k% of unsurpassed beauty. Our theater, In the luck of the theatrical art yery properly, as it becomes more | game, that first-rate player, H. B. ‘beautiful, seeks also to grow more | Warner, has not been consistentl refined, sometimes overdoing it a lit- | favored. He has evidently been cata- tle to make up for occasional abrupt |logued as a “type” since his success lapses. The comedy was agile and|in the O. Henry play, “Alias Jimmie ronvincing, flmunh dispensing with | Valentine.” Allhoui an artist of rtain heretofore familiar elements. [polished methods, he has groped There was not a lady kicker in the |along, season by season, through the entire cast. iundrrwcrld play until he now ar- * kok rives with prison pallor and a dead- When a project is approacked with "Iinc dialect at the threshold of the s0o much financial earnestness, and|deathhouse. Even an actor should when scenes of so much spectacular | be permitted his relaxations, and so heauty are’revealed, it is a matter nugood a one as Mr. Warner ought to disappointment that a more careful { have at least one Winter's turn at substructure of idea had not heen |mingling in the easy atmosphere of srranged. To depict Offenbach as a | social elegance, as a man of loft sighing sentimentalist must call for |station traveling incog through th worroborative research hardly to be | plot till he proves worthy to rank as expected of a seeker for casual en- |the romantic ideal of the most exact- tertainment. The treatment of the ing debutante. The theatric world subject is <o obviously influenced by |;~ but an imaginary one. and vet it success of the life of Schubert |has its Fates, who pursue the player £ W but undertaken was busies itself adjusting old They of a * K Kk K There is luck in the life of a come- dian. Walter Catiett manages to get 10 minutes of irresistible fun into the early part of the show, which makes | him a welcome incident throughout | Such is the grat- em of ex-| Atwill in a New Play. JONEL ATWILL'S tenth anniver- ary on the American stage—which 0 marked his twentieth year on the glish-speaking stage—was recently celebrated at the RitzCarlton by a dinner dance tendered by a committee | of the actor's English and American personal friends ana admirers. Fran cis H. Sisson of the Guarantee Trust | Co., presided, and on behalf of David | Belasco presented Mr. Atwill with the firat souvenir copy of “Debureau.” the play in which Mr. Atwill made his start as a star on the American stage. Mr. Atwill is rehearsing “Deep in the Woods.” a new play from the Hun- garian, which he will produce in Bal timore' November 9. After a week in Washington he will take it to New York for what he hopes will prove to | be another season’s run Charlot s Revue. HARLOT'S REVUE" will be pre- | sented in its new 1926 edition at the Academy of Music. Baltimore, | for five days. beginning November 3. | Baltimore sees the premiere perform- ance in the United States, as the revue will not open in New York untll _the following week, Novembér 10. It will remain there for the | | entire season. | With the revue come its four de- | lighttul principals—Beatrice Lillle | (who has become Lady Robert Feel | since she was last seen here), Cier- trude Lawrence, Jack Buchanan and Herbert Mundin. The entire company ix English, and the chorus girls are of the youthful variety that' have made them and Mr. Charlot famous. This new edition is pronounced | “more delicious in its humor, color | and charm than its predecessor. Tts creator has stuck to his revue theories |and bullt an entertainment distinctive for its wit, its lack of vulgarity and its emphasis on personality rather | than spectacle. It will not he seen in Washington this year. himself even more relentlessl |they pursue the roles he represents. | * K ok ok The outlook for the present week |is one of cxceptional interest, bring- ing forward Ina Claire in what prom- ises to be the most important play she has yet uudl'r'akcn. a comedy {by the author of “Aren’t We All"" | Roland Young, who has been making |some remarkable personal hits, gives assurance of a strong clement of in- | terest in the cast, in addition to that \prondcd by Miss Claire. George Ar- |liss has a vehicle befitting his sedate- Iy literary custom in a Galsworthy ipla; Old English.” There will, of course, be a musical comedy, with names lending distinction. In addi- | tion to these, the week brings varie- \xated entertainment enough to fill a 16-hour day 7 days in the wee cluding pictures, concerts, v illes, recitals—in fact. a torrential | array of cntertainments whose de- ailed announcement for the benefit | of this Capital City would test the resourceiul vocabulary of Polonius | himself. [NA CLAIRL. National BUDDY HAPQIS’ON N Mutual | known in "ASuflower Garl” "Rarle Curre nt Attractlo ns Atithe Theaters This Week: BELASCO—George Arliss in “Old English,” to NATIONAL—Ina Claire, morrow night. Opens tomorrow night POLI'S—“Mayflowers,” KEITE {'S—Florence Reed, STRAND—"Nonsensical Revue,” Sunflower Girls,” ’—Abe Reynolds’ noon. MUTU. 1—"Hollywood Scandals, BELASCO—George Arlis: In | lish” George Arliss, | actor, will appear at the Shubert-Be- | lasco Theater this week only, John Galsworthy's the dlstinguished | 1d Eng- | begin- ning tomorrow night. Comment has been made on Arliss ‘make-up for called thorp, assoclates. he uses 1 Sylvanus Hey- “Old English” by his The curfous thing is that ittle gnake-up but consider- able art in transforming himself. “Old English” is a gayv old blade, a genarian, boldly, | shrewd and sharp shipowner, an octo- who turns a stiff upper lip | | fo adversity and goes down with his | | colors fying. For threescore years he | has dominated all who have come in contact with him. pendence above ail things. ter opposes his will and bitter feud between them. ] |house of cards threatens to tumble | |about Mis head he meets his fate grandly, He prizes his inde- His daugh- there is a As his without the slightest tinge 0{ self-pity. The cast includes all the players who impressed New York during the 200 nights “Old English” was acted there. Irby Marshal is the leading woman for Mr. Arliss. Evan F. Simpson will be remembered for his portrayal of Wat- kins the des: o Cecile Dixon, Henrietta Goodwin, Griffies, butler fn ““The Green God- thers in the company are Molly Johnson, Ethel Murray Kinnell, Robert Harrigan, Henry Mor- rell, Guy Lewis A. Cooper, M. Murray Stephens, Gilbert Cowan, Gordon McRae, Cunningham, Perry Norman, Edward John Sealy, John Hall, Parrish, Arthur Villars and Thomas Donnell: manager. Maude T. Howell is stage NATIONAL—"“The Last of Mrs. Cheyney.” Tna Claire will be the attraction at the National Theater this week, open- | ing tomorrow ciety comedy “The Last of called Just now igning St. James ight, in a modern so- with a touch of drama Mrs. Cheyne: the play is declared the success in London at the heater, with Gladys Coop- the | “The Last musical comedy. vaudeville vaudeville. vaudeville. Rounders, | who | a =et of complications and situations Lonsdale play. Opens of Mrs. Cheyney,” comedy. Opens this evening. Opens this afternoon. Opens this afternoon. | Opens this afternoon. | burlesque. Opens this after- burlesque. Opens this afternoon. er, Sir Gerald Dumaurier and Jefferies in the cast. Miss Claira will play the part acted in England by | Miss Cooper. “The last of Mrs. Cheyney” is by Frederick Lonsdale, author of “Spring | Cleaning” and “Aren’t We AIL" In his new comedy, Miss Claire will he seen as a sparkling, clever young girl is masquerading as a society | woman, but is in reality a shop girl | who has joined a band of confidence | operators.” In other words, she is «n the verge of being a crook and steal- ing a pearl necklace from her hostess when the dramatist devis that may be described as both unusual and suspenseful. Just what happens to Mrs. Cheyney will be kept a surprise until the play is sedn. The action takes place in England and the various characters surrounding Mrs. Cheyney in her drawing-room appearance are largely members of the so-calied smart set_of London of the present da) The supporting company includes A. 3. Matthews, the English comedian recalled for his recent hits in “Bulldog Drummond” and “Spring Cleaning,” and Roland Young, who gave a good account of himself in “Beggar on Horseback,” with Alfred Asre, Felix Avimer, Lionel Pape, Winnifred Har- ris, Nancy Ryan, Audrey Thompson, Helen Haye, Harry Mowbray and Mabel Buckley. POLI’'S—“Mayflower: Joseph Santley and Ivy Sawyer will appear as the featured members of the Shuberts’ new musical comedy, “Mayflowers,” at Poli’s Theater this week, beginning tonight. “Mayflowers” is a musical version of a play by Arthur Richman, pre- sented successfully by the Shuberts several years ago. The adaptation of this_comedy foilows closely the plot of the original story, with the addi- tion of many haunting melodies and smashing ensemble numbers. The music for “Mayflowers” is the Jjoint work of Edward Kunneke, the Viennese composer, and Frank E. Tours. My. Kunneke will be yemem- | Ainley. | Courtneidge's K Ellis | “The Love Song, | ousy, | star of A Pleasant Reminder. ALTHOUGH Miss win, who plays the slavey in “Old English,” George Ar new Lonsdale play. was born in the State of Washington—in Tacoma, to be exact ~Washington will welcome her as the granddaughter of H. J. Ramsdell, who was at oge time one of the promi- nent corrlbondents.in the newapaper field at the National Capita] and very popularsin his day. Miss Goodwin made her theatrical debut in London in “The Young Visit ors” and she afterward played char acter parts in “The Man Who Came Back” and in ‘The Jest” with Henry She also was seen in Robert | hakespearean company | roles such as Maria, Au-| Nerissa. She was under. Mary O'Farrall, in “Oliver with Ienry Ainley. Henrietta Good in comedy drey and study to “romwell bered as the composer of the operetia | and also of “Caro- line,” which was presented two sea- | sons ago. Mr. Tours is the composer | of the music of Kipling’s “Mother o’ Mine."” ‘ The story of “Mayflowers" concerns the day dreams of a little seamstress in New York. She has a romantle turn of mind and her free hours, of which there are not many, are spent | in dreams of romantic and dashing | hero. Unconsciously she selects as | her unknown hero the son of. (l\o" household in which she is employed, | and although the object of her adora. | tion scarcely knows of her existence, subsequent developments in the story throw them in each other's path and | in the end the little seamstress has her romance. “Mayflowers” has been staged by willlam J. Wilson, who staged the dances for the first Winter Garden production in 1911, and also “Pina- fore” and other Gilbert and Sullivan operettas. In addition to Mr. Santley and Miss Sawver, the cast includes Robert Woolsey, Nydia d'Arnell, Gaile Bev- erly, William Valentine, David Hig gins, Ethel Morrison, Josephine Duval, Virginia Lloyd, Norman Sweetser, Francetta Malloy, Lydia Mae, Nancy Carroll, Kayo Tortoni and a singing and dancing chorus that is said to be as “refreshing and attractive as a breath from & rose.scented garden. KEITH'S—Florence Reed, Vaudeville. Florence Reed, the Broadway star, heads the bill at B. F. Keith's Theater this week in a new comedy, “Jeal- by Edwin Burke, staged by the author. Miss Reed was the famous “The Painted Woman,” “Th Jacket,"” ‘The Wanderer, Chin Chow,” “Roads to and other notable produc- Yellow “Chu Destiny tions. Jack Joyce will bring his high school horses, said to be the finest act of the kind in the world, as a featured (Contlnued on Second Puge) | will VY SAVYER and JOSEPH SANTLEY Polis Comlng Attrac tions NATIONAL—"School Scandal.” Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s “School for Scandal” will be the attraction at the National Theater next week, he gining Monday, November 9. An aull star is announced by George (- Tyler. who last season The Rivals” here with a by Mrs. Fiske In anticipation a serfes of lectures has been delivered by Walter Prich ard Eaton and Clayton Hamilton In past vears Mr. Tvler offered such all-star productions as “The Two Orphans,” with Kyrle Bellew, George. Clara_ Morris and James O'Neil: “Oliver Twlist,” with Nat Good win, Marfe Doro. Constance Collier and Lynn Harding. while at the pres ent time he has in_addition to the School for Scandal.” Sheridan’s oth er comedy. “The Rivals.” with Mrs Fiske. Thomas A. Wise, James T. Powers and Chauncey Olcott Basil Dean. noted English producer. this country for his produc ‘Loyalties” and “Peter Pan.” staged “School for Seandal.” making a special effort to stick closely to the original mode of presentation as done in the eighteenth century The selection of O. I Heggie to play Sir Peter Teazle, Henrietti Cros man as Mrs. Candour. Julia Hoyt Lady Sneerwell. May Collins us 1. Teazle and Jefferson De Angelis Moses reveals the preparation made by Mr. Tyler to insure the success of this revival. Also from St. Martin Theater in London. where they have heen appearing in a series of plays by Galsworthy and Shaw, come lan Hunter for the role of Charles Sur- face, James Dale as and Ben Field as Sir for cast cast headed Be Grace tions « Oliver. In the part of Snake will be seen Romaine [2nd dancin | MeIntyre, Callender, while the veteran Willlam Sevmour will play Rowley The many other roles. even the mi nor ones, will be played by recognized ability, who have consented to aid Mr. Tyler in making this pro. duction of “School for Scandal” equal it not superior to any ever offered in the history of the stage in Ameri where for more than a century it has been considered one of the greatest comedies ever written. POLI'S—Laurette Taylor. Arthur Hopkins will present Lau rette Taylor in the latest comedy hy Philip Barry, “In a Garden,” at Poll's Theater the week beginning Novem- ber 9. In support will appear Frank Con- roy, Louis Calhern and Ferdinand Gottschalk. BELASCO—"At the Curtains.” Wagenhals & Kemper, who brought A Thief in the Night” to Washing- ton five years ago, promise anothe mystery, play in At the Curtains at the Shubert-Belasco Theater next week. It will he recalled that “A Thief in the Night” later hecame the world-wide stage success, “The Bat.” |Emm Joseph Surface | artists of | Ralph Morgan heads a cast of some | 0 nam Arthur_Goodrich and W. F. Payson are Goodrich wrote S the authors his Is Londo KEITH'S—Cecelia Loftus. Miss Loftus. the world’s greatest mim the top position of the Keith's Theater next week Marie Ca hill, creative comedienne, and Mm Trentini, star of ‘“The Firefi and “Naughty Marletta,” will join sharing the top honors of the bill SARLE—Lopez Debutantes Next week the Earle will offer headline attraction the Vincent Debutantes, 11 charming fen: musiclans and one of the vers few woman orchest now playing the vaudeville theaters. Others on the rogram Healey, Reynolds a Saxton | i Rogers Williams, the “Dixie”; the Walter Son; Dance and Syncopa Dunbar and Turner in “Nifty Nonsense and Tavlor and Marley in “Running for Office The photoplay wi mount picture, “Tre Cecelia heralded B. F its Lopez inine From Revue, tion be the Para ble With Wives STRAND—Clinton and Rooney. next Sunday the Strand present a bill of Loew's with a first-run photopla Walt Clinton i Juli wi their own orchestra a ners. Miss Rooney is the of the late Pat Rooney and to young Pat mow starrin, arie Bent in ““The Daughte: O'Grady and_Kilhy in “Lau ng number. the world's shot, will exhibit his tional marksmanship. The photoplay will be Metro-Gold wyn's production, ““The Mysti with Aileen Pringle and Conway Tearle. 1t is described amazing pictu ex posing the activities of fake mediums. GAYETY—"Bringing Up Father.” A combination of musical comed foolery and vaudeville promise: next week at the Gayety Theater in Bringing Up Father in Burlesque Hurtig and Seamon. the produce: have given this cartoon favorite a lavish setting with Pete Curley in the role of Jiggs, Beatrice Harlow as Mag gie and Jimmy Connors as Dint Moore. Others in the cast are Flo Haomi, Florence Chapman and Wil liam Pollard, with 18 choristers. Beginning Theater will vaudeville ind with Rooney the _he: laughter a sister with M of Rosie Faye tertain will en singinz 1 Capt. H. C. zreatest rifle skill in sens Company s an MUTUAL—"Hollywood Scandal d F. Rush will bring his “Holly wood Scandals” to the Mutual Theater next week. Starred in it is Minnie “Bud” Harrison, a personable com edienne who sings well. Miss Harri son dominates in the various skits. In addition to Miss Harrison are Kitty Phillips, Goldie Mantell, George Hart. Fred Reese, Art Brooks and spirited chorus of pretty girls. Daily matineex are given at 3 pm In the Spothght Gladyvs Unger from the | French of Rene Fauchois, will be placed in rehearsal by Arch Selwyn this month. by h Fddie Buzzell and Mary Milburn will be featured in the production of “Leave It to Me,” a musieal show now in rehearsal for Rufus Le Maire. Catherine Chisholm Cus Master of the Inn.’ story by Robert Herrick, in rehearsal last weel by Street. hing's “The Druce & 1 Coward's “Easy Virtue," in which Jane Cowl will be starred, is now in rehearsal by the Charles Frohman, Inc., In a: Joseph P. Bickerton, Dean. First performances cluded “The Last of Mr Newark; “The Fou Boston, and *Wee Elliott Cabot, has been added to the cast of Christine Norman's “The Bal- cony Walkers,” soon to be produced by Henry W. Savage. jr., and Basil last week . Cheyney Cocoanuts, in Providence. ‘The name of James Forbes’ new comedy, by the 'Dramatists, Inc., changed from “The Hope of House" to “Young Blood.” Clifford Sellers and Robert Lynn be in the cast of “‘Adam Soli- taire,” that opens the Provincetown Playhouse season this week. has_been the Mary Glynne and Dennis Neilson- Terry, English actors, who came to this country with “The Crooked Fri.| Internatiq day,” will be seen in New k- ociation with | which is soon to be produced | HE Monkey Who Talks,” adapted | * based on a short | was placed | daunt Shairp's “The Offense,” which is now running in London. Charles Dillingham announces that he has engaged Alla Nazimova for new play, “Nadys,” written by Noel Myron C. Fagan announces that his new play, “The Fascinating Devil. will open in New York ond week from tomorrow night. Raymond Hitchcock will head a com pany ireenwich Village Follies which will start on a tour of the South this week. “Cousin Sonia,” by Louis Vernenil will be placed in rehearsal in New York tomorrow, with Marguerite Sylva heading the cast. Norman Bel-Geddes and Richard Herndon will begin casting immedi ately for ““The Gull Killer,” the second play on their season’s program. Hope Barnett is the author. It is her first play. ‘Tip-Toes,” a new musical comedy by fhe authors of “Lady Be Good,” is announced for a New York opening I—r.irl,\- in December, by Aarons & Freed- ley. Two new pla American authors have been purchased by the Theater Guild ack of Doom.” by Vietor Victor, and “B. A. B. A. Black Sheep,” a satire on modern educational condi tions, by Burdette Kinne. Richard Herndon is to produce Sam uel Shipman's new play, “The Day Lady.” It was first thought that the al Theater was to officiate (Copiinued on Sixth Pageq