Evening Star Newspaper, November 15, 1925, Page 81

A SUNDAY MORNING, Part 3—14 Pages YVONNE GREY ard JOSTPHINL. LiBBY National TheDeparted Sheridan Holds His Own With Live Ones. By Philander Johnson. OA to which a player to listen patiently many times ‘Don’t you grow weary of having to say and do the same thing day aiter day?” The anewer is usually a protest that the pleasure of art prevents a sense of monotony. Nevertheless. the grind is felt and a good pla often shelved hecause of a desire to ex- plore new fields of idea. The actor who identifies himself with one great role is usually we!l rewarded by the public. as in the case of loseph Jeferson. admired in many roles. but most closely identified with that of Rip Van Winkle. It was sa with Forbes Robertson in “Hamlet” and_with Edwin Booth before him. Yet plays are some- times shelved for no better reason than a desire for change. * o owow of the questions has “In a Garden” sounds a little like e dramatized personal protest of Laurette Taylor against the day’s work. Tt is_essential that an emo- tional star display the efforts of an imprisoned soul of some kind en- ged in ineffectnal struggle to beat Away with bruised and disheveled winge the barriers of conventional restraint. It is usually the role of the husband that svmbolizes the re- straint. In this case the husband is a dramatist so accustomed to map out courses of event that the heroine regards her own life as dominated by him as but a series of cehearsed incidents FPRF N The grievance does not seem a particularly aggravated onme. But if the actress has the gift of tem- pestuous temperament any griev- ances will suffice for the demonstra- tion. Miss Tavlor is apparently en- deavoring to transfer to the speak- ing stage some of the methods of the Alm studios. Her scenes in many instances are not so much acted as they are “registered.” To the extent that this the case they sacrifice the charm of reading. which is the sole advantage. yet an | important one. that the speaking stage holds over the screen *ox ok % In spite of the intellectual wander- mst that attacks the theatrical mind, it is impossible to escape a habit af seli-imitation. Although an actor nay desire a new piay. he will also neist that its principal role be like that in which he has previously had success. Wagenhals and Kem- ser will probably never recover from “The Bat.” Atfter a career which seemed to imply an interest in standard drama they deviated a iittle and the success of “The Bat” as launched them into a career of “mystery plays.” e Svmpathy goes out to any of the ‘ew who interpreted the term ‘mystery play” in the sense of the early English theater and made it an sxcuse for attending the plavhouse on Sunday night. It was indeed a arprise to one who had settled him- self in a mood of reverential ex- pectancy to find the plot jumping pell-mell into stolen bonds. pistols. handcuffs and threats of the electric chair. ortu 3 approach the evening’s entertain- ment in a state of naive uninforma- tien is entitled to felicitations, for this particular form of surprise is the only one the play permits. The plot unfolds itself with such logical precision that it is easilv anticipated irom scene to scene and cven from act to act. It has possibilities in <ome degree in the way of character interpretation. The role of a ne'er- do-weel is attractive and sympa- Any whose fortune it was to | thetic, but surrounded by <o much melodramatic mechaninism that it is compelled to move in the main with the rest of the group as a lay hgure. * % o The feature of the week was that familiar demonstration which is be- ginning to impress itself with an annual date line in the title, “George Tyler's All-Star Cast of 1925 1f we do not know our Sheridan by this time it will be no fault of that idefatigable student and discrim- inating interpreter of traditional drama. His attitude is always deep- Iy respectiul. not only toward the a- | thors once forgotten (though not lavishly exhumed by the movies), but also toward the players who, for instance. like Henrietta Crosman, have identificd themselves with the literary stage. Of all the authors in evidence this season. Sheridan re- mains master. not only of wit. but as well of suspense and thrill. PR It is 2 curious fact that in the ef- fort to pursue a vogue there is so much repetition at close intervals that what is actually new seems old, while something of venerable an- tiquity projects itseli as a luminous novelty. Let those among us who are a little weary of the stage syncopated and stockingless hope that the researches in King Tut's tomb will eventually turn up a few manuscripts of earlv Egyptian plays. | What novelties they would be! oo ox | In reproducing the spirit of its own time, “The School for Scandal” | does not go as deeply into the sympathetic and psychological aspect of the story as did the Tyler presen- | tation of “The Rivals.” " The stage looks the by-gone scene of social ad- venture in “The School” with a pre- cision of detail calculated to please the student, though not always par- | ticularly to edify the casual spec- | tator. The tin footlight shields are i pretty enough, but no athletics of ! imagination could enable us to per- | suade ourselves that they concealed i sputtering candles instead of electric light bulbs. The costuming was magnificent in its artifice and vet all the flaunting of farthingales and feathers could not conceal the mod- ernness of the plaver within. It was necessary to preserve that genial archaism. the “aside,” to which there is possibly not nearly as much ob- jection as many of the rule makers | for dramatic construction affect to [believe. The old stage took its audiences more into confidence than s possible now. even permitting fa- vored patrons to occupy seats where, without interfering with the action, | they could easily be seen and envied I by the groundiings. It is ‘easy to !imagine an “aside” tossed confi- | dentially to one of these familiar | spirite who for the moment might { feel (in view of the fact that every- 'body on earth is in some degree | stage struck) a little fattered at { thus being made a part of the per- formance. Such an “aside” was plausible enough, and cven when it hecame customary for an actor to | tell his secret thoughts across the footlights to the drummer ‘it never interfered with the enjovment or the success of a genuinely interesting play. * ok ok % All this, however, was no reason for stepping forward and hurling the “aside” defiantly into the teeth of the audience ‘as was done last week. confidence, in which the author hegs the audi nce for 2 moment to waive the limitations of strict verity It is after all a kindly little | WASHINGTON, Ros NELSON Stiraund Col]egc Interest in Drama. HAT 65 per cent of American col- leges and universities are suf. | ciently interested in dramatic educa- | tion to either maintain departments | devoted to instruction in dramatic arts or to Include courses in dramatic art for which college credit is given Is the surprising report from the Car- negle Institute of Technology. This widespread Interest in the drama is shown, it is reported, in the results of a survey conducted by Car- negie Tech preliminary to the na- tional conference on the American Theater, which has been called by Car- negle's president, Dr. Thomas S. Baker, for November and 28 in Pittsburgh. Of 410 American colleges and uni- versities responding to a aquestion- naire sent by President Baker. ac- cording to the report. 264 replied that they maintained either departments devoted to Instruction in dramatle art, or gave courses in dramatic art for which college credit ia given. Of this number, 152 maintain organized departments in either drama or speech. Collegiate interest in the drama is further indicated by the re- port that 339, or nearly 83 per cent, of the institutions replied that th have student organizations whie! produce serious play: Is a Washington Girl. 1SS GECII, ANNE CAIN, whe will play the ingenue roles in the Washington Guild Theater. unde the direction-of Victor Kerney, is a Wash- ington girl and well known in’ soclal circles. She made her dehut In the world of art in college theatricals, and has appeared in the Little Theater in New Orleans, where she, had title roles. Miss Cain is an accomplished panist and dancer, and numbers among her treasures a collection of Oriental mu- slc gathered from out of the way places of the world. Her work with the Guild Players will be followed with interest by a host of personal friends in Washing- ton. and_lend” its-own imagination to help the play.get on. It implies a confession of the author's weakness of inverition- at this immediate junc- ture and therefore should be ex- pressed with most confidential courtesy and so received by the au- dience. * Kk ok K | The evening clothes Hamlet of 11925 was greeted with a serious in- ! terest in New York, which many people thought would be impossible. “Imperial Caesar, dead and turned to clay, might stop a hole to keep ! the wind away"—Immortal Hamlet, going to the bad. ere long may grace a haberdasher’s ad! D. -0, NOVEMBER 15, 1925 .~ RUTHDRAPER " Character Interpretatione i T % At the Theaters This Week. WASHINGTON AUDITORIUM tomorrow evening. NATIONAL-Ziegfeld “Follies,” BELASCO—Lionel Atwill in tomorrow evening. —*“La Tosca,” grand opera. Opens revue. Opens this evening. Deep in the Woods,” drama. Opens POLI'S—"Leave It to Me,” musical comedy. Opens this evening. KEITH'S—Nan Halperin, vaudeville. EARLE—Frank Farnum, vaudeville. STRAND—Bob Nelson, vaudevillle. “Bringing Up Father,” burlesque. MUTUAL—“Whirl of Girls"” burlesque GAYETY M— Washington's opera season will open tomorrow evening at 8:15 at the Washington Auditorium, when the | Washington Opera Co.. under the su- pervision of General Director Edouard | Alblon, will present “La Tosca” to | mark the beginning of the greatest season vet attempted by the Albion forces. The cast for “La Tosca” will be de- cidedly international in flavor. Tt will be headed by Elda Vettori, beautiful and unusually talented. who. though born fin Italy, came to the United | States with her parents while a baby and hecame an American citizen shortly after. Vettori's training has all been obtained in this country. either In St. Louis or in New York City. Greece will furnish the tenor star in Ulysses Lappas, one of the famous tenors of Europe, who sang opposite | Jeritza when she made her. dsbut in “Tosca™ im Covent Garden. He has sung all over Europe and was a regu- lar member of the staff of the Chicago Opera Co. in this country. Russia supplies the baritone in Ivan Ivantzoff, member of the Metropolitan Opera Co. and now considered also a Opera Co. Ivantzoff. who sang here in “The Barber of Seville” and “Faust” last year, will sing the role of Baron Scarpia. tenor, respectively, in Giuseppe La Puma and Franceaco Tagliavini. Both panies of Europe, and La Puma has been heard in South America and Cen- tral America. Jacques Samassoud of the National Academy of Opera will conduct the performance. Members of the Washington Opera Co.. who have worked their way up through the chorus, will have minor parts in the cast. Season reservations for the five operas to be given may be made to. morrow at the box office in the Jordan Plano Co., at Thirteenth and G streets, and-at the music department of Wood- ward and Lothrop's. In the e rening they may be had af the Washington Auditorium. After the ‘“Tosca” per- formance, season reservation will not be mold. of course. Tomorrow marks the last oppor- tunity, also, for the reservations for students at the special prices, avail able to students in schools and col. leges, teachers and students of music. NATIONAL—Ziegfeld Follies, The Ziegfeld Follles that ppens at the National this evening is always a red letter event, perhaps now more so than ever before, for its newest edi- tion is offered here after recently breaking its previous record with 67 weeks in New York. . Tt was in Washington that the Follies, over 18 vears ago, reached its second stand In its first road tour, and K regular member of the Washington | Ttaly will provide a basso buffo and | have sung in the principal opera com- | Opens this afternoon. Opens this afternoon. Opens this afternoon. Opens this afternoon. Opens this afternoon. this ix one of a few large cities that it annually visits. and costly a production to play the smaller places. This twentieth edition of the Follies is of the present and not of a past season. It is acclaimed richer in com- edy than all that have preceded it- wholesome American fun, dealing with incidents of daifly life that involve and appeal to the average American citizen. Such are the skits and satires “The Drug Store.” “The Back he Joy Ride,” “The Picnic™ and “The Nagger."” The dialogue of the revue is by I. P. McEvoy, W. C. Flelds and G Weinburg: the lyrics by Gene Buck: the music by Rayvmond Hubbell, Dave | Stamper and Werner Janssen. The production has been staged by Julian Mitchell. In the organization of more than 100 persons are combined representa- tive comedians, dancers. singers, spe- ‘clalty performers, 16 of Tiller’s famous unity dancers, and 65 Ziegfeld Follies giria of distinctive beauty, poise and personality. The principals Include W. C. Fields, Ray Dooley. Johnny Edna Leedom and Dave Stamper, Irving Fisher, Peggy Fears, Clarence Nordstrom. Bertha Belmore, Tom Lewis, Kelo brothers. Barbara Newberry, Dare and Wahl, Easter and Hazelton and others of class and qual- ity in their respective lines. And the stalwart Americanism, as well as'the humor, of this newest ver- slon fa strongly stressed by Mr. Zieg- | feld, who presents the attraction. KEITH’S—Nan Halperin. At B. F. Keith's Theater this week Nan Halperin, the ‘“captivating little half pint,” is announced as the spot- light top of a bill replete with the best the Keith-Albee two-a-day have to offer. : Miss Halperin returns with a new offering, which she calls, ‘A Historical Song Cycle,” created and staged by her with the assistance of Willlam B. Friedlander, who is responsibie for the music and lyrice. Walter C. Kelly, the peer of racon- teurs, better known ax “the Virginia fudge,” will be heard In a new array of pithy, witty and highly amusing arns. " The Russian prima ballerina, Viasta Maslova, will be presented by Meyer Golden in a gorgeous attraction, “The Blue Bird.” Accompanying dancers and solofsta include Gregory Dniestroff, Ella Blondell and Bayard Rauth. They are _introduced by Frank Leslie. Others will include Will M. Cressy and. Blanche Dayne, in the best one- act play e ‘written by Mr. Cressy, he Man Who Remembered'; Willie direct from ~his London suc- is “the International enter- Ed East and Ralph Dumke, “‘the mirth quakes”: M. and Mme. Alf W. Loyal, with Loyaita’s Arabian stal- lions, one of the most beautiful and in- teresting of vaudeville numbers. and Chassino, the shadowgraphist, In hu It is too massive | [oabiic Dikae die Nty Ko | NA\' HALPERIN, whose imper- sonations of a naughty child have made her famous in vaudeville, claims that the naughtier her own characteri- zation i the more enthusiastic her audience becomes — possibly because her child isn't their child. At any | rate. she hases all her Impersonations | upon the antica of an infant who, ac- | cording to Nan herself, is *prebably the cutest and naughtiest child in the world. He's her own nephew. “My nephew, I presume, shouldn't really be called naughty. He is just natural. and delightfully and embar- rassingiy frank. When he doesn't [ care ahout a thing he states his mind with refreshing candor, for one of so | few years—six to he exact. He's a real sure-enough child, with no affec- tations or poses. unspoiled and nat- ural. a wholesome, loveable, some. times-bad boy. just the kind that every one would like to have. “I've tried doing good little xirls and good little boys. In the course of my stage career, and no one is the least bit interested! The public likes ‘em naughty? moronk shadows of himself, together with the screen features, Aesop’s Fa- bles, Topics of the Day and the Pathe News Pletorial. STRAND.—Bob Nelson. Headlining the vaudeville bill at’the Strand Theater this week, {s Bob Nel #son, described as “a veritable human dynamo of entertainment.” assisted At the piano by Johnny Wright. Bob Nelson will be well remembered for his work with “Artists and Model “Broadway Brevitles, “Passing Show,” “innocent Eyes,” etc. An added feature is the world' champlon walker, George N. Brown, in his old comedy oddity, “‘Pedestrian- ism." which is said to be replete with fun and laughter. Other numbera include Hart, Wag- ner and Lela in a comedy song num- ber, “Crawling Into Vaudeville™; Den- no Sisters and Tom Thibault tm a series of military dance numbers; and Alexander Brothers and Evelyn 1p & ball bouncing and juggling act. spiced with comedy, entitled “AN Ralled Up." The feature photoplay will be Trio Productions’ “Wasted Lives." with a cast headed by FElliot Dexter, Edith Roberts and ~ Cullen Landis. The story concerns the life of a woman who throttled love for ambition and found it a sorry trade. Short films will be shown dlso. EARLE—Frank Farnum. Frank Farnum, eccentric dancer, heads the program at the Earle this week. surrounded by a company of 17 supporting artists, which includes Irving Young's Californians an ag- gregation of jazz band artists. Holding secondary honors will be Miss Birdie Reeves. one of the coun- try’s fastest typists, who uses but four of her fingers, doing the work of the usual ten. Others Include Harry Pease and Ed Nelton in_“Inspiration.” assisted Miss Ora Dawson: Dooin and Me- Cool in an oddity entitled “All Irish" Joe De Leir as “Yours Accordlonly and the Manikin Cabaret, artists in wood and wax. 5 The photoplay will be* “Without Mercy,” a dramatic story of romance and intrigue in a modern setting di- rected by George Melford. GAYETY—"Bringing Up Father.” “Bringing Up Father in Burlesque” at the Gayety Theater this week, combines the foibles which George McManus put into his funny (Contin on ) c. Automobiles Coming Attr NATIONAL—"Tip-T Nov. 21, Alex A. Aarons and Vinton Freedley will present their latest musical comedy, entitled “Tip-Toes.”" at the tional Theater, Tuesday evening ovember 24. The piece is in two acts and represents the joint work of the authors of “Lady Be Good Queenie Smith heads a large cast Sammy Lee arranged the dances and John Harwood staged the hook KEITH'S—Justine Johnstone. Miss Justine Johnstone, Broad way's beautiful star, will headline at B. F. Keith's Theater next week in a new comedy by Edwin Burke called “Judy O'Grady.” Featured will be the Albertina Rasch “Pompadour Bal- let.” a modern ballet satire. featuring Norree, with Evelyn Groves as Pompadour, and 12 Albertina Rasch ®olo dancers. It is said to be vaude ville's greatest dance production STRAND—Charles Foy and Co. Beginning next Sunday. the Strand Theater will offer a bill of vaudeville and picture attractions headed by Charles Foy and company in a minia- ture musical revue, with a cast in cluding Cleo Pargain. Lillian Fields. Sands and Fields, Margy Ross and Helen Johnson. Charlie Wilkins and Eddie Wilkins will entertain in “Comedy Eccentrici- | ties.” a pantomime of eccentric danc ing and burlesque on tango lessons. Other numbers will include James Carlisle and Isabel La Mal in “The Interview”; Frank Ward in an orig inal creation. “Insane Topics Sanely." and Kara, the “International Jug wle There will also be a feature photoplay and shorter films. EARLE—Marion Wilkins' Orchestra. Next week the Earle Theater pro gram will be headlined by Marion Wil kins' Lido Orchestra. The motion pic- ture is to be “Keep Smiling.” with Monty Banks featured. It is described as comedy-drama, about a boy who al ways pulled himself out of trouble with a smile. GAYETY—"Peek-a-Boo.” Next week the Gavety Theater will have as its attraction ‘‘Peek-a-Boo a famous Columbia Burlesque pr duction, completely new in every way this season, with a big cast of princi- pals of old and new favorites. Spe cial attention has been given to the stage settinge. costuming and light ing effects, and to an exceptional actions chorus of 18 for good looks girls. selected not only but for their ability MUTUAL—"Step Along.” For next week's attraction at Mutual Theater, the 1 edition Step Alonz™ is announced Tt is reported as heinz entirely new though the title is old. with new book, Ivrics and musical score. Max Coleman and Clara Stone are the fea | tured players. Janet Richards, November 23. Miss Janet Richards |ber Monday morning {lic Questions Home {Monday, November 23, in the audito. rium of the New Masonic Temple | Thirteenth street and New York ave. nue. The talks will include each week an interpretive summary of outstand |ing world events. At the first talk of the course Miss Richards will review the leading de velopments in the world’s work for the past six months, with special mention of the favorable movement toward permanent peace as indicated |by the work of the September meet ling of the League of tions and the terms of the security pact of Locarno. will resume Iks Pub. and Foreign on Burton Holmes Agaln. Burton Holmes will réturn to Wash ington for another—the thirty-third season of his informative and fllumi nated travelogues. beginning Sunda: | November 22, at the National Theater both afternoon and evening courses The first of theke “pictured tours will deal with “Florence.” called hy the Itallans, “La Bella™: “Enjovi the Ttalian Lakes" will be the second topic and will show some incompar ble pictures of these enchanted lake< and the pretty villas, romantic cha teaux and picturesque villages that enhance the beauty of this region: the third subject, “Doing the Dolomites | will offer pictures and descriptions of this curious group of mountains with | their marvelous colorings and weird aspect, and following this the lecturer | will_“Circle the Mediterranean” and show some of the “sights” which go to_make up this “ideal cruise. For his concluding subject My Holmes has selected a hitherto un | touched part of the world, a journey that will lead to Cambodia, in Indo | China, and will reveal for the frsi {time on the screen the great jungle | buried city of Angkor-Them. a vast | relic of the ancient Khmer civilization in Cambodia. In tE: Spotlight S (CHIVALRY,” by William Hurlbut, 1= to be produced soon by Joseph Shea. in association with L. H Bradshaw. Frederick Ker will play Schwarze in aupport of Bertha Kalich forthcoming production of mann's “Magda. Suder. Helen Baxter. Gertrude Purcell and Florence Peterson were added to the cast of “The Balcony Walkers,” just before its opening In Stamford, Conn. A musical version of Booth Tark- ington's ‘“Seveuteen.” to be’ known as “Hello, Lola.” is scheduled to open in Newark “Rainbow Maid.” a musical comedy adapted by Walter de Leon from a plav by Zelda Sears, with music by Harold Levey. will he produced soon by George Marcfarlane. who also will play the leading role. David Belasco will soon begin re- hearsals of “Salvage.” by Abdullah and Carl Haverlin. with McKay Morris and Genevieve Tobin | in the leading role: James Lawlor has heen engaged for “Me,” by Henry Mvers, which Arthur Kober will soon present. Virginia Pemberton MacQuerrle will be in “The Master of the Inn," erine - Chisholm Cushing. and George the cast of by Cath- George Jessel has written a comedy called “Take Me Home,” which, it i< announced, Lewis and Gordon will present in association with Sam H Harris In the Spring. The play has five characters. Augustin Duncan will Charles Bamfleld Hovt's “Moye* On.” which- went- hearsal last wee! direct re Mary Glynn and Dennis Neilson Terry made their first appearance in “The Offense” in Stamford, Conn.. last Monday night. “The Kick-Oft,” a play of col- legiate foot ball by Frank Craven and Grentland Rice, which A. L. Erlanger is producing, will have its initial performance at Pittsburgh to- | morrow night. A new. musical comedy. “Anne, From Ssvannah.” with book by Lew Leslie and music by George W Meyer; is lnnoul;l\ced for production in her | Achmed | in January by Mr. Leslia, clation with A. H. Woods in a “Twelve Miles Out,” hy Willia Anthony McGuire. will open in Ne York tomorrow night. The cast in cludes Mildred Florence. John West ley, Fran® Shannon and Alber Hackett. The play was known on it road tour as “Somewhere Fast o sotham.” “Accused,” which had its firs showing in this clty with E. H Sothern as lte star, celebrated i« fiftleth performance in New York last week “Romany Rigo.,” a play hy Maurler V. Samuels, will be produced at the Cherry Lane Theater, New York. about Thanksgiving time. Brandon Tynan i& now a membe: of the cast of “The Rivals,” on tour replacing Chauncey Oleott, who is seriously ill in a Detroit hospital; Charles Hopkins, its owner, an nounces that the Punch and Judy Theater. New York. will be known hereafter as the Charles Hopkinx and that it will reopen early nexi month with “The Makropoulos Secrpt.” With the engagement of Ralph Forbes last week by Carl Reed, the cast is completed for the new Darin Nicodem! drama. “Stronger Than Love," the opening of which is sched uled two weeks hence. This is the play in which Nance O'Neill has the stellar role. The English importation. “The Creaking Chair,” is reported fo have made a pronounced hit in Boston, and several New York managers have been bidding for it without success E. E. Clive, the producer. intend: handling the piece hismelf on Broad- way. Roberta Arnold and Rex Cherry- man have reached New York and will tmmediately start rehearsals on “Pig_Iron.” the play of beer and skittles on an Ohfo river scow. which Charles L. Wagner is to nanage for himself and his Western partner, Tom Wilkes. This piece was re- | cently tried out in CRlifornia. | _Russell Janney announces that he will shortly place in rehearsalsa new romantic comedy for Mr. Ous Skin ner, written by Mr. Skinner's daugh ter, Cornella Otis Skinner. The play (Continued on Second Page) L] i