Evening Star Newspaper, January 8, 1928, Page 59

. SRt ot ik AMUSEMENT SECTION ' i | Theater, Screen 2t P ’ : Motors and T Part4—14 Pages < ‘ WASHINGTON, D. €, SUNDAY MORNING, JANUARY 8 19, ; EARL =nd BELL- Palace Drama Again Déclares It Knows I ts Psychology BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. So far as the theater is concerned holiday traditions are shattered. When local managers passed-blithe weeks in New York selecting attrac- “tions they thought would appeal to 3 local clientele, there were certain al- lotmegts of time arranged for, de- spite competition. It was the cus- tom to look for a spectacle or a cheery farce, or else for some espe- «cial star whose lonesomeness seemed appropriate to the season of joyous sentiment. The theater at present ds mot an expression of the Christs thas spirit. It is as much a tryout arena in late December as at any other time of the ycar and does not thold 2 secure place in’ competition land a struggle against repressions. The staging of such a play as this one is no slight undertaking. There are three men concerned in this en- terprise, each of whom can qualify as a thorough dramatic tactician. William A. Brady, Willard Mack and Lester Lonergan. The result at- tained would suggest a tripartite agreement in the matter of co-ordi- nated effort. . IR RS The central thought of the play is expressed in the role of Stephen Ashe, taken by Mr. Lonergan. Ashe is‘an -advocate of absolute social freedom, with personal conscience as the only guide. His daughter in with the streets and the shops. * % One of the most importa'nz new 3 grodugionl was brought to this city y William ‘A. Brady. Mr. Brady has been involved in more or-less responsibility for compelling police wofficers to interest themselves pro- * fessionally in the moral and ethical aspect of the metropolitan drama. e title “A Free Soul” might hint to those who have not read Adela St. Johns' movel of another experi- ment in which society is defied and a spirit of domestic independence as- serted. This drama is a description - of such an attitude toward life, but sttempts no championship of the willfulness that underlies much cur- rent social theory. L Nothing that Willard Mack has done in the way of dramatization shows better craftsmanship,’ not only in establishing ‘motives, but maintaining suspense and providing the utmost opportunity for the dis- play of acting abilities. It is widely believed among peo- ple of the theater that a play with a good courtroom scene has a great eponderance of favorable chance. fir. Mack’s new play has a court- room scene that will rank in effec- tiveness with the one which made so thrilling a passage in “Madame X." L “The author has run true to form and still enjoys exploration into the underworld which he paints in dark colors with vivid contrasts of flam- ing tragedy. A man of literary fa- cility Mr. Mack seldom attempts Jong speeches revealing ornate dic- | tion. His characters speak directly teliing their own stories and not he- coming merely mouth-pieces for the cleverness of a philosopher, L B N ) In spite of the' tragical turmoil, the glimpse of a philosophy in this new production: asserts itself, It is s0 closely interwoven into the fabrie of parrative that it carries a thought alang with the thrill. A “crime play” for the patrons who retain a cerpuir respect for good lnle/.htmld find a hearty welcome, { LR In handling a complicated plot mechanism more than 35 characters are listed on the program. It is one of the productions 1o be - described as “elaborate” although the human clement entively outweighs the scenery, Shosld the venure disappoint its spansors—the fear of ité doing any: thing like this is exceedingly re- mote—it will not be a case of send- ing the major part of the produe- tion on the welancholy westward journey 1o the storehouse. The really valvable assets of the show to function disperse 1o e homes for l’i!lle en- i and reappear soon, that ceas their respe forced vacati her edmiring devotion learns his lessons ‘far too easily “and ‘applics the teaching even in the face of the angry protests of her husband. The Lonergan character has the added ingerest of a study in moral recov- .#; a_billiant lawyer déstroyed by 'dissipation who ‘makes & last and trinmphant- stand to rescue a loved one from- the penalty of the law. After redeeming so many years of wasted life, in one splendid hour of effort this brilliant figure evades any suggestion of a trite and enthusiastic union all round. ‘He sinks into his chair apparently sleeping pedcefully. The discovery ‘that he is dead is managed with artistic’ restraint and becomes a proportionate part of a story whose first claim 15 consid- eration is its effort to avoid arti- ficial, agitations, to remain, however tense, always matural, e _ Protests have arisen from time to time against curtain calls. The ab- met death in the drama to come for- ward either alone or in the group with smiling acknowledgments has frequently been pointed out. Yet no producer has had the adaman- tine heart to deprive the player of an opprtunity g identify himself in the eyes of an admiring throng. But plays of the present are so con- structed and so rehearsed that the applause almost invariably waits un- il the end of the act.” When® Mr, Brady was figuring as a star in such plays “Under the Gaslight,” ap- piause was sought by elocutionary energy and even hy mechanical de- vices at _evéry point in the action, Mingled laughter and applause” was considered a fair recipe and the struggle for sopething particularly grand on ‘which to bring down the curtain ‘was often palpable, but un- resented, Now the true dramatic expert serts himself as an applause dodger and plays the game on ex- pert lines by seeking to hold in- terest’ so closely that members of the audience must in courtesy re- frain from disturbing one another by spasmodic handclapping, L So complete is the illusion when an actor is really good that few playgoers become sufficiently wise n experience 10 escape the impres- ’z»n that a splendid role would he Hacrificed if deprived_of its present hle interpreter, und Yhere is a feel- ingy that the actor cannot hope 1o find new work so suited 1o his type A few actors have been admittedly at their hest in some one play, Miss lk’l:ldn was completely identified {with Mme, Sans Gene, Robert Lor- |raine always hrought up a thought {of the principal role in “Man and Superman” My, Merivale comes into the focal picture with & highly interesting and adwirable perform ance while “The Koad 1o Rome” plays handling " H | | | on with another Hanniha) the Merivale lines and i stepping in sprightly rhythm o the good old tune, “Better Luck Nm;"““""" BN Time,” g r It s not wnprecedented in the The direction of so many persons requires stage generalship. Facl character, however small, has some trace of sotive 1o define, if it he only in oservitude to the purpnses of a4 more conspicunus role. Wi 2o large & cast the effort 10 fol) s oul o many variant’ ideas may he come Labyriothisn Fven in a conventighal mob scene thre ure few if any lay figures, but each mdividual who can he seen or hewrd, if for only a moment, whispers & thought of a life story career of Beth Merrill 1o find her carrying heavy responsibilities with wrtistic proficiency and allowing the easier work 1o go to other roles Those who study the theater admire her intensely, not only for her ex- traordinary ahility, hut for the con ient determination with which she refuses to depart from the mos exacting dentands of gr1 and resort to superhicial trickeries, LR ] It would he hard 10 find in all the world of make-helieve & person of surdity of reviving a hero who has | ., IN THE SPOTLIGHT “Carry On” is the new title of Owen Davis' forthcoming - play, hitherto known as “The Immediate Jewel." 0 Margot Kelly wucceeded Peggy Al- lenby fn the leading role of “We Nover | Learn’ at Baltimore last Monday night. The play is due'in New York | this week, | Arthur Hopkins has begun active work upon “Salvation,” the Sidney Howard-Charles MacArthur play, In which he will present Pauline Lord. Lucille Lortell has been engar & woman for the Majfestic ers, who plan to take over the M fair Theater, New York, the 23rd of this month. “The End of Most Things,” a play by Ray Richard, is scheduled as their first produetion, B4 Wynn, the well known come- dian, now featuring “Manhattan Mary” in New York, is writing a mu- -fikl‘.l ‘comedy. It Is called “Little Girl ue.” The Bohemians, Inc., of New York, producers of “The Greenwich Village Follles,” may next produce a musical play entitled “White Owl" Ray Perking hag written the score und Gra Perkins did the book. and Iyri Another new produ the 1anks of the New r has Joined orkers in Rob. ert Wilder, who hus been for several the drama so entirely unsympathetic as this principal personage of “Hid- den.” She is the unjovable intruder on the happiness of two. people, and like the feminine characters in old emotional drama, engaged in shat- tering her own nerves and those of others. It is the woman verging on the abnormal if not u'mi!plrll‘_!\' over- whelmed by it. “Hidden” gives Philip Merivale great advantage in alloting to him the character that stands sanely out in an endeavor to understand the distorted and to his straightforward mimd incredible manifestations of idea, Yet it is not what u player would call a great part, It is made interesting by his personality and, by a sense of tech- nique so finely trained that he is acting the role at every moment, never relapsing into his own iden- tity in speech, attitude or gesture, PR Mr. Hurlbut is as well equipped as any theater. amthor to revive the study of the excessively neurotic feminine stage character in popular esteem, But the demand or this parti®ular line of human nature is not great at present, LR "Leon Frrol wus back with his over-powering imigation of a man crossing the deck of u ship during a terrible storm at sea. Many @ fair ehorister has stepped out of the line and fourished in the hright lights ws a heroine of Broadway he. cause of the shupeliness of her legs Frrol alsg depends @n legs, hut not on shapely ones, A eowhoy after watching Klm for a while remarked 1o his companion, "Bill, how glad & centipede ought to he that it dow's have to try to walk with legs Ilklj them therel” Notes of the Stage and Its People. seasons general press representative for Charles H. Wagner. Mr. Wilder plans as his first production, “Ring- side,” a prizefight play by Hy Daab, n sporting writer. The plece goes into rehearsal shortly, Orrle Lashin has written a play called “Sice Streets,” which is to bs | produced next month by the firm of Braunhut & Bannister. This Is Miss Lashin’s first play. For the first time since Forbes Rob. ertson starred in it 20 years ago, Jerome K. Jerome's “The Passing of the Third Floor Back™ will be revived in New York beginning next Wednes. day night. Butler Davenport will play the star role of the Stranger, “Oh, Johnny," the musical comedy Is going through a process of revision before being taken into New York. Wildn Rennett takes the I and Paul N, Dickey | hook. 1t opened 'in ntreal and played last week in Rochester. The new Tom Cushing play, which hax been known variously as “Gringo Rose” and “La Gringo,” will have stll another title before It reaches New York, It opens in Atlantic City one week from tomorrow night, with Claudette Colbert and George Nash In the leading roles. The themes of Robert Sherwood's play, “The Quean's Husband,” which Mewnrs. Hrady and Wiman have in re- henvual with Katherine Alexander and Roland Young in th& lending parts, might he described an “a guess at what huppened at home In Rumania while Queen Mario was visiting these shoren " “Jack Sheppa A play by Henry Myers, author of “The First Wifty Years,” will be put in rehearsal soon by Arthur Hammerateln, The play, Which calls for o cast of 150, will he Mr, Hummerstein's first non-musical prodoction in fou " A play hy Har elf, called “Rix Feet Uy will open in Mount Ver. non, N, Y,, on the 16th of this menth, With the author {n the leading role. It % announced to veach New York aboul the middle of next month, Crowhy Gajge meems to be ‘leading New York producers as the most ac- tive play purchaser, and the new. o8t one nfll{md to hin list 1 "An Father," " vel murried Dell and Thon on Mr, Dell's Unable to wecure a wultable prima Aonnn, the Mewsrs, Rehwab and Man. del have withdrawn from rehearsal thelr new operetts, "The New Maon," The plece will now go Into vehearsal lata in the Rummer and brought around Labor dey. With the arvival of “Bhe's My Baby" on Broadway Iast Tuesday night, New York now han three Eatons working behind. its footlights, Mary Phe Flve D'Clock (M)t Dorls in ""Hxoens Haggags nd Pear) in “Hhe's My Haby," Al Wash: Ington givis, written hy 1) Mitchell, 1t is based ( the sume name, Reatrigy Lillle's veceptien In New York lnst Tuesday night with "8he's ! My Bahy" waw very enthusiastio, ) though the play was ndversly gom mented ony Hunsell Janpe new musieal play "The White lu‘a'l \'! based on RHdwiy Milton Hoyle's famouas nld play, "Phe RAY Fiske OHARA- National ’ Bauaw Man," with musia by Tidol Friml, ia highly praised by the New York eritios i OLEY and BiLLIe EMERSON- S+trand Mysterious ITH the passing from life's atage of three prominent actresses last week, one upon each of the first days of the year—Lole Fuller on the first, Emlly Stevena on the second and Dorothy Donnelly upon the third —~rovives the uncanny significance of the numeral 3 In recording the birth and death of many of the most promi nent players, It in w singular colncldence that all through the pages of theatrical his- tory the' fateful 3 flares forth as a beacon to regiater the arrival or de. parture of one of ita favored fow, Wallace Munto, avant courier of Flor. once Reed, has written un exhaustive symposium upon this peculiar signifi- cance, excerpta from which are worth perusing the archives of stage r, Munro states, it In rather A singular colneldence that the nu meral § should be almost universa "Delighttul Nat, Goodwin wax born January 31 W anawersd his last call in his 63d year; the great Huvah Bernhardt also was born with a 3 and died in 1923, and our muchre #pected John Drew wan born Novem: ber 13, 1808, and died in hia 78 year, while hold'ng office the thivd pre: ident of "The Playera’ club, “The fateful 3 in in evidence In ru{l-!nrluu the length of years or the dute of demise of Roland Reed, Stu art Robwon, Felix Morrls, Nelwon Whenteroft, Krmeid Novelll, the groat Rejane, v Denlys, dleorge 'rimrose, Al O, Field McKee Rane kin, Clifton Crawford, Charvles Coul: dock, John Mason, Shelly Hull; Fred Lonlle, Fred Vokew, Robert Tabor, Fanny Brough, Geurgle Drew Har rymore, Rosine Vokes, Agnes Rooth, Johnatone Bennett, Clara Rloodgood, 32 Annle Pixley, K. J, Henley, Neil Hur- wown, Honny ‘Thorntan, Adah lsancs Menkin and many, many athers, “Hore are & few who have an awered thelr Iast ous and whe were Al bhorn with a 8: Rieanora Duse, Maggie Mitchell, Marle Walnrikht, Adel Pattl, Anna Held, Hir Her hert Tros, who died In hin 430 year: Ale Charies Wyndham, Arthur Boueh: er: Harey Houdinl, Jous &uml masso Balyinl, KB 8 Willard, Pagtor, Dan Daly, ?::t Wills, Jer Cohan, Danlel Handmann, = Lowis aller, Denman Thon . L Moyne, Aubrey Houelvault, James fen Finney, 1. J. Morgan, Charies Havran, Henvy Clay Harnabes and & “The fellowing players, all born ‘Illlll of ‘othere, Numeral 3. with a 2, are stil_with us: Olga Nethersole, Rose Coughlin, Minnie Palmer. Rlanche Rates, Flovence Reed, Margaret Anglin, Mrs. W Kendal, Mrs. Henry Millar, Bateman, Julia Dean, Fritzl Schefl, Maxine Elliott, Mary Plckford, Mar- garet Tilington, athryn Kldder, K Goodrich, David Warfield, Wil liam Glllette, Nir Johnstone Forbes Robertson, Do Walf Hopper, Jefferson De Angelos, Frederick Warde, Hol brook Rlinn, Robert Edeson, Fred Stone, Douglas Fairbanks, Andrew Mack, Richard Bennett, Wallace Ed- dinger, Julian EHii and a score of leaser histrionic nghts. 3 “Believe me," concludes Wallace, “there is a xstrange significance in the numeral 3 and 1 am not super stitlous, either, Dance for the Screen. | 1E, 60 charming dancers who ap | pear in “Get Your Man" Paw: mount's picture starving Clara Bow, ave the “Marion Morgan Scveen Danc: ® trained by an internationally: ki N danos creator to play the parts of wax figures, Miws Morgan, who for more than 10 yearn wan - identified with colorful vaudeville dance numbers, han given up her stage connections te confine her netivities to motion pleture work, #ho has wtated, She began her vaude Ville cavesr atter having beon a danve tencher, At one time she was head of the athlatle dunolng department at the University of California, Her duncora firets appeared at the Palace Theater In New York in 1814 and from that time until 1924 toured the United "‘nl"lllmr‘ that keep the perform. NAZimova - Keiths !Attractions in Washington Playhouse s This Week NATIONAL~+"“Sidewalks of New KEITH'S—] Nazimova, vaudeviile. GAYETY- “Be H. ning. NATIONAL—"Sidewalks of New York.” A tender love siory; plenty of whole- some comedy; neat, lilting lyrics: a fine cast; a springling of novel and worth- while specialties, and an abundance of pretty, singing and dancing girls, with a very popular comedienne as the star, are the ingredients promised in Eddie Dowling’s latest concoction of mi and music, “Sidewalks of New Yo which Charles Dillingham will present at the National Theater this week, be- ginning tonight, e In it Ray Dooley has her first stel. lar role, and “Sidewalks of New York which comes here direct from an en- gagement of many months in- New York, bears the high indorsement of New York critics. As Gertle, the little waif who fol- lows her sweetheart .from an orphan asylum, Miss Dooley contributes ex- cellent bits of wistful sentiment along with her droll tomfoolery. The company selected by Mr. Dilling- ham is replete with names of signifi- -{cance in the theat>r. Among them are Smith and Dale, Fiske O'Hara, Eliza- beth Murray, Linda, Ruby Keeler, Dick Kesne, .Josephine Sabel, Calm and Gale, Barney Fagan, Wil and Gladys Ahern, Frank Kingdom, Ha Short, Winifred Harris, Carl Francis, | Cecil Owen, Menry Dowling and the {liveliest and lovelest of dancing en- |sembles in years. ‘The plece was zed by Edgar Mae- | Gregor and the ces were arringed by Harl Lindsa Junmy Hanley wrote the music. KEITH'S—Nazimova. MUSIC AND DRAMA. ning. BELASEO—“T)IQ SSilver Cord,” drama. POLI'S—“One Sunny Day.” musical comedy. This evening. appy,” burlesque. This afternoon and evening. STRAND—"Frivolities of 1928,” burlesque. This afternoon and eve- York,” musical comedy. This eve- Tomorrow evening. i This afternoon and evening. liver, also of the possibility of a reso- lution being offered in favor of sup- planting the Pan-American Union with a “Latn’ American” organization and the reaction to such a proposition by the distinguished United States dele- gation, if offersd. Continued European unrest and the development of strong- arm methods in many European coun- | tries will also be considered, and why. lG. W. U. TROUBADOURS—“Sharps and Frats.” The Troubadours of George Wash- inzton University will present their collegiate - musica! comedy, “Sharps and «rats,” tomorrow night at the Wardman Park Theater for a week's engugement. In “Sharps and Frats™ the Trouba- dours have what they believe is their best play in recent years, not exclud- ing even “Just a Kiss" or “Not Yet, Fleurette.” The book is declared orig- inal and will be truly collegiate in spirit. Elmer Brown is compuser of the music and Larry Parker author of the book. Dennis Connell, for several years director of the St. Patrick Players, under whose direction the local or ganization made excelient | tions. is acting in a similar capacity for the W. U. organizmtion. | . The cast is composed of Elimbeth | Wrizht. the Fair Coed: Earl Nalis, {Hero: Max Tendler, the Fraternity jGoat: Janet Sheppard, the Flapper: ) Louise Littlepage. the Dumbbell: Bur- jrus Willlams, Professor of Ancipnt | Oriental Literatire and Kindred Arts; | Marion Campbell, as the Domineen |ing Wife: Johnson Heare. the Vil Nazimova, dramatic star of the | Rin: Jerry Sickler. Comedian. stage and screen, will top the bill at B. F. Keith's Theater this week in a new playlet, “India.” by Edgar Allen ‘Woolf and Fanny Hartz Friend. The scenic surroundings are by a Wash- ingtonian, Miss Natalie Hammond. Nazimova Is presented by Jenie Jacobs. Margaret Severn, who has made the mask dances famous, will be featured with the Neal Sisters in a dance offer- ing called Modern Fantasy." Others are: Miss Leitzel, better known as the Circus Girl, who will present her aevial offering: Dave Viney Whose monelogisms are called “Just Up the Street There™: a skit offering, the latest in sonk and patter by Frank Fisher and EMrie Gilmore, called, “Her Bashtul Romeo™; a dancing fea. ture by the Caits Brothers, entitied, “Quiet, Please”; Nee Wong, a “Gentle- man of the Ovient,” In novel songs. and the Flemings in “Truth of Art in_Alabaster.” Framing the bill will be the Aesop's Fahles, Topics of the Day and the Pathe News, GAYETY="He Happy." This week's attraction at the Gayety ‘Theater is the fun show, “Be Hap with Agnes Nichols and Harry J; son as the featured comedians, The attraction is said to have clever ance pitched 4t a break-neck speed of activity, m Morrls, the producer, | has assembled for the program new | *NES, dances and new comedy, to- | sether with new faces, Hurey Loff is with the show, like wive Frank Du Frune, Frances Hanes, (leorye Karr, Kathrin Kaughlin, Rilly Lyons, Gladys Lockwood, Kloise Dwan the prima donna, and Winnie Nichels, popular dancer. The charus of 16 is waid to be an agile assemblage of step pers. STRAND=="Frivalitiea of 192" “Fuivolities of 1928, this week's Mu thial buriosgue attiection at the Strand Theater, has a cast by the in tmitable comedian, Frank Havcourt, and Vivian Kent. They are assisted by Allan Forth, Rilly Emerson, Kitty Axton, Cy Relnhart, Jack Kmawd, v, Htan Stanley, Hetty Van and a ohorus Htatas and Kuvope, . For the past year and a half, Miss Morgan has been directing motion Ploture danoes, Her work In tian, Roman and Greek balleta has extuhlished her as an expert in period dance material, In her 18 montha In the motion pjotre, bidustry, she has treoted hor dancers i more than 80 plotures, Miss Morgan saya that her soreen danoera are of different persanality thah her stale dahcers, “Far soveen work Wwe have (o seareh Ry | # of 18 givia, Thin new Mutual production has a new collpotion of sonas, dances, conn v and mivthtul situations, and st wald to be full ot anap, winger, laugh. tor, musie and action from the vise to the fall of the eurtaln, JANKET RICHARDS, TOMORROW. | Misa Juned Richards will vesume her | “IWIKE on Publio Queationa™ tamorrew | MOrning at the Masonke Temple, Thiv | teanth sirvet and New York avenue R | 1043 o eloek, for woreen Valuse—a faos that will] Tu addition to the general revie: X !n\lv"! addition to | affaive palitical and l:t".llhlk\.xl. ‘\“‘I: " Misa N sAvs | Richa wil K sspecially of the | 8 must alse have dia: | meeting of the Pan.Amerioan Union in mu‘t:v‘;hz l.y.“‘.r‘?“vwlhy l:z ooukt nu:‘u. hll::h; ha\nry 18 and the ohar feance ' Aoterw I ‘Gt Your Im" e and the mw:‘ MW oA o, “Sharps and Frats" takes of a fraternity house college town. and in the sec- ond act the action shifts to a “float- ing university” on the high seas. The dances were arranged by the Thayer Studio and will be directed {by Mary Virginia Leckie. Margaret | Hoover 1is costumes, Steve Blackman, Yearns, publicity. girls' chorus of 40 and a male sing ing chorus of 23 recruited from George Washington Glee Club. A seven-piece orchestra will play at all performances. A souvenir program by Max Tem dler will contain pictures of the cast, the chorus and authors of the show, This witl be given to each membder of the audience. CURRENT HISTORY—Friday. Miss Clara W. McQuown will give | her regular weekly talk on curremt | histary Friday morning at 11 o'clock in the ballroom of the Washingten Clud, 1010 Seventeenth street. Outstanding events of political im- nortance at home and abroad will de disd ussed. Special attention will de given teo American relations with Cuba and to the meeting in Havana of the Sixth anrm\mml Conference of American States, e Coming Attractions New Comedy Coming. For the week begianing Monday. January 18, the National Theater will offer 3 new comedy by Harey Delt, author of “The Family Upstairs™ Wwith George Marvion, KEITH'S—doe Frivee. Joa Frisca, fate star of the Blegteld Folliea. with his cigar and decdy, wilt share headline honers at R F. Ketths Theater next week with Nick Lucas “The Crooning Trowtadour, GAVETY—"Lath Go® “Let's Go* next week's attracton At the Gavety Theater, features Ridtie Nl Baba At Tack et neluding = R \ Tim Lester, Annabelle AII;». flc:o Spoaner, Walter Smith, Helen Fiyaw, Little Kva and & chorus of N givis, The production, Whivh was staged by the producer, Fred Clark, has 3% aenea and 34 musival numbers, STRAND=-"Latin' Thea* A new Mutual burlesaue attraot ST R R Alen, wi " " T ! e endvetiin M M‘\ o : o, . » . o e snteriainers, s presented in \wo RS e WUAAL Do, There wilt h":‘m o 1§ aslogtag