Evening Star Newspaper, February 26, 1928, Page 51

.~ Theater, Screen - and Music SESPUE HAYAKAWA - Keiths New American Opera Comique BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. O entertainment could have, It was the first time this cit:," enjoyed more auspicious |had an opportunity to see Dennis | N circumstances for intro- " King since the Summer season a’ " duction to the general half dozen years past when h2 public than those which sur-|might have been seen week after | rounded the 1927 model of “The | week at very much less cost per AMUSEMENT SECTION - The Sundiy Star, WASHINGTON, D. C, SUNDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 26, 1928, JHE__ Pecey WHITE- Fox- * Jhe KING of KINGS Nafional Motors and 71_\/Iotor Touring BEA SISTERS 2nd CAROL- Earle \Attractions in Washington and evening. evening. GAYETY—“Bathing Beauties,” evening. | | | NATIONAL—“The King of Kings.” | This afternoon at 3:30 will begin the Playhouses This Week MUSIC AND DRAMA. NATIONAL—“The King of Kings,” photoplay. This afternoon BELASCO—"“The Mikado,” light opera. Tomorrow evening. KEITH'S—Sessue Hayakawa, vaudeville. This afternoon and burlesque. This afternoon and | traction at the Gayety Theater. begin- ning with today’s matinee. | inal engagement in Washington at the | The cast is headed by Miss Erin | National Theater of Cecil B. De Mille's | Jacksoti e nadtve of Ireland. 'm famous picture, “The King of Kings,” |S3id to have a pl ! which will be shown for one week only. Three Musketeers.” Dennis King's | ticket. Aside from his stage work, | latest vehicle is provided with new | about which there can beg no ar- lines and all the lights and sio- | gument in the face of approval so nals that accompany the most emphatic and universal, he man- | dashing examples of musical com- | ages a curtain speech better than | edy speed. The term “mu.siu‘al | any one who has attempted this comedy” is rather modest for thix | kind of demonstration in many | roduction. It is‘mdte Mke what | seasons. It is usual for a curtain | known in music drama as opera | speaker to adopt either a patron- | comique. izing line of glib jollification or to | . arere affect a modesty obviously Ziegfeld has been landing one | titious. The latter attitude was| c- smashing hit after another. The feared for King when he allowed | entertainment offered by thc “Show Boat” was convincing as- | surance that the “first presenta- | tion on any stage,” which so often es an aggravating disappoint- | ment, is, underdzmgteld ‘r‘i"’ifsz' vilege and an opportunity; to be taken advantage| of, in view of possibility that sea- | ore it comes { | one curtain call after another to pass while taking bows, seldom alone, but in company with others in the cast. His appearance alone after long delay was frankly with the air of one who had desired only to make sure that he was really wanted. * % % % He had none of the ungeniality o | which players show when a native ity or an adopted home town has | led, in time past, to make quite | such pets of them as they consid- | ered rightful. He chose rather tc | remember the loyalties ana friendships of that time and tc public from one theater alone, and Ziegfeld declares he will put | | i i | LENORE ULRIC - National \Xeek o MARrcH- 4 - EVELYN URRAY- Gayety T T ‘LARGE indeed is the number of fa- | mous actresses who began their ca- | | reers in the support of Mrs. Piske, the famous Minnie Maddern of dther days. | {1t all could be collected in one group, | | it probably would fill the stage of the | | largest playhouse in New York | | Fay Bainter, who will appear as *jthe first time a produ | _This dramatization of the life of| | Christ enlisted the energies of the De | Mille organization for a year. It in: | cluded the acting of hundreds of fine players and the construction of tre- | mendous sets of Bible scenes, such as has never before been attempted. For icer recreated {th: Temple of Jerusalem, the Palace of Herod and many other historical | locales of the Gospel story. ! ing abilities. The show is in two big acts with a score of scenes and musical numbers and several pleasing novelties. JANET RICHARDS, TOMORROW. Miss That Jeanie Macpherson. with her adaptation, and Mr. De Mille, with his d ius, have made the history of the CI live in tenderness, hu- manity and gripping dramatic power the consensus of opinion. Besides the story. an imj arranged ’gllc_e_Artists. | i young actress who “came through with | ing colors because of hard work, or ortinacity, or determination. or some- thing.” Her delicately shaded acting| distinguishes her from other American comediennes. It represents a triumph of personality over olography. She has found difficulty in trying to pressive score 1 by Dr. Hugo Riesenfeld will | be played, by a full orchestra, repro- ducing themes from the works of the | great composers as well as more popu- |lar favorites of hymnology. One of | Kate Hardcastle, in George C. Tyler's|live down the impression that since | all-star revival of Goldsmith's “She she was such an excellent Ming Toy | Stoops to Conquer.” at the National | Oriental roles are her long suit. Time Theater Monday, March 19, is one of | was whenever a Yum-Yum was needed. the many of these. | managers used to send out in a frantic Fay has undergone all the heart-|search for Fay Bainter. Now. things | breaking experiences that successful | we different. The mere fact that Fay actresscs are supposed to have, and she | Bainter can look like a daughter of the | Dr. Riesenteld's directors will conduct. Complete presentation will be given twice daily. KEITH'S—Sessue Hayakawa. Sessue Hayakawa & Co. will headline the bill at B. F. Keith's Theater this week in a new playlet. “The Man Who | Janet Richards will give her | usual talk on “Public Questions: Home and Foreign,” tomorrow morning at ,ll!:“ o'clock in the Masonic Temple, | Thirteenth street and New York avenue. | These talks each week are interpretive { reviews of the outstanding events in the | world's work and are illustrated by the | use of large maps. This week Miss tinge the discussion of major issues before Congress, the “con- tempt” verdict. and & survey of recent important devel ents in the various European count! including an ac- count of the “five-power entente of Central Europe” as planned by Premier Benes of Crechoslovakia at the League in Geneva. CURRENT HISTORY—Friday. the “Show Boat” into as many theaters as may be necessary o accommodate the waiting list. > r Much of the audience that crowded the thelther on Tuesday night were really passengers brought in by the “S8how Boat” as it still plows its melodious way | along the memory stream. i Tuesday night opening is nat- has emerged beautifully. A child | Rising Sun on 30 seconds’ notice no! " by Ve actress at 5, working her litile heart | longer obscures her talent for IED |~ ine Cona omwa o et reme | out in' small stock companies for nine | comedy. and in that mood she Will {comic.” will be featured with Marion | long years, then coming to New York |soon appear in Washington as K: Eddy in a new offering called. “Whoo- |nnd getting a small part in a musical | Hardcastle in “She Stoops to Conquer.” | Ha * and others include: Adele Verne. comedy, luck turned her way, and she | a role where her zest for amusing sit- | gistinguished woman who W got a bit with Mrs. Fiske in “Mrs. | uations will have full scope, loffer a program of selected numbers; morrow night. Bumpstead-Leigh” on a tour. | alternately as well-bred 1ady | Marie Walsh and Frank Ellis in a — Now, she has attained real stardom. | and a bouncing barmaid, tormenting comedy of youth, “Roadside Idyll" Willlam Anthony McGuire has writ- | Known all over the United States for | and twisting her new lover around her ' assisted by H. G. Symington: Jay Velie ten a play in which the leading part is | her four years' performance of Ming | little finger. Nine stars in the l‘ll!‘-th\ a variety of . Revel Bros. & to be played by Willlam Boyd. “On- | Toy in “East Is West,” she has been | including Glenn Hunter, Mrs. Leslie | “Red.” who specialize in taps and ward, Christian Soldier,” 1s the title| hailed as a successor Yo Maude Adams. 1 Carter, Lyn Harding, O. P. Heggle and |clogs in their new act, “Steps on of the play, and, so far as present plans | But Miss Bainter, nevertheless, de- | Patricia Collinge, a galaxy such as only | Steps”: the Three Lordens in a thrilling Miss Clara W. McQuown at Dder weekly talk on Current History wili discuss briefly other matters of the moment in world affairs, but will speak especially on Questions of the Easi— China. Japan. India and the Near East. | These talks are given every Fridar morning at 11 o'clock in the ballroom of the Washington Clud, 1010 Seven- teenth street. COMMUNITY INSTITUTE—THUS- DAY. IN THE SPOTLIGHT laugh in good cheer at the hard- | ships. It was an occasion of ex. | temporaneous dash without a | trace of selfconsciousness to mar the episode in which he stepped out of the role of the boyish Gas- | Irene Delroy has been engaged for the con to be his own self With 2 jcading feminine role in “Here's Howe!" touch of seriousness. | Miss Delroy last appeared in the Zieg- LI ima “Follies.” In his Interpretation DeDnis| 1, ;e Taglor wil begin an engage- King make.s a special point of | ment in New yYork Mnrrl‘; ‘; as lhvEz i r D'Artagnan’s boyishness. The role | 5r zoe Akins' new play, “The Furles.”| Notes of the St:lgc and Its People. jopens in Brooklyn one week from to- The Community Institute of Wash- urally expected to be heavy.| b that w’{‘ha:v,“bfle“n‘d?,‘:‘,‘,'gfififj | resembles that of Jullet, as it has | A. E. Anson will be the leading man. | jcally referred to: “A |John Tuerk is the producer. o two nights. But the demand | been cyn | he proc ¥ept up throughout the week and | Player old enough to grasp is fUll| peye rove will appear 1n the San Ziegleld, leaving behind a trained | meaning may be found no H8EY | prancisco production of Burlesqu corps of supervisors armed with | YOUng enough to give it befitting | which will open on March 2. Miss Lov blue pencils and stop watches, |manner and appearance. made a serene departure for| As a fighter no figure could be Plorida, confident that he has in | more graceful or more swift in | York by Barbara Stanwyck, in what is | said to be her first engagement on th | legitimate stage. | will play the part portrayed in New | W piec other wor'd | movement, and he almost suc- | ;l::sux:e e | ceeds in wresting his triumphant | g > o8 % | encounters hwith zny' gu{?ber oé The audience at the “public |{0es from the pages of fictlon and | dress renearsal’—the latest addi- |10 convincing the ’}T“m“w'}‘m’s{; tion to Ziegfeldian philology—was | @ moment that they may in confident mood and gala array. | been true. ! The spirit of the occasion seemed | Light-hearted and ingenuous as 1o indicate that something in ‘he | they seemed, the little touches by nature of a magnificent sequel to | which he reveals D'Artagnan, the | the “S8how Boat” was contem- country lad, taught by his father | plated, with new figures in the | to fence, but with no other polish { piece and the scene painter and |than that which a courageous | choruses £till carrying on with the | heart, fortified by native wit, can continuity. boast, .-.:um a cllont Ia\:d m:t}:gln‘fiy | 5 e a lofty and study of the role. ‘The artificlal- | ,,Efigféfflfifi,fii,fiyfill(;.‘ffifl’ ity which Dumas himself did not of the promoters of these enter- | entirely suppress 1s here toned | prises W give their patrona e | down and humanized. some advantages in the way of | s protection against the wiles of | grim] music has a standard of night clubs. In some cases keep- |t own and it is not possible te | 'ing the theater open long after peljeve that the performance of | !tbe usual time for calling car- ihe orchestra on Tuesday nlght nages may serve as brief but ef-lyay in accordance with the pre- fectual life insurance for thosc|cise ideas of the composer. An tempted W indiscriminate accom- | grehestra employed for accom- | | paniments for soda and gINEEr | puniment is one of the most deli- | ‘ale. The theory now s that cate and exacting mechanisms ple like 1o be kept awake. If they | [is highest function 1s to sur- “can’t stay up all night at the the- | rervier itself completely to the ' mter they are likely to undertake | soloist, On Tuesday night a mase some reckless ‘"‘l'"‘m{"-" epilogue. | number thoroughly rehearsed for Once unblushing as he borrowed | great volume could hold its own from haunts of historic iniquity in | And so could a singer like King, his quest of ideas, he now leaves | possessing the magnetic mastery smpropriety for the use of 4 prize | enabling him o take the situation raconteur at some speclal and se- | in his own hand and practically date gathering [ direct the orchestra itself slibidg | Katherine Cornell has & new By keeping people awake und |play by Bomerset Maughum, with harmlessly entertained far into |emotion and melodrama combined the morning, these productions |in forceful effect, but not linked become enterprises not merely of | together with the smart dialogue reform, but of philanthropy. Not | necessary to make it a rival 1o its mentioning the extra large mess- | predecessor in the Cornell repor- ure of actual stage material, the | tory, “The Green Hat” It Is well presentation delivers moral bene- | cast, but it follows a too frequent fit and physical security that|custom of selecting & capable make the price, no matter how | woman Lo hear the entire burden many times increased, seem only | of the evening in an appeal (o the scusonable for value recelved, Isensibilities of an sudience, “Don’t’ Count Your Chickens,” a play by Robert Riskin and Edith Fitzgerald, will be presented in Cleveland for the first time on any stage March 18, with Mary Boland in the leading role. It will later be shown in Detroit and Chi- ! cago on Easter Sunday. Willlam °T. ‘Tilden, 2d. the tennis | champion, 1s to appear on the Broad- way stage again, this time in one of the principal_roles in “The Buzzard,” the | f play by Courtney Savage. George Lef- fler {5 the producer and he has had the play in rehearsal for a week or two. “One of the Finest.” the sketch by | John Wray which later became the play “Nightstick,” 15 to be given in vaudeville again on the Keith-Albee circuit, The leading parts will be play ed by Willlam Boyd, John Wray ‘and Geraldine Wall. It 1 sald that Basil Bydney and Mary Ellis are going to contnue with pro- ductions of Bhakespeare in - modern thes, and that their next choice i The Merchant of Venic This will be Mr. Sydney's third experiment on these lines, After stumbling around in rehearsals for several weeks that play which once was called “The Medicine Bhow” and now 1s known as “Another Bottle, Doc,” 15 to open in Paterson, N. J., tomorrow night “Doubling 1n Brass,” a clrcus com- edy by Warren F. Lawrence, suthor of “Quicksand,” hus been uccepted for productionhy Anna Held, jr. Jean Tennyson will make her vaude- ville debut March 8 at Kelth's Theater in New York, Bhe will appear in an act written exclusively for her by Ne- ville Flecson, Helen Lowell will l{bluv her original role in Chamberiain Brown's forthcom- ng revival of "Mrs, Wiggs of the Cab- bage Patch” Iwhel Elsom, recently seen in “The Bilver Box”, Kathryn Giviey, who played the adventuress in “Nightstick," und Mildred Macleod have been en- weged for “The Benavior of Mrs Crane” in which Margaret Lawrence will have the chief grule, Ahe play Florenz_Zicgfeld as_soon as he has seen “The Three Musketees along smoothly, going “Marching as ‘War,” the sccond phase of the well known hymn for which Sir Arthur Sulllvan wrote the music, provides the title for Robert E. | 8herwood's play, which the Messrs. | Brady and Wiman are holding over for production next season, Arthur Hammerstein is going to be- | come an international producer, having left for Europe last weck to open offices In London, Parls and Berlin. ‘The success of “Rose Marfe" and “Golden Dawn" in German and ren has led him to expand his activities. Wilda Bennett, who last was heard rom s & possible star for the ill- fated “Oh, Johnny,"” entered the cast of “Lovely Lady" last week in New York in the role recently given up by idna Leedom because of iliness. - . Trail Breaker \ ITHOUT any of the machinery which lightens modern Iabor, the sturdy ploneers who constructed the Orst rudlroad to unite the East with the Fur West established records which are sald to be stiil_unbroken. Not even i the World War did trained engineers build 10 miles of track a day The Central Pacific Rallroad gangs did it in early sixtles aguinst al- most impossible , and they fought Indlans while they worked. ‘They went { without supplies, often without food and sleep. ; How they did It Is adinirably shown | In the Willlam Fox picture ealled "“The | Iron Horse,” an attraction i Wash- { Ington this week | The trall breakers lald a palr of rails every 30 seconds, 2 rulrn to the mile, ten spikes to the il and three | sledge blows to a spikel A palr of | Tatls lald “and spiked every minutel | A mile of track in three and a half hours! Many of the men wors Army trou- sers, and “fell n" ke soldiers, for | they had just come from the ranks of the Union and Confederate Avinies. ‘Thelr guns were stacked alongside the ralls while they worked. The Sloux Indians were always hovering in the ofting, wnlllnr for the slightest oppor= tunity to strike, It makes w dramatic story—one which Robert Louls Btevensin declared should be the greatest American work of lterature. The pleture certainly takes 1ta place among: the outstanding productions of the s to the West. | | this acutely typical history. She steadily refused to be just anoth g0, it will be put in rehearsal by | flantly imposed her individuality on |George C. Tyler might gather in one | | play, will match her art with their own | individual genius. | BROADWAY theatrical recently quoted Charlie Chaplin as {saying he intends to play Pagliacci, the broken-hearted clown, in a later pic- ture, Discussing the plot of that film with George P, West, the American newspaper man, Charlie said: “I'm going to do the clown. My clown will be a very simple man. He wants just the little things that every man wants, a home and the woman he loves—and a living. He wants to be happy in & very simple way. He doesn't ask much of life. But the girl is cverything. He has loved her since they were derelict children together. te has protected her and fought for her and lived for her. She is his sun and moon and stars. And she marries him, She marries him out of pity, for he Is ugly and ridiculous. He is very happy. weekly [FEW young stars have a larger or more loyal following than Lenore Ulrle, whom David Belasco will present as Luli Belle In the play by Edward Sheldon and Oharles MacArthur Mon- day evening, March 8, at the National ‘Theater, following her New York en- gagements, It 15 not surprising that Miss Ulrle has won & distinct place for herself on the present-day atage, for she has cro- ated some of the most unusual and popular roles that have come to the American theater, ‘To the many inquiriea as to the things that have led to her sucoess, Miss Ulrie, realizing the fascination the theater possesses especially for youth, 1a sympathietic and responstve, “In my opinlon,” she says, “there is only one rule that can be given for nohleving success on the stage, and that ix hard work and study, Desplte pop- ular impression, there is no royal road to this coveted goal. “A girl who hopes to become & sue- cessful actreas should not delude herself with vosy flluslons regarding the pro- fesslon. There 18 none that makes more Lenore Ulric Coming. | Cllarlig’s"Next Effort. “Then something inevitable happens. She meets the man whom she loves with all her being, and then follows one of those inevitable mallngs. He is handsome, a fine figure, the sees and understands. but he meets it with the mocking ges- ture of his calling. “He becomes successful, with money | and fame. The years But he s very unhappy. pass, and “she" is dying in Parls alone, destitute, deserted by her | She sends for him. His whole glows. He knew that she really loved him and would send for him some day! He goes to her, exalted. And. delirious, she cries out for the other man, That other man comes and she dies in his arms. Even the child that he thinks is his belongs to the other. And the clown turns back to face lite once more.” lover, bein, arduous demands. She should not go on the stage unless she is willing to make work the important thing and everything else subservient to it. “The higher an actress rises in the theater the more is expected of her, and the public s quick notice and to resont any tendency to rest on past laurels. There must be a continual striving _for improvement, and with every role she must set out to win her publio anew. “If one really lovea the theater, how- ever, the work becomes & pleasure and no effort 1s too great it 1t means pro- gresslon, Stock company tratning s in- valuable for a girl if she has veal talent and the determination to suceeed . “Under the Red Robe," an elaborate operetta, based on Stanley J. Weyman's novel, will have its first appearance tomorrow night In Hart . The leading rolea will be played by Walter Woolf, who recently agpuwd n “Countess Maritsa" and Evelyn Her- bert, last seen in Maryland " Harry B Smith wmade the adaptation and also supplied the lyrics, 3 clown | He steps aside. | It is the great tragedy, the utter defeat, | | Dr. Todd. | letles, where men have numerous super- | et victary: trapeze act called. “Lights Out.” and Miacahua, the Brazilian “wonder wom- | an.” who walks on the wire without aid of pole or umbrella. ‘The program will be completed by the screen features, Aesops Fables, Topics of the Day and the Pathe News. GAYETY—"Bathing Beauties.” “Bathing Beauties,” a nev United Burlesque production, is this week's at- ington announces L. Barle Rowe, direc- tor of the Rhode Island §choal of Design of Providence. in a lecture, “Fakes and Forgeries,” at Central Com- munity Center, Thursday of this week, at 8:15 pm This will de the ninth event in the Community Institute series of 10 events, ‘hh‘h will close Thursday, Al 9. with # talk on “Current Prof. William Starr Myers of Princeton University. SUPKRSTITION Serves as a concrete point upon which any one engaged in the game of winning or lostng can fix one's confidence or faith. This is the opinion of Dr. John W. Todd, head of the psychology departs ment of the University of Southern California, cancerning the use of super- | stitions in motion picture making. “Directors and stars are uncertain as to the success of each production.” satd “In this way it is like ath- | stitlons. robe the Boxers often cling to the wore when they won their trackmen want certain lanes, and foot ball players seek cer= tain numbers for their jersevs “Unswerving falth in a certain en- terprise alds 10 success. A supersti- tion directs attention and brings con- | centration, Actors and directors are sald to be temperamental —Therefore, when they cannot rationalise their at- tention, superstition doas this for them Perhaps In no other business does superstition pIAY as great & part as in motion picture making. These persons | do not hide their superstitions, but | cherish them, and if permitted to carry | through with thelr “hunches” are cons | fident of sucvess, ! William Wellman, director of “Wings" | and “The Legion of the Cundemnew.” | insiata an playing a small bit in o\‘eg‘ rmduen\\n he directs, It means goo ek for him. James Cruse, director | of e Covered Wagon* “Olt Tron- sides™ and others, will not start a ple- ture unless Luke Cusgrave, the wan who gave Cruse his theatrical start, & bealde the camera CGiregwry La Cava insists on Henry Calding, who was in | the first picture La Cava ever divected, | daing & bit fn every one of his pies tures, Victar Fleming, divector ot “Able's Iviah Rose" has the supersti- ton that all will go wrang unless he | Nimselt makes the frst camarn set-up | AR every ploture, Frank Tuttle's superstition is a hold- over from cullege days at Yal. Colle- glans have superstitions abdout wearing certain clothing during final examina- tions and Tuttle's was & polka-dot bow tie, which he nOw wears the first day of every production. Even Dorothy Arzner, woman director, must spive the film of the first day's take on each picture she does. Players also have Negri believes it bad picture on Monday. She also has & baby pig an the set at the start of wach production. This s an ancieat Folish good-luck omen. Emtl Jannings has a small Orfenta figure an his dressng table to whaeh he nods three times each maring. 1t i his “raddits foott Wallace Beery has & six-carat diamond ring he has worn on hts right hand for 18 years insisting that It brings good ek, Ray- mand Hatton owns a small horseshoe Which was ance worn by a famous TACing mare named Belda Chester Cunklin, sereen cumedian, has a pan of shoes he wure an his fiest appeat- ANCe as A Kevstone oop ten or mwwv YPArs ago. He says he must wear these Shoes At kast e I every pieture even 1 1t &5 only an ovashns of @ chse-up of his face. Mary Brian, dam i Texas, has 1AL ool mounted I goid. It was fven her by a mammy for good tuck ther Raliton continues the old stage superstition of eating prunes for dreak st each marning o a production Stage folk belleve prunes for breaktast weans they will play defre a fub house I the evening. Fluvsive Vidr carvies & 300-vear-oia Chinese col for good uek: Clara Bow has A pressed shamiock an oM Irish WAl ance gave her for good ek Nancy Carnall always wears & Ohinese pood-luck ving on Uttle fnger o her right hand and Charles Rogers & never without a picture of his mother W oA little keket she gave him years LTIN rstitions. Pola uck to start &