Evening Star Newspaper, March 4, 1928, Page 59

Theat and er, Screen Music AMUSEMENT SECTION he Sunday Star. Part 4—12 Pages JWASHINGTON, D. -C. SUNDAY CMARCH 4, 1 . ARTHUR TURELLY- Earle Poet and Musician Over Scenery Triumph BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. [ It is not likely that Washing-|derland fashion an audacious ton will see many more try-outs. ! opulence of rhetorical resources | The season has evidently settled | as fancy and satire became play- down to well tested material mates of the imagination. The | ready by this time for a turn at | Sullivan music represents no less | the road. The spirit of experi- |than the Gilbert verse an intel- mentation which so hopefully | lectual condescension introducing | animated the pre-holiday en-,for the sake of a romping hour gements may now be reserved | evidences of the highest musical | argely for another season. ! scholarship so skillfully managed | * ¥ % x |that the deftness appeals, not | It may be that Ziegfeld, once |only irresistibly to the popular regarded as a man of unblushing |ear, but to the discriminating | audacities, but now contemplated | taste of the student. as the hope and pride of our na- PR tional drama, will introduce an-| While instinctively a stylist. other of his spectacles here. The whose graceful turns of expres- | liking for Washington as a first |sion were his best stock in trade, ity so frequently ex- the eminent librettist lost no oc- 0~ is evidently | casion to manifest his great dis- | shared by Ziegfeld. approval of affectation of any | * 8% |sort, whether in writing or in| This Capital City has been de- |fashionable manners. It may | scribed as one whose heart is dif- | have been his wish to be regarded | ficult to reach by t{mwmaslwrg and | as a stalwart, perhaps rough-and- | players. “I sometimes feel,” said | ready, writer, who aimed to please | an eminent entertainer, “that the | the masses, that led him to be- eople out there in front have a | come enrolied among the infini- | nd of stage fright which makes tive splitters. In the song ! them hesitate about abandomng' “But recollect | themselves to laughter or ap-| What disrespect, | plause. The patient Govemment‘ 1t you neslegzec J | worker does not know whether To thus effect with an eye on his deportment,| This aim direct. | and the chief clerk does not' This is not the only case where | know how much formidable in-!the infinitive split was introduced | fluence may be surrounding him. to preserve the rhythmic bubble Everybody is on his dignity and of a flowing spirited meter. Per- thinking of the impression he,| haps that writer has done as| himself, makes, instead of set- | much as any one to rescue this| tling back carefree to enjoy the | form of phrase from an often too | entertainers.” | pedantic struggle to save the verb | * % *x & |in its original bisected dignity. Once the constraini is relieved, | el which happens all too seldom,| When an opera is all settled in the entire auditorium resolves it- public estimation it seems to be self into a whirlwind of hllifl'-Y-;a work that could scarcely have An understanding such as has!existed otherwise than in the | been established between a man | form it has finally taken on. Time like Ziegfeld and the Washington | smoothes out traces that at first | the chief clerk is in the house | | have playgoers proves valuable to all| concerned. The great successes| which do not open in Washing- | ton are very likely to linger else- | where for a long time and leave thiz local stage largely at the mercy of try-outs. Many are still talking about the luck of the town in being able to get on board the “Show Boat.” » % o Even when a great spectacular production iz announced o give, instead of a first performance on any stage, a {xu lic “dress re- nearsal,” the play patrons made trustful by happy experience as- semble prepared to see the pres- cntation through, even if it is necessary to walt till the break- 1ast bell rings. I In substantial contrast to this new musical entertainment whi resolves itself at some of its me: riest. moments into a gaudy and heterogeneous riot are the Gilbert and Bullivan operas. These ar- nve almost annually from one e or another and create sur- anew that their enertain- 1 sull zo refreshing. “The perhaps is typical of the netive genius of this pair, who ¢ the world the resulls of a boration so accurate that i Las seldom, if ever, been equaled it the lynical theaver ¥ No man has taken his funmak INOYe Seriously as a profe than W. 8 Gilbert, In one of hi Tugitive verses he refers Lo the s 1ate the professional laug) WBKEr Y whom the question propounded, “Don't you know t Juu're pald v be funny? 2 rythless devermination 1o Jet, 19 mirth-provoking possiniliLy es Ccape he puns withoul remoy maker the most Uivial parado: serve hig turn, distorts langus wimost W the point mution in quest of rhymings and at allitera tions with 50 free s hand thist the pound alights in all sorts of rela tionships rather independently of L€ sense Led But it s the foolery of the erhoivr rather plessed o display 3n something of an Alice-in-Won | seemed rugged and it holds a re- | spect comparable to that felt for | a skyline made by wooded hills, | No evidence remains of the tem- peramental and emotional con- vulsions of nature that produce | the upheaval from the general flatness of some worthwhile ideas | PR The topical song long ago lost | its place as an essential in light | opera for the reason that while | it Was invariably a highly appre- | clated incident it was not usual- ly 30 good a seller as the music | on more romantic lines. How- ever, one topical song was consid- ered quite enough for any comic | opera. In “The Mikado” there are | two uncompromising specimens, | LiLLy MOQDIS- Keiths. m BABE MAYSON- Gaye‘fy IN THE SPOTLIGHT Notes of the Stage and Its People. Notwithstanding the success of “The | ‘Three Musketeers” in this city, it is re- ported that extensive alterations and additions, notably In the musical score, | been taking place since 1t left| ‘Washington. | The American Laboratory Theater, which has secured the American rights | to “Martine,” by Jean-Jacques Bernard, will soon start rehearsals of the play. “Alabaster,” a play by Ben Newmnn.‘ 1s announced for production by the Em- | pire Producing Co. of New York. It/ went into rehearsal last Monday. | ey | Wallis Clark, who has been playing | in Australia for the Iast three years, | has been engaged for the forthcoming revival of “Within the Law.” Raymond Hackett has been engaged | for the cast of “Don’t Count Your Chickens,” in which Mary Boland will | be featured. He was last scen in “The Nightstick.” “Diamond Lil,” a Mae West play, in which Miss West will have the leading | role, will soon be produced with a big cast of notables by Max Linder. Julian Eltinge, it is announced, will soon produce and appear in his own | musical play. He Is now appearing in | vaudeville, | The producers of “These Modern | season, which at this time of the year take the form of Spring try-outs, are the productions of “The Whip Hand." by Marjorie Chase and George S. Brooks, and of “Veneer,” by Stanislaus Stange, which the Messrs. Shumlin and Streger will try out at Atlantic City this month. ‘The Max Marcin-Samuel Shipman melodrama, “Kidnapper,” which was to have opened in New York tomorrow night, will be held over for a week. ‘The title of the play has been changed to "One AM." “The Heritage of the Children, adapted from the Spanish by Jose Lopez Pinellos, will be put in rehearsal next week by Walter C. Lindsey. It will open at Atlantic City on March 26, with a New York premliere sched- uled for Easter week. With George Smithfield as both pro- ducer and author, a drama called “Hurricane Love” will go into rehearsal soon, with its opening scheduled for Apriil 1. Mr. Smithfield also directed “Marriage on Approval” the piny by Michael Kellesser which opened last week in New York. ‘The success of Helen Hayes, the little Washington girl, in “The Coquette” has been one of the outstanding marks of this season In New York, Last Tues- “I've Got a Little List” and “My | Women" announce they have accepted |day afternoon Miss Hayes was the Object All Sublime.” i o i It was immediately saild by the | authorities in the case that one | or the other of these songs must | be sacrificed. No decision could | e reached as to which it should | ‘They were both absolute gems | of their kind, and in the absence | of any competent decision in the ! matter they were both allowed to remain tentatively, in the hope that the survivor of the fttest | would assert itself, that one or the other would naturally prove the unsuccesstul competitor and drop aw. It has never happened. | y are both there unto this day. i | In all the history of Gillbert | and Hullivan it may be doubted | whether the Gilbert and Bulllvan | operas have heen better acted | thun hy the company here lart | week, In fact, as the operas come further away in the course of time from the tyranny of the author nd composer, they are permjtted 1o tuke on more of the enthuslasm of personality and even to develop tralts of individualism. Originally 1o Gilbert and Sullivan company teame as nearly as possible 10 be- ing composed of lay figures adroit- Iy ventriloguized 50 as Lo convey the wit and melody emanating from hehind the scenes. R One of the shows whose fArst presentations Washington did noi hive w chance Lo gee was “Lulu 1 Belle The opinion was quite \ another play by Lawrence Langner, en- | Utled “The Marriage Revolt,” and will produce 1t during the Bummer. Nita Naldl, who graduated from the stage to the screen several years ago! and has since hecome popular in “vam- | pire” roles, will return to the New York theater In the forthcomi; production | of “The Great Necker,” which is sched- uled to open tomorrow night | Dressed in traditions] black ik knee | breeches, jucket trimmed with Iace, and white wig, Pauline Lord 15 to spesk the | prologue written by David Garrick in | 1773 In George ‘Tyler's revival of * BLoops to Conquer.” 1t opens in Brook- Iyn next week | Among the varlous plans for next e freely expressed that its sponso would hardly care to face the ad- verse criticlsm that would surely arise If it were done here for first night. The wisdom of seasoned showmanship 15 again sadly In evidence in its defiance of indig- nant propriety. It was argued with the greatest confidence that only time was needed to heal the frritation caused by announce- ments about “Lulu” uumnlnnuz tn allow the hox office to sell tckets without restraint or formidable objection, ‘The ticket line for thix engagement s another of the long, slow-maving procegsions the National Theatey has developed from tme to time, and of which It expects to see more, 80 suy its | heralds, when the really impor- tant hookings listed for the cur rent season are ready Lo be dis closed, guest of honor of the Twelfth Night Club, & notable organization of Gotham. Next season will see the New York heater Guild add two more players io its permanent company—Glenn Anders and Elliot Cabot, They will join the gulld on a three-year contract each. Willard Mack's latest melodrama, The Scarlot Fox,” dealing with the dventures of the Canadian Eull('f, [ cheduled to open In New York a week from tomorrow night 15 the producer. Hale Hamilton will play the prinel- | pul role I “Divorce a ln Carte,” de- scribed s a satirical farce by Samuel Ituskin -~ Golding., ‘The oduetion s cheduled to open wt Atlantie City two ki hence and will reach New York luster week The London productions of “The Road to Re " “The Comm o Love" and "“The Queen's Husband” will be made by Charles B. Cochri ac- cording to Willlem A, Brady, jr, who returned to New York Inst week after o brief trip abroad. . Famous Dancing Team Here. Rl‘l‘A and Teske, sensationsl whirle wind dancers In John Murray Anderson’s latest stage production, “Homan Nights,” one of the greatesi duncing Leams on the Loew olroutt, will uppear in Washington this week, hey made thelr debut in the East #a a Leam In “Lady Be Good," duplicated thelr siooess with the Dune :v-ul I!Illlol'l h:“ l‘i.p:ky‘ IR? l{u; Prlod 0 teaming with ‘Teske, Rita had acore nuuvfliunl hit in "l.mL Nellle Kelly," "'No, N!, Nannette" and other musieal produetions, James W. Elltott | and | Roa Truth Better Than Fiction 'RICH VON STROHEIM has a pas- sion for realism, and, it is claimed, his stories always have a basis of truth no matter how fictional they may seem. Paradoxically this man, who has one of the most vivid of imaginations in providing entertainment for the public, cannot function unless his material is founded on facts. Practically all the storles he has written and then filmed have concerned characters von Stro- heim has known, and they have in- | cluded situations that were actual hap- penings he had witnessed during his life on the Continent. | This holds true for “Blind Husbands," {“The Devil's Passkey,” which was | founded on an idea of Baroness De Meyer's “Foolish Wives,” and the story | as he originally wrote it for “Merry-Go- Round.” Both characters and situa- tions may have been idealized for the | purposes of drama, but most of them | had a firm foundation of reality. Although the film story of “The ter, is a modern version of the world- |famous operetta, the material utilized to fit it for the screen is sald to be also based upon the truth. The situations {leading up to the familiar incidents of | the original story are said to be slight paraphrases of actual happenings that | von Strohelm witnessed when he was | an army officer attached to a continen- | tal court und the characters are out of |'real ltfe. When this picture was re- !leased for European distribution it was | barred from the kingdom of the Croats, Serbs and Slovenes, which after the war included the little kingdom of Monte- negro. Von Strohelm was a military attache at Cettinje, the capital of Mon- tenegro, prior to hisarrival in America, and it was stated that the film held up the mrnl Montenegran family to public ridicule. REGINA BROWN- COminfl Week of Marcu-12- - National - CAMILLE- Fox-r Attractions in Washington Playhouses This Week MUSIC AND DRAMA. NATIONAL—“Lulu Belle,” drama. Tomorrow evening. KEITH'S—Lily Morris, vaudeville. This afternoon and evening. GAYETY—“Dimpled Darlings,” evening. LENORE ULRIC- National - NATIONAL—“Lulu Belle.” LENORA ULRIC appears at the N | tional Theater for a week's en: | gagement, opening tomorrow evening, tas Lulu Belle in David Belasco's pro- duction of the Sheldon-MacArthur play. The company comes after two years at the Belasco Theater, New York, and long runs in Chicago and other principal citles. “Lulu Belle” | marks the which Miss Ulric has appeared for | more than a year in New York. To the great majority of players more than a year's run is an occurrence Children Now Have Chance. _‘Tnovsmns of children who con- tributed their nickels and dimes to ! restore the old frigate Constitution, | America’s valorous fighting craft, have | the opportunity of viewing upon the or'xs:é ‘t’\‘::‘lte;}ny in which Miss Ulric | screen an exact duplicate of that ves-| ghent more than a year in New York, | scl as she appeared in all her glory in | under Mr. Belasco's direction, | "Old Ironsides,” James Cruze's "Cav-u«n‘" Rose,” produced over nine years | ered Wagon™ of the sea, which IS 1OW | ygq gt the Lyceum Theater. It was as V] ington. H bfl_‘r_lg shown '? x\‘mg nes | the French-Canadian heroine of that | The story of the battle-scarred sea | mejodrama of the great Northwest, by warrior from the time of her launching | Willard Mack, that she achieved her | to her gallant victory over the pirates | fre pronounced success and one that | of Tripoll in 1804 is told in the plcture. | xant her in New York for the longest :‘I)l was written directly for the screen | ryn on record at Daniel Frohman's Y Laurence Stallings. | Lyceum Theater. That engagement | they enjoy it at least once they con- sider themselves unusually fortunate, but to have experienced it three times is something that few can claim even in these times. when long runs are i i ~ the Lyceum, for since that she has | Revivals the Mode. | played all her thgf York Smgagements | [N a theater extraordinarily prolific | €X¢clusively in the Belasco Theater. Yl and_ devoted to the current scene, | It Was as Kiki that Miss Ulric first | the style today is turning surprulng'y; | to the revivals of by-gone plays. More than a dozen old plays already | on 1y Few actresses played as many performances without | this season have been revived on Broad- | $bSenting themselves at some time from e emost of them with at least falr | porfect fecord throughout the long e i < | sagement. A stock company has just been . | formed for the exclusive presentation |, DUring her two seasons as Lulu Belle Belasco production in | | that happens seldom. if ever, and if more prevalent than in the earlier days'” | marked Miss Ulric's last appearance in | Merry Widow,” now at the Little Thea- | of the masterpleces of yesteryear. The | authors so complimented have included | Shakespeare, Bernard Shaw, Maugham | and other notables. ‘The movies are not a step behind the ;l_vle They rather are seeking to ead it. Gets Irving's Arbaconfus. | (JEORGE ARLISS has been loaned | the late Sir Henry Irving's arbacon- | fus, which was given to Irving by one of the Rothschilds and was worn by { him wherever he acted Shylock. Hugh Miller, a member of Arliss' com- | pany, had the arbaconfus sent to New | York from London, where Miller and | Tom Heselwood manage a company that owns all of §ir Henry's costumes. An arbacontus is a small orthodox Jew wears from childhood. It gets its name from the four corners of [ | | Istrings with tassels, indicating certain prayers to be said. | TI(E Dramatic Assoclation of George | Washington Univeraity will present, [for the first time in Washington and [for the second time In the Unit States, a translation of “2v2.5" from the Danish of Gustav Weld, the |entire week beginning April 23, at the Wardman Park Theater, “The board of managers in charge of the production are Edward Moulton, Marfon Campbell, Pern Henninger, Betty Wilthank, Kenneth Yearns, George Spangler, Steve Blackman. The direction {5 under the supervision of I Wlllw Lenore Ulrie's portrayal of “Lulu Belle" has been hatled as the most unusual she has yet created under David Helasco's direotion, & re- view of her career recalls the faot that she has played a regular "League of Nations" liat of roles, Mr. Belasco firat presented Misa Ulrle as the Indlan girl tn “The Heart of Wetana,” after whioh ahe beoame the French-Oanadian herolne 0. Her next role waa that of Ohinese maiden in "The Bon-Danghter" and then for ll\rn neasons she played the French gamin Kiki, \ n_“The Harem," TWO_S0Rs0N ) Misa u\‘.'u. ;f '-5"- Hungavian wife who masqueraded as & Turksh prine Denis Connell, who recently was re- Verszlti!e Lenore Ul Novel University Play. sponsible for the G, W. U. musical com- harps and Frats " adapted from the con tinental comedy drama by one of the foremost of cotemporary European dramatists, was produced for the first time In America this season by the Clvle Repertory Co. in New York City, with Eva Lo Qalllenne as star. In se- curing the rights Qeorge Washington I8 the first to prezent the play outside of the original scene of production. “IND A declared to offer innumerable opportunities to the actor and dealgner of settings as well. ric. coss, and now aa Lulu Bello ahe is she rtraying one of the moat exotlo roles hat haa tallen to heal fourth atreet, New York, in a new play. Miss Ulrlo as Lulu Belle appears in an UNUSUAl combination of drama, comedy, lwlm Wnusual and novel acenio inveatl- ure, awene, where the veraatile Ulrio glves an_impersonation of & cabaret jass dance quote & leading metropali« tan eritie, it veaches & pinnacle of the Atrical endeavor that makes compart- 01 Almoat “Lulu Relle posaible. han an extraordinary ending entirely different tram the fnal ourtaln of her previous plays, , rment the | 10 aay nothing of the cabaret | la Miss Ulric has never been out of the cast. In the matter of attendance and receipts for an equal period Lulu Belle has proved the most popular role she | has yet created. H KEITH'S—Lily Morris. | At B. F. Keith's Theater this week | the "bill_will be topped by Ly Mortis, ::»;w of England’s foremost comedy ar- sts, | The big feature will be ths Josephine- | Joseph Circus Side Show. a unique at- | traction, compased of a congress of buman ' freaks, featuring Josephine- | Joseph, a remarkable human being. | | | (FEORGE ' C. TYLER. producer of splendid revivals, will bring another all-star production of a dramatic classic to the National Theater, Washington, Monday. March 19, in “She Stoops to Conguer,” Oliver Goldsmith's hilarious comedy and & favorite on the English- speaking stage for more than a hun- dred and fifty years. It Is the second Tyler revival of (he season, followt | “Diplamacy,” by Victorien { which 1s sald to be breaking box-oftice | records on tour. | The cast will include Fay Bainter, in- ternationally known star West"; Glenn Hunter of | Movies” and “Young Woodley" fame, and Mrs. Leslte Carter, appearing after A four-year absence from the stage, as well as Lyn Harding in his first Amert- can rad appearance since 1932, O P Heggle and Patrlola Collinge. law- rance D'Orsay, Willrid Seagram, Marie Carroll, Horage Hraham, George Twwde, Johu Seymour, Thomas Cuffin Cooke, William Lorens and Harold Thomas are additional luminaries. Pauline Lard, also a distinguished actress, will vead the prologue written by David Qarrick This Will be the thitd time in 23 | yeara that the Qoldsmith classic has | been seen In the United States. The Players' Olub of New York used it as ils annual produotion 193, Mr Tyler's production in 1904, with Kleanor Robson, Sidney Drew, Kyrle Bollew and Mra, Calvert in the last affering of the DAy in the Eustern United Stales as & 1 commercial produotion. Two years tor My, Tyler sent a company to the Calitornia Coast, where It plaved long | m&. enents. am lonm\ur. the yeteran divector | :;th v'c‘hnmm \ 'I‘ym' M\.\:‘ vu;t.:'v\\ h:ll} Toug 30 years of uetion, has emel from retivement to diveot this | v, Seymour Brevious Toiar Foviva, oF the wiay. aa vl sa the vestment, from which hang knotted | G L) 1 Anoth_gf_iljzler RreA:V\"‘ifl'al. burlesque. This afternoon and { _ Others are the Diehl Sisters and Mac- | Donald. who offer a new act, entitle¢ “Artistic Com: Frank Farron | known as the “Dealer in Laughs™: | Stuart Casey and Mildred Warren. Washington favorites, who will be seen | with Pred O'Brien in a new offerng |called “A Gem Jam.” by William K. | Wells: Josephine Chappelle and Harry | Carlon” with “Just a Few Things You Haven't Seen,” and other features. vill be campleted by Aesop's opics of the Day and ithe Pathe News. | GAYETY—“Dimpled Darlings.” “Dimpled Darlings,” this week's United Burlesque attraction at the Gayety Theater, has George Leon as the featured comedian, assisted by | Eddie Lorrayo, Abe Shorr and Walter Marion. The feminine contingent is headed by Nora Ford, soubrette, and includes Dolly Barrenger and Bebe Mason, sing- ers and dancers. | Two special features are the male i quartet and the chorus of 20 capable | singing and dancing girls. “Dimpled { Darlings™ is new in every respect— | new musical numbers, new scenic ef- | fects. new costumes and new comedy situations. JANET RICHARDS TOMORROW. Janet Richards at her interpretive | review tomorrow morning of affairs po- litical and international for the past week will speak further of the knotty European problems which confront the quarterly meeting of the Executive 1 ve | Council of the League of Nations whicl, opens at Geneva tomorrow: also of th- | revival of the “Vatican Question™ and the alleged solution thereof to be offered in the near future by Premier Mussolini A brief review of “Dist and congressional inactivity will also be given. The talks are held in the Ma- sonic Temple, Thirteenth street and New York avenue at 10:45 o'clock. CURRENT HISTORY—FRIDA Clara W. McQuown, at her weel talk on current history, will review m: ters of the moment in home affairs, b will pay especial attention to the com- ing elections in Europe and to the issues before the Council of the League at March meeting These talks are given every Friday morning a: 11 o'clock in the bdallroom of the Washington Club. 1010 Seve: teenth street the Players' Clud revival three year: ago. Although the cast is genuinely star.” particular efforts have been made | to fit each actor to the role he or she portrays. Glenn Hunter, as Tony ! Lumpkin, for imstance. is & young } playing & young man's role, whereas Mr. Tylers previous productions of t! play the part was taken by the ow comedian, whatever his age. Bo Stdney Drew. brother of the late Jo! Drew. and George Qiddens, who this part in these early produ Were over 80 at the time Tully's “"Beggars ot Lite. M TULLY teonoclast, red-headed, <two-fist Whose books are Voge wherever novels are tead has sold 0 the Paramouni-Famous-Lasiy Curparation the screen rights story “Beggars of Lite Under the oontraet, Tully abo dis. posod of the screen rights © Play Jutside, Looking In" which chwely paraliels the novel. The ook and play fWIl be comblued n the sereening. ac conding to B P Sehulbery. Paramount s associate producer “Hoggars of Life" & a grippag |sweeplig panorama of the pleasures Jand vichsitudes of those who tramp | the highways and byways of the warld [Into the moving, traghe theme of 1t | Tully has Interwoven & patiern of dght- ness and love. COWilllam Wellman, maker of “Wings" and “The Leghw af the Cundened. will dlrect ihe atary for Paramount, and Richard Arten and Loubse Hrooks have beott tentatively selected W play the leadug ales Benjamin - (lager ol Paramount s WEHOT-SUPOIVISAT STATt has been as signed (0 o the adaptation. and Tully » oantract provides that he assist i oan AdVisy CApacily W the Mlwming. Pro- duothun I expested 10 sttt within a month, L)