Evening Star Newspaper, April 13, 1930, Page 56

AMUSEMENTS. Variety of Attractions in The Capital Playhouses NATIONAL—National Players, “Nancy’s Private Affair.” AVING strummed the chords of romance and melodrama in their first two offerings, the Natlonal Players, for the cur- rent week, will dally with farce in “Nancy's Private Affair” is a somewhat unusual booking for the origi- nal production is G still very much alive at the Forty- eighth Street Thea- ter in New York. Myron Fagan, whose twoscore plays in the last 10 years rank him with such_prolific souls of industry as Owen Davis and the late Avery Hopwood, has un- dertaken to prove in this, his latest esay, that externals § are not superficial; that, indeed they cjrora Brooke. form no small chip of the keystone of marital happiness. Nancy is a woman of charm and beauty, but there are times when her best foot lags behind. Diffidence grows in the husband, fanned by his affair with & younfsur whose mother is & very managerial sort of person. Nancy sees the wreck of her romance threat- ening and act two finds a metamorpho- sis in her that is as surprising as it is comical. The cool, neutral individual of the opening scenes becomes a but- terfly of gorgeous tints, and none is more dumfounded than the mate who would divorce her because he imagined her attractions had waned. ‘This third production of the players’ sixth season, allows Marion Wells her first full-blown opportunity, locally. Addie Hibbard as the designing mother of a precocious rst. Marion Sterly, affords the comedy note, with ample assistance from Romaine Callander as # bogus nobleman. GAYETY—"“Take a Chance.” THI constantly growing popularity of burlesque made it necessary to in- crease the number of shows to keep the Mutual circuit continuously sup- plied for the season. Of the new pro- ductions, “Take a Chance,” the cur- rent attraction at the popular Gayety Theater, is sald to have hit the bur- lesque fans in the right spot. It has been acclaimed “as an entertainment of the merriest and most stimulating char- acter based upon & foundation of laugh- provoking features.” Incidentally, it is said to have many genuine innovations, some of which are sensational, particu- larly in the dancing numbers. The #ongs are said to have a distinctively appealing quality, the kind that put the audience in a humming mood. The company has Ina Thomas, clever soubrette, and Max Coleman, Hebrew comic, in the leads. Others are Tiny Ryan, Gaby Fields, Billle O'Nell, John- ny Goodman, Ralph Poe, Larry Amos and Harry Ryan. BURTON HOLMES—Thursday. “VINXCE AND NORTH ITALY,” final topic in Burton Holmes’ se- ries of pictured travel revues, will bs nted next Thursday afternoon at o National Theater. Venice will be phic an- .| Bown. The boys are Richard Keene d Frank frescoes; Acad parable collection of ings; the fa- ‘mous Rialto, Bridge of Sighs, the Palace of Gold, house of Desdemona and other reminders of the golden age, when, as the independent city republic of the Doge, she grew rich on the Levantine trade, will in ecolor and motion. ‘The tour will be continued into the mountain reglons of North Italy, visit- ing memorable places which have lured the traveler of all ages—the Val d'Aosta and the besutiful valleys of the upper Adige, with their memories of that fairy king, Laurin; the Stelvio road, called the highest street in Europe; Merano, with her arcaded streets and gayly fres- coed houses; Pieve di Cadore, birthplace of the great painter Titlan, and Cortina d’Ampezzo, “jewel of the Dolomites.” ‘There be shown also, for the first time on the screen, the difficult ascent of the Gre) by Bradford Washburn, & young American mountain climber, Ploture at Mayflower Shows Grim Mount Athos. the only photographic record in existence of the strange monastic republic of Mount Athos in Northern Greece, and depicting Macedonia’s stark T ess, the 2,000-year-old retreat of the monks with their strange reli- ous practices, will be shown at the yflower tonight at 8:30 o'clock. Capt. Viadimir Perfilieff, former Rus- sian army officer, who made the pictures, will present the motion picture and explain some of the scenes. No woman, it is claimed, has ever been admitted to the mountain fast- nesses of these old monks, and few visitors have been fortunate enough to mmu right of entry. Capt. Per- tells the story of these holy men cut off voluntarily from the world and carries his audience into dim history. ‘The exciting ascent to a mountain monastery in rope baskets, their prim- itive daily life with oxen and mules as beasts of burden, together with stunning &cenic effects, are a few of the features of the fiim. The picture 1s being shown here by the committee for the benefit of the education of Russian youth in exile. COLUMBIA PLAYERS ‘Will Play “Herod.” THE Columbia Players will conclude their season with the presentation ©of “Herod,” the poetic drama by Stephen Phillips, the evening of May 2 at Ward- man Park Theater. Robert Chase, prize winner as the best individual actor in the recent Drama Guild tournament, will play the title role. ‘The Columbia Players won the play fournament last year and this year. ‘with melodramatic sketches, “When , “Great Cath- . the first poetic drama they have attempted yoars. Aurors Poston will direct the p snd specisl costumes are bein for it. One of the features will dance by Mrs. Char] for some be an played by Grace Meyer. “The Rock”—April 18-20. S'T'HE ROCK,” s religious drama in three acts showing the character dflelflanen& of Simon Peter, will be presented by the Young People's So- clety of the FPirst Congregational Church, Tenth and G streets, on Fri- =ly. of this week and next Sunday, .m. gbo scene is lald in the courtyard of & Hebrew House, that of Simon Peter, in the city of Capernaum where the four Roman cross and go out 4 slmm: Peum a great mercl teacher h [that started all the trouble. Ay | ceeded in discovery of his real self. and he suffers as only the egoist can suffer when his | self-love dies. The play closes with | the dramatic scene, where Peter, through the devotion of his wife Adine and the understanding of Mary of Magdala, begins to vision faintly the true meaning of his name. ‘The part of Simon Peter is taken by Hugh Smith, who had the lead in the Central High School play last Spring, and that of Adina, his wife, by Caroline Cliff, a George Washington University student. Others of the cast are Abigail ‘Whiton, Willlam Tailor, Lillian Peters, ‘Tudor Whiton, Robert Hobbs and Con- stance Lane. ‘There will be no admission, but a free-will offering will be received. PALACE—Lummox.” UMMOX,” Fannie Hurst's fa- mous story in picture form, the screen attraction at Loe Palace this week. It United Artists’ production, Winifred Westover, and was di- rected by Herbert Brennon. Ben Lyon and Wililam Collier, jr., are in the sup- porting cast. “Lummox” is the story of a servant girl whose entire life is spent in sordid surroundings or with cruel employers, yet she has her own philosophy and manages _to cling to the brighter side of life. Betrayed by the son of one of her employers, when she asks him to marry her dismissed. When her child is born she laces it with & rich family that it may ave every advantage, and yet she man- ages to influence its life, although she has no contact with it whatsoever. As she grows older she finds her life even more difficult. With her last dol!-r; she buys admission to stand and hear her son play at a concert and she finds in this a moment of triumph. On the stage Herman Timberg ap-| ears in & Loew presentation, “Krazy- [and,” from the Capitol Theater, New York. Barbara Blair, her name is “Snooney,” aids Mr. Timberg. Sammy Timberg, composer of songs for New ‘York ater Garden shows, acts as guest master of ceremonies. Leo Chal- zel, “the man who made Shakespeare funny,” and the Chester Hale Girls complete the cast. The Hearst Metro- tone News, short subjects, Charles Gaige at the organ and the Palace Or- chestra complete the program. FOX—“The Big Party.” Kl’l'l‘Y COLLINS had personality, & vigorous young appetite and a poor boy friend. Allen Wetherby had sparkle, money and a swell penthouse to offer to the right-minded girl who might possess_the charms which Kitty radi- ated. Kitty wanted to see the smiling side of society. Well, around that the astory of “The Big Party” is woven, and the picture, a Fox Movietone, is no the Theater. It is a melody farce of a little miss that would do things in a big way md| found out the price. “The Big Party”| was given In her honor by the man in the case. There are not really very many serious moments in the whole lings. It is all bright, peppy, ful entertainment, Dixie Lee is the r of the “It" Her girl Dorothy 4 friends are Sue Carol and Albertson, 'll:h their friend the penthouse is Douglas Gilmore. ‘The story and dialogue were written by Harlan Thompson, the songs by| William Kernell, James F. Hanley and Joseph MicCarthy, and John Blystone was the duecex | ‘The stage Wwill offer Fanchon and| Marco's idea of “Types,” starring Harry | Howard, an _internationally ~known com: A thers include the Trado ‘Twins, Carlena Diamond, Harold Stan-| ton and & new bevy of Sunkist Beautles. | Alexander Callam, offering a vocal interlude and generally making himself | useful, will be the master of ceremonies. COLUMBIA—"Men Are Like That” “MIN ARE LIKE THAT,” the screen | version of George Kelly's famous | play, “The S8how-Off,” is the featured | el Skedy 'pu fid':‘rzuofi'fi:' e ubrey PID"‘ th "Hx. from West Philadel- phis.” Aubrey proves himself obnoxious to the entire Fisher family. Only Amy (Doris Hill) of them all could see him. | d so, g her family's warning that the $32.50-a-week railroad clerk| “is nothing but & bag of wind and a| four-flusher,” she marries him. Aubrey | still continues to talk of yachts and: motor cars, while his wife tries desper- | tely to keep house on his salary. He: aith In him is still not shaken. i But he continues to involve himself, in one scrape after another. After wrecking a friend's car and almost kill- ing ® traffic officer, he is brought to court. The judge fines him $500. Piper begins to tell him how the city should be run, and he raises the fine to $1,000. A relative pays the fine. Aubrey then | sets out to look after his brother-in- law's business affairs. Golng to the office of & concern that is offering $50,- | 000 for an invention, he demands $100,- | 000 and 50 per cent of the profits. He| is thereupon invited to leave. He ar- rives home, about to confess, when the| young inventor enters with the glad, news that the firm has accepted Au- brey’s terms. Thus “the kid from West | Philallelphia” finally vindicates him- | self and brings happiness and wealth to his patient little wife, Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy in an M-G-M talking comedy, “Blotto,” a tale of two married men who get away from their wives for an evening of “wl ", the Hearst Metrotone News, short subjects and the Columbia Orches- tra will complete the program. METROPOLITAN—“The Furies.” "’I'Hl FURIES,” a mystery play in- volving the solution of & pussling murder and a woman torn between love for her son and her lover, is the feature at Warner's Met: litan Theater, with H. B. Warner and Lois Wilson in the stellar roles, Adapted from a successful play by Zoe Atkins, the plot concerns the efforts of & woman to divorce herself from her wealthy husband. While attending a gay party she announces she has suc- ining her husband’s con- vorce, and a few moments later her son rushes into the room an. nouncing that the husband has been murdered. . Althou eration l::ra the audience guessing un- til the final fadeout of the picture. The cast in support of the stars in cludes Theodore Von Eltz, Jane Winton, ‘Tyler Brooks, Alan Birmingham, Pur- nell Pratt, Bryon Sage, Ben Hendricks, jr., and Carl Stochdale, e action occurs in New York's up- per social strata, amid the luxureis of a modern Babylon. ‘The feature attraction is supported a the latest release of Vitaphone Va- and Graham MacNamee, news- "VISIT and SE GREAT FALLS, VA. he threatens to have her |, THE SUNDAY casting the latest world events via The Evening Star-Universal newsreel. EARLE—*"Strictly Modern.” JOROTHY MACKAILL'S latest First National-Vitaphone starring ple- ture, “Strictly Modern,” adapted from Henry Hubert Davies’ “Cousin Kate,” is the feature current at Warner Bros.’ Earle Theater. Miss Mackaill is sup- ported by Sidney Blackmer and a cast including Warner Richmond, Julanne Johnstone, Mickey Bennett and Kath- erine Claire Ward. A young writer discovers her girl cousin about to be married. Swayed by the infiuence of the man she really loves, however, she lays down conditions which make the marris almost im- possible. Complications further develop when the young writer herself falls in love with the downhearted fiance of her cousin. Regardless of her feelings, how- ever, she proceeds to act as peacemaker, and her efforts ultimately are success- ful, but in a way that carries much surprise. The Earle program will present also Vitaphone Varieties, The Evening Star- Universal and Pathe newsreels and mu- sic by the Earle Orchestra as supple- mental features, R-K-O KEITH'S—‘Ladies of Leisure.” 6] ADIES OF LEISURE,” at R-K-O Keith’s, a picturization of the Belasco-Crop) , 18 held over for & second week. Not since “Rio Rita,” it is explained, has the box office been besieged by throngs waiting in line for admission. In “Ladies of Leisure” Barbara Stan- wyck gives an intensely human per- formance as the girl Kay, as does Ralph Graves in the role of Jerry, and a fin- ished plece of work is contributed Lowell Sherman as the worldly Bill Standish. Delicious comedy is con- tributed by Marie Prevost. Others in the cast are George Fawcett, Nance O'Neill, Johnnie Walker mpton. ‘The story aims to prove that a woman is what a man chooses to make of her A girl of the streets will become a lady if she is properly treated. This is illus- trated in the case of an idealist artist and a gold-digging girl. The comes interested in the girl, engages her to pose for him, and subconsciously she falls in love with him. It is a tensely interesting story, somewhat va- ried from the original play. Superlative acting is sald to make this picture really one of the prizes of the season. McCormack’s Youngsters. 'XECUTIVES of Fox Film Corpora- tion are so well pleased with Ma reen O'Sullivan and Tommy Cliffor the two “imported” youngsters who ap- pear with John McCormack in “Song o' My Heart,” that they have assigned them to play with Beatrice Lillle in her forthcoming picture, “The London Musical.” Both Maureen and Tommy were “dlscovered” by Frank Borzage, direc- tor of “Song o' My Heart,” it is said, while he was making the earlier se- quences of the picture. Maureen was “discovered” at lunch in the Plaza Res- taurant, Dublin, purely by accident after Borzage had made a futile search for the right type of Irish girl to fit into the picture. ‘Tommy Clifford, who is only 12 years old, got his chance by the boyish prank of sticking his face before the cameras ‘when the McCormack unit was at work in Monasterevan. Forthwith he was taken from the fourth grade at school to become a member of the cast of ‘Song o’ My Heart.” JOHN BOLES AND STAR, WASHINGTON, | and Jullette | hero be- | EVELYN A BEAUTY OF “THE SCANDALS” Singing comedienne with George White's “Scandals,” at Poll’s April 21. D. O, APRIL 13, WILSON, TH'! pseudo libel that a literary vir- tuoso recently sought to put upon Washington sudiences, labeling them as ‘somnulent” and_“torrid.” has been cried down by Walter Gilbert, new leading man of the National Players. “Washington audiences,” says Mr. Gllbert, “are just about the most appre- ciative in the country.” And Mr. Gil- bert should know what he is talking about. His theatrical career has been replete with a generous amount of shifts and counter-shifts, the usual fortune of | the actor who is much in demand and very familiar with audiences, big and small. Mr. Gilbert, in fact, is really known from “coast to coast,” although the Eastern section of this country is more of a fond parent to him than the others. He has trod the most distin- guished boards of the most distinguished cities, including Staten Island, which he admits with a slight blush. “Here in Washington the audience seems to know when a thing is says the dual-role star of “Brof “And when a thing is bad, like the pro- verbial Mother Goose rhyme, they gnow LAURA LA PLANTE In “Captain of the Guards,” scheduled for screening at the Rialto, beginning April 19. comedy success, still ourrent 'ord_Brooke, S. E. Cochran ATER PLAYERS bring to you New York's reigning The picture, when first produced, was called “La Marsellaise.” ATIONAL MATS. Wed. and Sat. 35¢, 50c, 7S¢ Nights, $1.25, $1, 78c and 50e Monday and All Week end the NATIONAL at the 48th St. Theater, N. “NANCY’S PRIVATE AFFAIR The First Time in the History of v Stock in Washington that @ Broadway triumph, still in the height of éts career is offeted to you at POPULAR PRICES Week. Beg. Mon. April 21. Seats Now Selling “THE HONOR OF THE FAMIL OLME Knows His Audience. guiu well it is horrid.” Mr. Gilbert iagnoses such an audlence as “intelli- gent.” And thus future gatherings in Steve Cochran's Thesplan emporium Ahxnuld be pleased to so consider them- selves. ‘Walter Gilbert for 152 weeks without & stop played at the St. James Theater before Boston's bluest-blooded repre- sentatives. He has seen the reactions of weekly assemblies in the principal theater of Providence, and farther in- land he has acted before the drama lovers of Rochester, Syracuse, and—as they say—all points West. From these experiences he is well grounded in the psychological lore of the “first-nighters” and their followers. His conviction, therefore, that nowhere on this green earth do audiences come better than in ‘Washington should be considered a fact beyond question. ere is fascination in this stock " Mr. Gilbert adds; “fascination | that grows out of hard work and the building up of a different character jeach week.” And when one considers | that during the past few days he had the task of creating two characters, instead of one, the “hard work” can be easily appreciated. Incidentally, for those who are not acquainted with their Broadway stage, it may be well to remind them that Mr. | Gilbert originated leading _roles in “Aloma of the South Seas,” “Gang War" and “The Brigand.” FPurthermore, his first venture behind the footlights was sponsored by the late Charles Frohman. If one should be curlous about the lightning changes in “Brothers” last | week, it is only fair to say that Warren | Dol really supplied more than half the | | lightning. _Mr. Doi did the very same | | thing for Bert Lytell in the New York | | cast, besides having been a reporter on | | the Westporter Herald, and, nccordini’ to Mr. Gilbert, worth more than his | weight in gol which incidentally is | 102 pounds. Mr. Doi, who hails from | the fair Nippon, whence our cherry blossoms came, seems to be as fond of ‘Washington and its audiences as Walter Gilbert. Youmans Tuning for Gloria. | CENT YOUMANS, who invented | such popular ditties as “Tea for Two" and “Hallelujah,” has written | some songs for Gloria Swanson's latest | film, entitled “What A Widow!" These | songs, which Mr. Youmans seems to be | able to turn out at a moment's notice, have the alluring names of “To the One I Love “Love Is Like a Song” and “Say Oul, Cherie” and they are all crooned by the lovely Miss Swan- son, who will be remembered for the way she manipulated that stirring song, “Love, Thy Magic Spell Is Everywhere.” Christmas Tree Heaven, | TH’E place where good Christmas trees | go when they die has been found. It is the property room of the Para- mount Long Island studio. ore than 500 such relics of the holi- days, ranging from tiny 3-footers to huge community trees, were rescued from oblivion for use in “Dangerous Nan McGrew,” a farce comedy of the Canadian Northwest. The trees were used in a replica of a spruce and hem- lock forest constructed for scenes wherein technical difficulties prevented work on location. POLI’S Eves., $1.00, $1.50, $2.00, Thurs. & Sat. Mats,, $1.00, MARIETTA ABBOTT DANCERS FLORENCE ROBINSON CAROLYN NOLTE O GORGEOU WEEK COM. MONDAY, APRIL 28 NA NEXT WEEE COM. MON. MAIL ORDERS NOW » 1930—PART TOUR. Peace and in Hollywood. ] OU‘.I.‘ at the Pirst National studios in Burbank, Calif.,, where the filming of “The Furies” took place, they say the picture is memorable because there was not a single quarrel among the actors, the camera or the microphone people during its production. Peace and har- mony prevalled from the first day's “ghooting” to the last. Alan Crosland, who directed “The Furies” says he is prouder of this record of unbroken good temper and good fel- lowship than of almost anything else. But he attributes most of the credit to Miss Wilson and Mr. Warner, the fea- tured players. “They are players of experience and rare intelligence,” he declares. “Their standing is such that they dgn't feel they have to emphasize it by the kind of behavior that we call “tempera- mental.” They struck the keynote and 80 attractive and soothing was their example that not a single jarring dis- cord was audible. “If only all pictures could be produced in that way—what a happy life that of a director would be Dancing Atmosphere. ** A TMOSPHERE” hung over and around “Brothers” last week at the National, thick with distinction, to super-sensitive eyes. In the second act in which Mr. Gil- bert did some of the most amazing bits of lightning costume changing, were two youths, who, although at the mo- ment in the background, are really very much in the foreground. One was none other than Dick Doug- las, one of the Scouts who companied Martin Johnson to Africa, and who made a personal appearance at the theater when the Johnson pic- ture was shown there. He was to be observed doing some highly physical dancing. Also there was young Billy Tannen, son of the renowned monolo- gist, Jullus Tannen, who was doing some double-time waltzing himself in & scene of the play. —_— Aspires to Write. ALPH GRAVES, who is featured in “Ladies of Leisure,” at R-K-O Keith's, is said to be about to give vent to his creative impulses through a new medium. He has a secret ambition of behavior that we call ‘tempera- mental.’ They struck the keynote and to write & novel. This is probably the only line of artistic endeavor Garves 't taken a fling at. He has tried acting, scenario writing and direc for motion pictures. In addition he is pianist and an expert b player, Graves is sald to not only have a flair for writing, but he has the con- structive story mind. Also he has an inexhaustible supply of ideas for plots and cl cterizations with the ability to weave them into convincing stories. Two products of his pen ve been filmed b Columbia, “Plight,” voted one of the 10 best pictures of the year, and “‘Vengeance, recent releasg. Chorus Girls Not to Travel. I H. HERK, president of the Mutual * Burlesque Association, has announc- ed that the chorus girls in burlesque will not travel next season, but will be located permanently in the various cities on the Mutual Circuit. In order to equip the 40 shows with from 18 to 24 girls, requires approxi- mately 800 choristers. The established salary of not less than $30 & week will be maintained, it is stated, and the lucky applicants will thus be able to avoid traveling and enjoy all the com- forts and conveniences of permanent location. The idea gives a decidedly new twist to the entire scheme of the operation of burlesque shows. It is said to be the purpose of the Mutual executives to secure as many girls as possible who are residents of the cities to which they will be assigned. Dancing teachers will be sent to the various cities to instruct the newcomers in the detalls of the work they will be | called upon to perform. | ROLAND HAYES Tiekets, $2.50. $2.00. S1. Smith Bureau. 1330 G C. A, 901 R. L. Ave. “It All But Breathes” Now on G 8t. NW. “Its_realism : The GAYETY Theater Like @ Cafeteria A TRAYFUL FOR A TRIFLE Wedn un , Auction Wrestling Friday Nite, Amateur-Professional Smoke If You Like Phone District 9324 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS April 28, at 4:45 P.M. HUBERT FOSS, Lecturer “Modern English Composers” with musical illustrations ards of admission will be available on week days from 10 a.m. to ¢ pm beginning Monduy, Asrii i dn "the Music Division of the Library of Consress. Ne Apr. 21 3% SEATS WED $2.50, $3.00, $3.85, $4.40 , $1.50, $2.00, $2.50, $3.00 DIRECT FROM BROADWAY Ghe NEWEST and GREATEST~ I0” dition GEORGE WHITES SCANDALS tches WE LEW BRO mm-un"-:’dn ly';tu .,“'51..} FRIEN WILLIE « EUGENE HOWARD FRANCES WILLIAMS WN and GEORGE WHITE D and GEORGE WHITE MITCHELL ¢ DURANT my EVELYN WILSON JIM CARTY ELM CITY FOUR. s GCIRLS MATS. THU. AND 8A’ ot te S % i e oW ORDERS Now WALTER HAMPDEN RICHELIE A New Version of Sir Bulwer-Lytton by Arthur Goodrich AMUSEMENTS. The New York Theater Notes of the Newest Productions A JOHAAN'S performance in ‘Machinal” was one of the out- standing bits of last season, and her reapj ce in “Troyka,” an adap*ation from the Hunga- rian of Imre Fazekas, was awaited nat- urally with interest. Unhappily, the new nlece is dull entertainment com- pared with Sophie Treadwell’s tragedy, and Miss Johaan, although excellent as far as she goes, suffers in consequence. ‘The scene is a Russian political pri- son camp on Sakhalin Island Siberia, in those strange hours that immediately followed the outbreak of the March Russian revolution. Men who had been slaves for years suddenly found them- selves “free,” only to discover (for such, at least, is the author's premise) that life itself, the new life they had made for themselves as prisoners, had forged for them new chains. ‘Three men were in love with ihe same woman, There was Semion, the ex- colonel, who had been in prison for 18 years. Semion had a wife and children back in Moscow, and he clung to the idea that was left of them, not real that it was only an {llusion and t his real life was with Natascha and that she was his “real” wife. In the same cabin with Semion and Natascha was quartered a brooding, Hamlet-like young doctor of philosophy who had thought little of women until he was shut up in the same log hut with & young and attractive one who mothered him almost as solicitously as if he.and Semion were in the same relation toward her. Ivan was mad about the girl, but he was a sensible man of honor, and lived on in torment without telling his secret. ‘Then there was the dashing young captain in charge of that section of the prisoners. He, 00, was crazy about the girl and tried in every way to dazzle and flatter her and finally, when the smash-up came, to get her to go away with him. Out of this triangle and the bewil- dered, groaning background of caged and half-mad men the melodrama is made. It moves alowly and turgidly, dragging out its dreary length like a sort of dull toothache. Ivan tries to murder the young captain to save Se- mion, as he says, from having his wom- an stolen from him, but more than that, perhaps, because of his own n for the girl and his hatred of the man whom he fears may win her. There is a court-martial which is mwmpm ting | the news that the revolution has out in Petersburg and Moscow, and that all the prisoners are free. And once they find themselves free, Ivan loses control of himself, and after an all-night vigil in which he and Semion sit watching each other while Natascha sleeps in the next room, he kills his own friend. At the last, when all or at least many of the prisoners are revealed as still liv- ing in chains of their own making, Natascha, still faithful, in her doglike way, to the man with whom she has been living, and thinking that he has gone off without saying good-by, trails drearily off by herself to take what is -Epunmgume only way out, and to go with gouna captain. P as effective moments, but its movement in general is sluggish, and it gives the impression not so much of an ol al drama as of something -rrvln‘Lled rom what might have been a no % x ANN PAGE'S new comedy, “House comedy, but underneath this farcical surface is a “straight” idea— that young married people, in their des- perate efforts to keep up with the pro- cession and make a home as loox as they think they ought to have, waste some of the best years of their lives sometimes by leaving no time and no money for “play. And by “play” the author doesn't mean cocktall parties and bridge, but a reasonable amount of travel and leisure. ‘The Yiete starts with the burning of the Elliotts’ house at Rockport, N. J. 0 and the strong if unfounded suspicion that young Mrs. Elliott started the fire heésl:lh Al e an T _excessivel; uisitive young husband didn’t ugre{ n.ggut tu : house. It was Mr. Elliott'’s pet and liked to potter about with chores of one sort and another after he got back from town, and he was ready to give up almost any pleasure if he could add a new rug or a sleeping porch. He had Egmlon for surrounding himself wi:l; things,” 30 his young wife thought She had to stay in or about that subur- ban villa 24 hours of nearly every day and year after year went by and they never seemed to get any nearer tha: trip to Europe or to all the “living" that she thought they somehow or othcr ought to get into their lives. Out of this clash of interests and enthusiasms Mr. Page makes a play, s0 farcical in most of its moments that the earnestness of his underlying feeling isn't always understood by those out in front. Jack Hazzard, as Mr. Ogden supplies much of the broad comedy, May Collins is excellently in earnest as the restless young wife, and Betty Blythe, late of the movies, comes on for & moment to sing a song and make a bit of “whoopee.” An entertainment bullt to amuse, sometimes a bit too evi- dently, but with some real American 1 | stuff in it, nevertheless. LR IMAGINE yourself in Port-au-Prince— would that imagining could get us there!—one of those velvety tropic nights, a molst breeze seeping in from the Caribbean, people in “whites” loi- tering over late dinners on verandas half screened by vines and flowers; the mountains, speckled with little lights from the far-off huts of the hill folk ing black above the town. They are playing a plece called ““Le Forcat,” writ- ten and acted by Haitian amateurs, an¢ satirizing local Haitian politics. Banned at first by the Borno govern- ment, it was finally put on just about as the American Commission was ex- pected, with a considerable military guard to forestall possible trouble, “And all that happened,” so a personal letter states, “was tremendous applause, hearty laughter and back again home ;:l“p.lc‘lfl.f:;llybll we aa:(])lfif Iol;ll.h. In e passage extolling the Hai- tian this line, which gnunu me, occurs: “Notre clel, pour etre radieux n's pas besoin d'etoiles! (Our sky, lo be radiant, has no need of stars’—a reference, of course, to the flag of thc occupation. ‘The Haitians have written some in- teresting novels, short stories, books of historical research and of course no enc of verse, as is the custom of the Carib~ bean. This is the first we have heard of a Haitian play, or at any rate of s “news’ tire, written out of the actual air. From an artistic point of view, an occupation which makes people feel in- tensaly mli possibly have its unex- pected benefits! LAST DAY! MOTOR BOAT H W 2 P.M. to 10 P.M. Today TERMINAL BUILDING 14th & Water Sts. S.W. Don’t Fail to See and Hear the Wonderful GRAF ZEPPELIN PICTURE (contiBuous) 50c Today—Last Day! SEATS NOW ON SALE FOR METROPOLITAN OPERA COMPANY| From the Metrovolitan Opera UILO SAZEI, GATTI-CA! Houss, New York City General Manager FOX THEATER 3 PERFORMANCES--APRIL 23,24, 25 Evar @LA BOHEME? mort. cian, Tibbett Thurs. 4ANDREA CHENIER? ronseite, Martinelts, De Luca Fri Mats “TRAVIATA" Bort, Tibbett, Tokatyan Chorus—Orchestra, GS"—Cnrp. de Ballet Prices 810, 85, 87, 84, 85, 84. There are glen of reasons why YOU should be "there_ . Droop's, 1300 G St. vs. Wilson-Greene's Rureaw, Dist. 6493, Sweet reasons._. pretty and 16 years oldi SUE CAROL DIXIE LEE WALTER CATLEIY will see, along with the others that yu_ha A Granéa arid Glorious Time at HARRY HOWARD internationally Famed Comedian in PANCHON and MARCO'S Idea of TYPES featuring HBURTON Thurs. Apr. The Most Beautiful Place Around Washington Mat. THE TRADO TWINS Carlena Diamond Harold Stanton THE SUNKIST BEAUTIES end ALEXANDER CALLAM FOX GRAND ORCHESTRA Fox M Y” 17 At 4:30 VENICE and NORTH ITALY YENcx e dum o lagoons ‘Venetin—gondela-crowded ea: ..en-fll——m.’ of the Doges—the symboel of Vemetian Lion, power—t] Bieneine Rinitor Banta’ Maria della Salzte—the plgeons l:.mf—u‘ the LIDO and BRIONI, Europe's gavest seaside vesorie—and then—NORTH ITALY, s eplendor of mountain scemery— PICTURED VIVIDLY—DESCRIBED DRAMATICALLY SEATS SELLING—$1.50, $1.00, 8¢ and 0o Mr. Hampden's Memorable and Most Complete. Acting Version of Shakes- peare’s Immortal Dramatic Masterpiece CAPONSAGCHI £rr: e siced e i Browning’s“The Ring and the Book” Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday Eves—“RICHELIEU.” Thursday Mat. and Eve. and Saturday Eve—"CAPONSACCHI." Saturday Matinee—"HAMLET." HAMLET g Arthur Goodrich end 1t is not onily the end of DANCING. ecessa; sion tr ROUND TRIP, 50 CENTS Wash. & Old Dominion Rwy.