Evening Star Newspaper, November 23, 1930, Page 53

Stage and Screen News Part 4—10 Pages and Gossip A Kiss of /mporv‘aflce.’. [\l ationsl i B Scere /r::m * Ourwaprp Bouno % Metropoliten That Urge By W. H. INCE the days when the ancients first began to dab- ble with wisdom, even ignor- ing the priceless adage that “Silence is en,” man clamored for the right to express himself. And the roar of that clamor has rolled down the cor- ridors of time like the riotous waves of a stormy sea against a rockbound coast. If it couldn’t do anything else; humanity talked. Some wrote—and is still writing. Too much? Maybe. Others as- serted themselves to catch the opportunity rather than to supply a long-felt want, for in the latent {oulsatiom of the human heart lies he urge to climb out of the silence and into the spotlight, no matter how. Many relieve it by lay-acting. Even the baby seeks be funny, thus instinctively re- vealing the art of the comedian, | ear] while the youth in his teens takes a tragic trend and warbles of sor- row and death even in his love songs. Older folks are not less to blame, but expend their talented effort in various lines, chiefly, perhaps, in pathetic effort to make the world better. But everybody is doing it. If it be an fiave sggravated 1t by opening up ave aggrava opening uj the sluices to rewa: ‘They make it so easy to become a “star,” and stardom, to the ordi- nary mortal, is more preclous than salvation. That’s why the theater is immortal, indestructible. * % x % er!: the flash of lightning out of a clear sky—and just as surprising—during the week came a breezy pamphlet from an enter- rising and talented group of %a.shington’s players making a bid for attention. Starting with the inquiry, “What’s the matter with the theater?” the brochure launches the declaration “We are not here to bury Thespis (or Poli’s) or any of the Greek or Italian muses, but to tell you something of the Columbia Players.” The Columbia Players, it may be explained, have pre- sented some very creditable drama during their few years of inspira- tional effort. Twice in the last two years they have won the deci- sion in the one-act tournament conducted under community aus- ficeu, fn which, also, many bril- iant and talented local groups have competed with them. Now the Columbia Players frankly admit they are not ashamed of their plays, which ‘Washington might not have had otherwise. Furthermore, they have hired the Wardman Park Theater for a series of per- formances that really seem en- titled to public attention and en- couragement. Friday, December 5, they will present Halcott Glover’s amusing comedy, “Bel- lairs,” and “for the first time in America,” their announcement reads.' January 16, “The Vege- table,” by F. Scott Fitzgerald, will be given “for the first time in Wi March 20, the Hatcher Hughes Pulitzer prize lay will afford Washingtonians opportunity for “good laughs between . the shootin’s in the mountains,” and May 7, will come two performances of “Nellie, the Beautiful Cloak Model,” a famous rip-snortin’ melodrama that once PO to Express Landvoigt. stirred the hearts of bygone days. There will be others, but why mention them? If the American theater be in the doleful dumps, has | not to mention the danger of an- nihilation, why not give the young folks a chance to save it, at least locally? The Columbia Players appear very much in earnest, and it may be safely added that they are talented and entertaining withal, whatever they do. * % % % I‘.l‘ would, indeed, be delightful to continue in this strain, with the freshman effort of Washing- ton’s dramatic talent as the theme, if space permitted, for is not the Community Drama Guild to blossom forth in a pretentious yruentluon of Henry Miller amous success, “The Great Divide,” this very week? And as ly as tomorrow evening the Stel Plfirerl of the Holy Trinity Parish will present their maiden effort, “The Haunted House,” giv- ing further evidence of the inter- est and zeal of young Washington in the preservation of the Amer- ican theater. It must not be for- gotten, however, that the theater was created and is maintained chiefly for their elders in the pro- fession of play-acting. The cele- brated emotional actress Kath- erine Cornell has been with us, p}eunt!.ng her latest medium for c, ecstatic and emotional flights, “Dishonored Lady.” Those who patronize the theater to study the art of the performer, rather than to admire its literature, had their hands full with Miss Cornell, ‘whose ability as an actress is pre- eminent. But those who have en- tertained the notion that the theater needs reforming must have -had their endurance well taxed by the “dishonored” lady's escapades. Yet here is a combi- nation that makes for drama, in describing which the selection of adjectives creates a precarious situation. Taste will differ so radically in the range of a large audience that the timid naturally hesitate in tagging the Cornell entertainment with a critical ipse dixit. The fact remains, however, and with some degree of clarity, that it wasn't the kind of show that would be likely to entertain dear old grandma. Nor, indeed, did Eddie Cantor, himself, author, actor and whatnot, provide such a show for the artistic Earl Carroll. Rather does he seem to have created an irrepressible conflict between art and delicacy without greatly benefiting either. And yet amid the turbulence of conflicting opinion the National Theater was crowded at every performance of the Earl Carroll Sketch Book, and it may also be added that the Shubert-Belasco had few, if any, seats vacant during the week. * x Xk X MORROW evening will bring a new Parandello play. Paran- dello has been likened to George Bernard Shaw. Both are called rebels against traditional drama technique; but none will deny that their contributions to the theater have commanded interest that does not die out. Shaw’s local contribution to the excitement, “The 'Apple Cart,” is booked for the National for the week of De- cember 1. Meanwhile Basil Rath- bone and a Selwyn-Erlanger cast will entertain at the National in 3 AMUSEMENT SECTION he Sunday Star, WASHINGTON, D. C, SUNDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER 23, 1930. AGIE and SCREEN, A A Seene From / JUST IMAGINEYfox s )(mDesirc! ARILYNMILLER ANOERSON-In Belasco A ¥ BERNICE ond EMILYZ Palace (S¥sge) Ricuarp CROMWEL and JoAnPeeRS In" Toléble Davrd?- RKO.Keithé BELLE BAkER- FEerle (Stage) Stage and Screen Attractions This Week On the Stage. BELASCO—"“As You Desire Me.” Opens tomorrow evening. NATIg‘NAL—“A Kiss of :No Importance.” Opens tomorrow eve- ning. GAYETY—“Hi, Ho, Everybody” (burlesque). This afternoon and evening. JUNIOR THEATER—“A Kiss for Cinderella.” Saturday only. On the Screen. FOX—“Just Imagine.” This afternoon and evening. mRLinrl—Mafllyn Miller in “Sunny.” This afternoon and eve- ning. R-K-O KEITH'S—“Tol'able David.” This afternoon and evening. PALACE—“Remote Control.” This afternoon and evening. RIALTO—"“East Is West.” This afternoon and evening. COLUMBIA—“Min and Bill.” This afternoon and evening. METROPOLITAN—“The Gorilla.” Today only. “Outward Bound.” Wednesday evening. Has Unique Heirlooms. were set into a necklace by Alfred G. Frampton, well-known goldsmith of his time. A hundred years later Bishop Wilberforce of Oxford acquired the resent centerpiece of the necklace in gelgium from Phillippe Wolfer, At that time the stones were reset in their pres- ent form by Rene Lalique, the famous French jeweler. It would be impossible to give the entire history of the cameos in this collection. The center stone was in the famous Castellani collection in 1867. English jewel experts believe that it was carved by one of his pupils. Its artistic value is priceless. It has required centuries to make the collection in conformity with the origi- nal idea, namely, that each stone have the same delicate shading and, with the exception of the center one, be identi- cal in size and shape. Similar details not only in the base stone but also in the relief. Looks Like ; Comedown. RUDOLPH MYZET, well known Crechoslovakian actor and jour- nalist, who was featured in Max Rein- hardt's “The Miracle,” and. “ Oedipus” in Berlin, is playing an “extra” part in Radio Pictures’ “Beau Ideal,” & story of the French Foreign . BARBARA KENT, Harold Lloyd's leading lady in “Feet Pirst,” traces her ancestry for centuries back to noted bishops and archbishops of the Church of England. Also she is said to have in her possession an art collection which has been gathered over a period of 400 years. Among the numerous heirlooms handed down to the nt genera- tlons by the knights of the Ohureh of England are a bracelet and a necklace of cameos. The gems were first put into the settings in Birmingham, but at that time the collection con- sisted of 12 cameos, a thirteenth having been acquired later. The 12 stones a Parisian comedy which ran a full year in its own home town, and ought to promise a delightful week in Washington. Just a week away is the charming comedienne Grace George with a St. John Irvin comedy, “The First Mrs. Fraser.” Evidently somebody is waking ur, for Washington ap- pears at last to have discovered the dear old drama revivified in the form for which it will always implore. Nothing dead in the theaters down this way, not even the managers. v 7 Broaoway\Venuses " Fox (Stage) An Ulster Playwright. "Ivmulndmmwum- man,” asserts St. John Ervine, author of “The First Mrs. Fraser,” the brilliant comedy in which Grace is starring. “I'm his claims proudly. Mr. Ervine began with tragic pleces for the Abbey ter, lin, the cradle which fostered Shaw and O'Casey. He is a prolific worker and & writer of wide range. Be- sides the 15 plays to his credit, for many years he has been dramatic critic of London Observer, a from which he has but recently retired. Two years ago he served as guest critic for the New York World. He is the author . As a novelist he is author of “Alice and the Family” and other stories. He is, by the way, turn- ing “The First Mrs. Fraser” into & novel, “The First Mrs. Fraser” shows Er- vine'’s expertness in the medium of comedy. It is the second of his come- dles to be produced in America, the an Ulsterman,” he pro- | Guild. playwriting - been no Theater Guild today. In 1920 the guild achieved another success with Ervine’s “Jane Clegg.” drama out of H. about “The Wonderful beautiful angel to an ‘This play y run in one of New York’s Little Theaters with Mar- garet Mower the title role. “The Orangeman,” “The Critic” and “The Lady of Belmont” are other Ervine plays immensely popular with Little Theaters throughout the country. Fortunately for devotees of xT:d drama, Ervine is now but in his prime. ;ie looks even younger than his 47 ears. & mov- To Study America’s Soul. LUIG! PIRANDELLO, the famous Italian dramatist, whose latest play, “As You Desire Me,” with Judith An- derson in the stellar role, will be pre- sented at the Belasco Theater Thanks- glving week, is returning to the United States in search of inspiration. He vis- ited this side several years ago at the time his popular play “Six Characters in Search of an Author” was in produc- tion, and his sojourn here resulted in an indelible impression. “America,” said Pirandello recently, when announcing his return to this country, “keeps drawing me and draw- ing me. I am going there very soon, and I know that from this second trip there will come something from my pen. I don't know whether it will be @ drama or a novel; but it will be a study of the American soul. “My first visit to America showed me many wonderful things—the great rush- ing cities with their towering bul 3 the overwhelming strength and w the adaptation to everyday life of the last scientific discoveries and a thou- sand other factors. But what inter- ested me most of all, what fascinated me, was the American psychology, and gfl what I want to write about some “You see,” continued Pirandello, “America was founded, builded and populated by people from Europe. Those Pligrim Fathers and those emigrants were the young and restless and the dissatisfied of Europe. They wanted a new life. They wanted wider spaces. They wanted greater liberty. They wanted riches. They laid the founda- tlons and now their dchildren and ave the wealth. its are in turn rest- . They chuck their money away on art ‘galleries and universities and foun- dations. They race around the vast country in high-s) trains and autos and airplanes. ey take ship for all the four corners of the earth. “Amalgam of all races,” concluded Piranaeuo, “there is no race like it in Europe. There never has been in all the history of the world. And it is still being formed. its maturity. America is still growing. And America calls with a strange, me , unshakable allurement.” { - ] nd LAWRENCE GRAY - h > Somy” atthe anrle WiLLIAM HAINES snd MARY Doran=~ In* Remote Control® Palace- CONNEE STCLAIRE- Gayefy G. Wells’ story Visit” of a truly | Writtes lish vicarage. | translated Marie DressLER- L Min snd Bill*, LENwWIS AYRES a2/ LUPEVELEZ~ * Egst is\Nes#Rial /n by Herman Shumlin and acted by & Paramount magic cast, it is all that an indoor en- tertainment should be. In it most of your pet characters are exhibited in favorite situations, and with remarka- able skill and alacrity. A swift and eloquent diary of what might possibly happen in a day or two at a big Berlin hotel, it includes everything theatri- cally enjoyable, from the stolen neck- lace to its ironic emphasis of life’s “strange and irregular rhythm.” Any attempt of mine to enumerate | pa the sad pleasures of “Grand Hotel” would be futile. But I dare to men- tion a few of them. Here it permits you to 'p upon Henry Hi as & desperately impoverished young . baron, 50 needy that he must become a rack- eteer in order to supply himself with high hats and Soviet caviare. There it shows you a temperamental dancer (Miss Leontovich) wallowing fully in the whirlpool of art and sex. At one moment you are in a bed room, and at the next you find yourself an inter- ested kibitzer, overlooking a gaming table, a conference between hostile busi- ness men, or the animated lobby of the Grand Hotel. So quick are the changes from one vivid scene to another that the play has all the fleetness of the cinema " without that art's egregious A B C's. In case you can get into the National Theater while “Grand Hotel” is its attraction, pay a little attention to Sam Jaffe's ms:formlnee of a lowly hick knowing t he is doomed to death by heart disease and anxious to find the meaning of what suburban dramatists ‘refer to as “this thing called life.” He disappears comforta- :Hnnt the end of the play, and with It has not yet reached |If W&"'?nnd Hotel” as nuon. 's and upon an aisle for “Smiles” and for Mr. night or Never.” beckon me with the wreathed to excuse them. I shall toss & | Broadway reviewers are same device. What a Role! employing the