Evening Star Newspaper, March 15, 1931, Page 59

1 Stage News and Screen and Gossipfi AMUSEMENT SECTION The Sunday Star, Mot_br, _AViation, Radio Programs “Part 4—10 Pages WASHINGTON, D. C. , SUNDAY MORNING, MARCH 15, 1931. BARBARA STANV YCK 4% RICARDO = CORTEZm, Ten Cents AD BEBE DANIELS Aletrop it MY PAST. olitan Drama Still Militant By W. H. temples of Thespis might have been darkened the past week, when penitent souls were bathed in humil- ity and others, less mindful of the hereafter, were slacking their pace and resting up, because of the Lenten season, had it not been for the non-professional devotees of dramatic exp: on and the ‘Trader Horn audible drama at the The African picture, been confidently her- Landvoigt "THE current week will be memo- rable of a new play by Sir Arthur Wing Pinerto, in his day ac- counted a master who in “The Second Mrs. Tan- |queray” conceived and to have logically developed the best serious play of his generation. Sir Arthur, in his|cess would have been a signal to|three weeks away, almost to the ‘time, after a probation in a law| postpone all other plays indefinite- | very day, are |office and then 2s an actor, wrote upward of 50.plays and made a|count on crowded houses for at|Elkins E and SCREEN PHILIP MERIVALE axdl . HELEN VINSON, wDR.HARMERS . Scene #om REACHING TOR THE MOON,” -Columbio - ONAMUNSON 2 Scene from 3 TRADER HORN.. * Q) 2> BEN LYON, m “HOT HEIRESS! " Zarle | WEEK later, the Theater Guild | its characters are true to life.” In NORA FO RD. | will claim the attention of playlovers at the National, with |its fifth offering of the current | season, “Elizabeth the Queen,” | which, the advance notices recite, “has been snatched from the height of overwhelming triumph in New York to make gocd the for the presentation promise of its presentation in the|lie National Capital, and this for the first time in the history of the theater.” Alexander Woolcott, the referring to this fact, adds: “With fancifully called the legitimate | theater the scoring of such suc- |1y, for ‘Elizabeth the Queen’ could alded as “one of the screen’s number of translations from the|least 12 months, and Miss Fon- greatest accomplishments,” intro- duced into the contemplative atmosphere of the holy season mere or less of the disposition to debate and, to some extent, the suggestion that * 2 litters is not gold.” nderful scenes and ional value of the picture, together with the general curios excited by the advance notic combined to ment the film masterpiece capacity audliences twice ly throughout the week. In fact, so great has been the patron- age that the Metro-Goldwyn- Mayer celluloid drama will con- tinue to crowd out the legitimate a week longer at the National ‘There is little, if any, doubt that the picture displays rare wonders and beauties of the Dark Con- tinent that command both interest and admiration, and the public verdict must be accepted even against the critical opinicn that has dared to challenge it. It is not unlikely that the romantic side of the story has contributed to the difference of opinion among those who have seen the picture, and that improvement is possible in that respect. The mixture of Caucasicn romance with Darkest Africa is very apt to suggest ice cream and a pancake fried on a hot shovel to the emotional appe- tite that is disposed to be tem- ramental. Otherwise, judged by ts drawing powers, the producers have solved one of the dramatic Elroblems of the ages with “Trader orn.” Unquestionably it is what the public wants. |French. Although still going at the ripe age of 76, he is not at all ancient, as his “Mid-Channel,” | which the gifted Ethel Barrymor delizhted her hosts of admirers in | 1909, will attest, and late reports have it he is still going strong and | proposes to writt other plays to follow “Dr. Harmer,” which will be |seen at the Belasco. this week | England regarded Sir Arthur in }hxs earlier days as the best ’qulpped and most skillful play- wright of the’ English-speaking world. And to this compliment may be added his own testimony that America rewarded him even more generously in the matter of patronage than his native land. ’There was reason for it, for dur- |ing the “nineties,” with Henry | Arthur Jones, Sir Arthur Wing }Pinero was supreme in the Eng- lish-speaking - theater. It was largely due to this gifted pair of | playwrights that English drama- | tists began to put their plays in print,and by them doubtless George Bernard Shaw was induced to fol- |low suit, because he could find no ?mducer who was willing to take he chance of presenting his works. Pinero is not an emo- tional dramatist. His plays are intellectual in character, based rather upon logic than passion, as one distingyished writer has said. His characters nearly all are Eng- lish. This brief outline of the famous dramatist is modestly and very humbly advanced for the in- formation of those whose knowl- edge of the theater may be large- 1y limited to the Hollywcod idea. - tanne and Mr. Lunt would have | been expected to settle back in their new roles as into a steamer | chair, growing stale and indiffer- ent in them with endless repeti- tion.” The M ell Anderson play, we are advised," “deals with England as it wes just emerging |from the sties of barbarity, salty, ‘roup,h inning, and, as far as the jcommon people were concerned, a today, except for the court, where the mire of general living was bridged over with a glittering coat, |much in the manner of the {famous incident of Sir Walter | Raleigh and the Queen.” s b oy RIVALING this promising attrac- | tion of the Theater Guild at | the National, and no less worthy | of careful attention by those who |love the theater as it should be, ;lhe Belasco will present, with | William A. Brady as the producer, | Elmer Rice’s famous Pulitzer prize winner, “Street Scene,” a play that seems to have sensationally overwhelmed the world of the theater, at least that section cen- tered in the great metropolis. A Chicago critic. has acclaimed “Street Scene” as “finer than ‘King Lear,’ finer than ‘Les Miserables.” " A Pitisburgh critic says, “ ‘Street Scene’ is Sophocles up-to-date, | Euripides on the East Side, Aris- tophanes reading the tabloids—a wonderful play, perfectly acted.” It has been commended by even Gov. Alfred E. Smith, who said it was “well staged, well played and bestiality of life hard to conceive | fact, a whole book of commenda- |tery comment accompanied the | advance notices to show that the |play is unusual and gripping | drama. Gayety- \\YASHINGTON are up and doing, h “Ne;- | the Beautiful Cloax Model,” adorable melodrama of the gay| | 91 “The Servant in the House,’ |c comedy, “She Stoops to Conauer,’ play of the dramatic students of | jn | Eastern High School. And just| the new National Theater Players, Manager Steven | Cochral perennial joy | o I S Players also| Quickest Flight on Record. | / GHATTERING the speediest airplane *% records. Nancy Carroll, Paramount Y| fim. star, recently traveled from New rles Rann Kennedy's famous| Yok to Palm Beach, Fla, in 30 min- craftsman, | distinguished critic of New York,|play, and even the ol XEnglisy utes. She did it withoat leaving the | main buiding of the Paramount New was conceded to have | any other management in what is|which will be the annual Spring| York studio! the Heaven,” Miss Carroll's current picture, now at the Rialto Theater. opens in a New York rooming house joy | and ends up in Palm Beach. Adjacent The transition was made course of filming “Stolen The story | and pride, to rival the mad march | stages at the studio represented New of the movies that are blamed |York and Palm Beach locales. with being determined to put the[ New York scenes for “Stolen Heaven” legitimate theater cn the blink, as | were made first and were followed im- | the gent of the sidewalks is wont | mediately by the Palm Beach action. to remark. | ‘Dog Feminine Impcrsonator. | MJORE or less, pers | on the stage and screen. | the famous “Our Gang” dog, springs human feminine in- into distinction with the claim of being recent “Our Gang” comedy. GAYETY—* and evening. NATIONAL—“Trader Horn.” ning at 8 o'clock. RIALTO—“Stolen Heaven.” evening. evening. FOX—“Three Rogues.” EARLE—“The Hot Heiress.” evening. and evening. PALACE—Bancroft in “Scandal Sheet.” R-K-O KEITH'S—"“Ten Cents a Dance.” METROPOLITAN—Bebe Daniels in “My Past.” | Several hundred minor players figured in the Florida scenes and the Havana Casino Orchestra, recently at the Cen- | tral Park Casino, New York’s most ex- | clusive dining-dancing rendezyous, fur- nished the music. nators have been numerous | mer clothes and palm trees replaced the Now “Pete,” | drab Winter garb and scenery of New York. Phillips Holmes, who played opposite the first feminine impersonator among | Miss Carroll in “The Devil's Holiday,” the canines, for he portrays the part of | has the leading male role in ‘“Stolen “mother” to four healthy puppies in a|Heaven,” which George Abbott directed from a story by Dana Burnet. ‘Wheelchairs, Sum- Stage and Screen Attractions This Week On the Stage. BELASCO—Pinero’s “Dr. Harmer.” Opens tomorrow evening. elles of Beauty Row” (burlesque). This afternoon On the Screen. This afternoon at 3 and this eve- This afternoon and evening. This afternoon and This afternoon and ‘This afternoon and evening. This afternoon and evening. COLUMBIA—“Reaching for the Moon.” This afternoon and This afternoon Palace Stage Show. THE star of this week's stage show at Loew's Palace Theater is Jack Bepny, “Vanities” and last seen in the talking pictures “Chasing Rainbows” and “The Hollywood Revue,” has been called “one |of the brightest wits of the day,” and the new Capitol Theater stage show “Bits of Wit,” should disclose whether or not the compliment is deserved. Another favorite who will appear in “Bits of Wit” is Evelyn Wilson, who is described as a male impersonator and the syncopated spirit of inebriation.” Miss Wilson also sings two numbers to show her versatility and ability as a singer of modern songs in modern style. Billy Rolls is ancther of the Earl Carroil “Vanities” people, who can | dance and tumble in a manner all his own, and with Marie Marsh and A. Duval, a marvel at deception, help to make the show outstanding. Jack Benny’s Dancing Dolls, a group - of talented and beautiful girls, trained under the personal supervision | of Chester Hale, present a trio of divert- |ing numbers, one quite novel where the | girls form the keyboard of a piano. Elsie Janis Helped. EISIE JANIS, internationally known as a stage star and high in the lit- erary world, contributed important, bright, sophisticated dialogue to the Douglas Fairbanks United Artist pic- ture, “Reaching for the Moon,” now at Loew’s Columbia Theater, The story and direction of the pic- ture were done by Edmund Goulding, who, because of Miss Janis’ talents, asked her to do additional dialogue for certain scenes. What a fiarbar; ! BARBARA STANWYCK, the star of “Ten Cents a Dance,” at R-K-O Keith's Theater, was born in Brookiyn, started west for New York and then kept going until she reached Hollywood. ‘The entire. country now knows that she has arrived. In_ her childhood she aspired to be the heroine of one of those old-fash- ioned, hit-and-run, knock-down-and- drag-out melodrams. To prepare for the role, she used to throw herself donwstairs every day. Mother vetoed the motion. She was a telephone operator for two years. Now she refuses to answer any telephone for any reason. Worked in the pattern room of Conde Nast pub- lications; fired when they learned she thought patterns were paper doll cut- outs. She heard about a musical revue in rehearsal. Broke all broad jump rec- ords to ask for a job, and landed, feet first, in the rus. ' Later attracted favorable attention playing a small part in “The Noose.” en Arthur Hopl gave her “Burlesque” and she proved she be- longed in the top rank. During the run of “Burlesque” in New York, she fell in love with Frank Fay, who had to leave for Detroit with a show. He telegraphed, asking Barbara to marry him in Detroit. She reached there Sunday afternoon, was married and returned to New York for Mon- day’s performance., late feature of Earl Carroll's | | edies. the role of Bonnie in| % Scerne Frome "\ "SCANDAL . "SHEET, Palace FAuL SISTERS, Revivals on Broadway By Percy PRING must be somewhere near, for the all-star cast revival has appeared on Broadway—this time in the shape of Sir James Barrie's “‘Admirable Crichton,” with Walter Hampdon in the role of the omniscient English butler, which William Gillette played on the first presentation of the play in New York a quarter of a century ago. Mr. Gil- lette sat in a stage box at the first night and after the performance spoke a few words in which he gave a whimsical message from the author, suggesting that another ending for the play might have been written, which would have permitted Lady Mary to marry the great Crichton after all ‘The comedy shows its years some- what. The war filled Englard with Admirgble Crichtons—butlers, chauf- feurs, mechanics and whamnot, who turned out to be more dashing soldiers than their masters—and the idea that there might be a tropical island where all the stock figures in the English so- clal ritual might be turned upside down ‘s a good deal less incredible and rather less funny than it seemed in 1903. ‘The latter date was a good deal near- er the “fin de siecle” cleverness of the '90s than is 1931, and the Honorable Ernest Woolley and his epigrams haven't quite the fresh satirical value that they used to have, when that young ran might have been matched any evening in contemporary smart English com- There are moments in the pres- ent revival when the humor seems just the least bit thin, when one wishes that the players, instead of dragging it out as if each sentence and fareical bit of by-play was priceless, would speed hings up a bit. Mr. Hampdon was at his best on the island, when he was really king and could play in the straight grand man- ner which comes most easily to him. As the butler, back in England, he was less at ease; severe, without quite let- ting the unconscious humor of the role shine through its pomnousness. Miss Bainter, too, was at her best as the back-to-nature aristocrat, with her feel- ings uncovered at last—as was natural —and also less happy in disengaging the similarly unconscious humor of her part as the “normal” Lady Mary. Both Mary Hone and Phillis Connard, partly, no doubt, because of their natural English accents, were rather more amusing as Lady Mary's sisters in the first srene. But such niceties are possibly of not great import in the revival of a more or less famous old play, where the main thing is that it shall be soundly pre- sented, so as to give those who never saw’ it before some real measure of its worth and old-timers a pleasant memo- ry. Such a production, Sir James' play undoubtedly receives. Effie Shannon as the Countess Brocklehurst, Estelle Win- wood as Tweeny, Huburt Druce as the Earl of Loam and Ernest Glendenning as the light-) . g _Hon. Ernest Woolley argg@#mong the players who assist #h a thoroughly p) t if not wildlyfexciting evening. A, Y of suafiu:c comedy, reverts to Hammond. whimsy at which Mr. Hilne is so ex- pert, and ends on a note of straight comedy again. Most spectators would prefer that Mr. Milne had seen his way to continue on the first line all the way through. A successful English politician, & man on whom “suceess has closed in,” meets, after a separation of 20 years, a boy- hood friend, who brings him back mo- mentarily to the days of his youth. Al- most immediately afterward he finds himself by chance housed for the night in the very house in which he used to meet the girl he then loved—now | married to another man. Partly through a dream, which takes him back into a sort of nightmare mix- ture of his boyhood and his adult life and partly through an actual meeting with his one-time lady love in her present-day garden, he realizes how completely that earlier self has died and what priceless things he has lost— or thrown away. For a moment both he and the woman think they can find a road back to their youth, then “suc- cess closes in on him” again (among other things he gets the long-dreamed- of appointment as chancellor of the ex- chequer) and he returns, bitterly, to his career. It may be objected, of course, that | Mr. Milne’s implied argument that in {order to achieve worldly success, at least as a British politician, one must trample on all one's better nature, is not quite adult or sound, that the claims of the adult world and life scarcely get a run for their money in his play. But it isn’t necessary to press this objection too strenuously—after all, this is Mr. Milne's play. He has taken a common and perfectly recognizable mood—a man’s homesickness for the youth he “the? 1'50 bet—‘lndl muge it lxlhc a ”}!l al quite real and poignant ensrg] for the RrIpses 0“ this particular ®ay. - s oA - AND he steers his way about between actuality and fantasy with hght- ness of touch, fineness of feelir# and a constant theatrical eloquence. is adroitly chosen and all do their work admirably. Louis Calhern is just right as the successful politician himself, while about him Miss Gladys Hanson as the coming man's cold, scheming wife, Eric Bloke as the prime minister’s light- minded secretary, Jane Wyatt as the politician’s daughter—all contribute to the authentic atmosphere of intelligent worldliness. Sylvia Field, in her 4 scene in the garden as the girl he to know, plays with a delicacy, a tor- tured wistfulness, which gives that short excursion in the world irrevocably lost |all the persuasiveness which its author must have hoped for it. Wa;ta No Make-Up. BORG&ANCRD”. who in * dal Sheet” at Loew's Pal- ace Theater this week, never uses make- up_on the’screen. He was the first actor to insist that he be phfltofughed without even a powder base. ‘amera men strenuously at first, but after a few slxs‘p!t;:-creed with the star that he was right.