Evening Star Newspaper, March 28, 1933, Page 23

From the Front Row Reviews and News of Washington's Theaters. By E. de S. MELCHER L Cohan’s New Play Comes to the National. N the words of a noted wise man, the new George M. Cohan play, “Pigeons and People,” which had a refined opening last night at the National under the auspices of the American Theater Society, is “just straight cuckoo.” In it, Mr. Cohan, called often “America’s best actor,” romps around as a lunatic whose state of mind is *“‘comic,” and who doesn't divulge his identity even at the final curtain or in his cur- tain spesch aft- erward. “Dont you see why I pre- fer my pigeons?” says Mr. Cohan some whepe in the play. And foresooth we do —since the play resents man at is worst and pigeons at their best. It also pre- sents the chief actor at his best and in the kind of a ro'e which he has alw: preferred. We must admit, however, to a feeling (in spite of the recommendations which much of Broadway's noblesse has made) that the play itself is too long to be a one-act play—in fact too long to be any kind of a play—and that it is so monotonous, sometimes, that you imagine if you hear once again abon “that story in the park” or “suopose I told you” that, even with Mr. Cohan's magneticisms, you could willingly jump up and go “just straight cuckoo” yourself. Mr. Cohan is so good, however, and has written himself such a juicy monologue that in those moments when you are debating whether you will go out of your head or not he iumps at a telephone and calis “Po- ice!” or dashes off a tune at the piano and restores your equilibrium and faith. In his roic of Parker, the man whom Heath (Walter Gilbert) snatches from a Central Park bench and brings to his home to heap drinks, bed, board, $500 on him, Mr. Cohan is gay and whimsical, sober and sad, comic and philosoph- ical. His ideas are neatly strewn around the various gentlemen and ladies ke is trying his little game on. and in the end he becomes almost Shavian in his wisdom. rising to mental climaxes which are interest- ingly dsturbing. ‘Two_hours of this is. however, a long, long time. During the play's rogress you are apt to dream of hose Elysian days when they had what was known as “intermissions.” Somewhere after the first hour and a half you yearn to arise and stretch yourself and get your knee out of the back of the person in front of you. You would like, frankly, to rumi- nate quietly on Parker for a mo- ment—and not have Parker do all the ruminating for you. You would like, in other words. a little air. Since this is not allowed you, you must be prepared to swallow the Cohan play all at once. The audience last night was obviously more than friendly to it. It pre- sents prcblems which are worth thinking about and acting, on Mr. Cohan's part, which is as brilliant as_it has alwavs been. He is not helped to any great degree by the rest of his cast. But for Walter Gilbert, known so pleas- antly here for his work with the National Theater Players and more recently with Ethel Barrymore, and Edward Nannery, the players walk in and out, anticipating most of their lines and all of their actions, and behaving -themsclves with amused smirks on their faces, which suggests that they are glad to tell you that they are well ahead of the game. These players are, however, not visible for long—and since the play 1s straight Cohan zs well as straight cuckoo, you will probably enjoy it as much as most of the audience did. We are sorry that we didn't. George M. Cohan. Peggy Wood in “Best Seller” Coming Soon to the National. S hinted at in these columns yesterday, the new Peggy Wood play, which is coming to the Na- Tan Nor- folk calf or patent. For small hoys and girls; sizes 815 to 12. Misses’ pat- ent leather strap, also k heel for Junior Women. Two-tone sports oxfords for Junior Women—Also, for women’s golf wear. —sizes 315 to 9. tiolal the week of April 17, will be called “Best Seller.” It is the work of Edouard Bourdet, author of “The Captive” and “The Sex Fable.” Pro- duced in Paris under the name of “Just Out,” the play will have its premiere in this city, Members of the Shubert office promise that “it is a gwell show” and that “the sup- porting cast will be up to the stand- ard of Miss Wood in every particu- lar.” We have heard that Claude Rains (last here in “The Good Elsrt!h") will be a member of this cast. “The. Women Have Their Way,” a8 two-act play by Serafin and Joaquin Quintero, translated from the Spanish by Helen and Hartley Granville-Barker, will be presented tonight and tomorrow night at the Arts Club. Marie Moore Forrest directed this production, and those taking part in it include Ann Ives, Adele Marbell, Mary Minnix, Edith Le Fevre, Ida L. Claggett, Marjorie Folks, Florence Bolton, M. F. Reese, Laney B. Saddler, Eugene F. Smith, Hall Hopper and Harry Angelio. Zane Grey Film At Loew’s Columbia. INTEREST in Western pictures has shown a deccided advancement since the time of Billy Anderson and William S. Hart. In those days, “kids” sat in the front row and cheered those two veterans in their mighty fist battles. As view terday, “Smoke Lightnin, adaptation of Zane Grey's “Canyon Walls,” now showing at the Co- lumbia Theater, seems to have de- veloped an amazing adult patronage. Typically Zane Greyish in theme, it has the lawless sheriff, the two fisted, hard-riding cowboy hero sav- ing the ranch which somebody is either trying to save for some one or some one is trying to obtain through fair means or foul, and the pretty “schoolmarm.” This combi- THE EVENING nation, combined with Grey's pice turesque description, makes a read- able book—but a rather disappoint- ing movie. Situations such as this do afford, however, an ample opportunity for George O'Brien to display his fisti- cuff ability, which he obtained as champion boxer of the Navy, and give Betsy Ross King a chance to show how well a girl of her age can ride a pony. They also give the schoolmarm an opportunity to look pretty. This, Nell O'Day does with- out much difficulty. Needless to say, the much-sought- after ranch is saved from the hands of the villain for young Betsy King through George O’Brien; the pretty teacher is heartily hugged by Mr. O'Brien, and everything is all right. Zane Grey's fans will enjoy this per- haps very much—but from the re- viewer's viewpoint, the Hal Roach comedy, “A Lad and a Lamp,” by the incomparable kids of “Our Gang,” the Terry Toon and the newsreel were far more interesting. J.N. H. —— 120 DIE IN LANDSLIDE Village of Tantaday, in Trujillo Province, Peru, Is Buried. LIMA, Peru, March 28 (#).—More than 120 persons were reported to have been killed Sunday when the cillage of Tantaday, in Trujillo Province, was bu‘r,led “"fi’" hl landslide. 'nusually heavy rain has damaged roads and crippled communication throughout _the country. A Daily Beauty Treatment Every day tiny particles of dust, grime and S0t embed themselves deeply into the pores of your skin. To effectively and safely re- move this harmful accumulation use Ja-pal-mo Liquefying Cream. It melts to a delightful liquid upon contact with the skin and flushes out every particle of deep- seated dirt and grime, which ord. nary creams fail to Get generous S0c ' size jar for 45c today eoples Drug Stores. JA-PAL-MO Liquefying Cream CARLTON . Quality still Economy! and women who wear really fine shoes like “Carltons” spend less' by the year than those who pay much less by the pair! 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