Evening Star Newspaper, October 25, 1936, Page 59

AMUSEMENTS. NATIONAL'S NEW. PLAY IS STORY OF EDGAR ALLAN POE Miller’s ‘“Tovarich” Love Following Indians Into Movies’ Disfavor No Longer Dominant Note in Many of New Films—‘“Plumes in the Dust” Eagerly Awaited. By E.de S. Melcher. L OVE ard the Indians used to be essential in the movies. Love triumphed and the Indians were conquered and you went home in a rosy glow of peanuts and good feeling. Eventually, however, the Indians lost out and now love seems to be losing out. You will note in the current crop of films that love, in the roaring, ro- mantic sense, is not the dominant note. Miss X does not meet Mr. B and blush all through 60 minutes of ¢ anguish until she finally annexes him and they live happily ever after. Miss X may meet Mr. B but a good many more important things happen. For instance—in “Valiant Is the Word for his back, is said to be happy at hav- ing a fling at something new. From “Tobacco Road” to Edgar Allan Poe may be a difficult transition, but being the actor that he is, inspiration in Carrie” the heroine struggles like mad | his new-work came to him in a jiffy. for the sake of two children she has | adopted and in “The Devil Is & Broadway is awaiting tomorrow | night's opening with especial, if long Sissy’ three boys learn what life is distance, interest. like by getting some pretty lough\ knocks. Probably not until “Camille’ comes * X ¥ X T IS pleasing to hear that Wash- ington has rallied so splendidly to along with Garbo coughing herself | the support of Washington's Civic quietly to death in the arms of | Theater. ‘The preduction unquestion- Robert Taylor will romance return ably merited the praise that it re- with a bang. You can't, somehow, say | ceived. While it was not letter-perfect that Gracie Allen supplies “amour” in | in every detail it certainly was an or that the “The Big Broadcast,” main virtues of “The Gay Desperado” revolve around a wedding ring. Love may be in the air but it hon- estly “ain’t’ in the movies right now. The producers are temporarily con- cerned with other things. * X ¥ X TOMOREOW night's play at the National is & dramatic event of unusual interest. In the first place, since the producer is Arthur Hopkins, something rather fine may be an- ticipated. the author is Sophie Treadwell, some- thing out of the ordinary may be expected. And in the third and fourth place, since the star is Henry Hull and the subject Edgar Allan Poe, the theater should bristle with good things. “Plumes in the Dust,” has been in preparation for some time. Miss Treadwell has worked hard on it and Producer Hopkins has seen to it that it gets the finishing touches that it deserves. Then, too, Mr. Hull, hav- ing cast his “cracker” mantle from In the second place, since | engaging performance, and in answer to Director Day Tuttle, who asked us it we honestly meant what we said in our comments, we can only say that we enjoyed ourselves thoroughly and were really sorry to have had to miss the last few minutes of the play. ‘This business of having a good time, of sitting back and feeling relaxed and not worrying lest the heroine fall on her nose or the hero trip over the sofa, is something that has not always been possible at local productions. Patrons of this new group may, however, feel assured'that their evening will not be spoiled by petty annoyances. The actors in “Caesar and Cleopatra” be- haved like veteran performers, and such topnotchers as Yvonne Kushner, George Farrington and Mannix Walker may certainly pat themselves on the back. Mr. Tuttle has snmehow brought new life back to the local drama, and he and Mr. Girvan (who designed the sets) and the whole blinking shooting- match deserve everything that's ap- parently coming to them. DANCING. PEYTON PENN 10, 1745 F et B000. Modern dancing: dancing a specialty. The Edward F. Miller Studio 811 13th ST. NATIONAL 8093 41 i Is Danced: We Teach 1t Calherme Bal’le follow or lea Baliroom asncine eall Norih MAE DAVISON Sanleon Ball room classes. Tuesdays and Thurs- | days, Teaching 8 to 9, Practice. 9 to 11. Tap, health. children’s classes. A new swing steps. tango, x’? ). E5)y. lessons. 1320 xn'l!u;!w WRIGHT—Reducing and tap dancing classes in 6 weeks' course for $5. George Le Claire teaching beautiful bali dancing. private lessons. $10. 3500 _Conn. Ave. (Ent 1711 K st Nw) et. 7300. Adams 93 rhumhl M A SELECT SCHOOL TEACHING ALL FORMS OF DANCING CLASSES NOW 3330 14 St.NW. COLUMBIA 8400 Today’s Film Schedule. R-K-O KEITH'S—"The = Gay Desperado,” at 2, 3:49, 5:48, 7:47 and 9:46 p.m. CAPITOL—"“The Devil Is a Sissy,” at 2, 4:35, 7:20 and 10:05 pm. Stage shows at 3:35, 6:20 and 9:05 p.m. PALACE—“The Big Broadcast of 1937 at 2:30, 4:50, 7:10 and 9:30 pm. METROPOLITAN — ‘‘East Meets West,” at 2:30, 4:20, 6:05, 7:55 and 9:45 pm.’ EARLE—“Valiant is the Word for Carrie,” and stage shows, continuous afternoon and eve- ning. BELASCO—"Spring shower," at 2:29, 4:22, 6:15, 8:08 and 10 pm. RIALTO—“Six of a Kind,” at 2, 4:15, 6:30 and 8:53 p.m. Campaign films at 3:05, 5:20, 7:43 and 10:10 p.m. COLUMBIA — “His Brother’s Wife,” at 3:10, 5:20, 7:25 and 9:40 p.m. LITTLE—"The Gilded Lily,” at 2, 3:58, 5:46, 7:3¢ and 9:40 pm. DANCING. THE _NEW CANELLIS DANCE STUDIOS 724 11th St. N.W, District 1673 Washington’s Most Attractive Studio SPECIAL OPENING RATES iroo ith 12 hours of practice Grand opening, Sat. Oct arcl Initiation RBY'I‘HM CLI l! HEMBERR ete. cure your membership ticket to the RHYTHM CLUB before Saturday. PHIL HAYDEN STUDIOS OF Dance Washington’s Only Professional School Classes Now Forming DRAMATIC CLASSES Now Available Including RADIO Technique R. C. A. Equipment Used Illustrated Booklet on chuul 6 Dupont Circle N North 8594 GLORIA KAMP 07 i si.xw. llllno- and Tap. 12 Lessons, $15.00. sinners—Advanced. ~ Adults’ and DON_MARTINI Waltz-Fox Trot-Tango-Rhumba-Tap Talented Teachers Private Lessons B!GINNERS—ADVANCFD——CLASSSS, 7sc 1811 H 8t. N.W. Hrs. 12 to 9 p.m. NA. 3767 JUVENILE SHOE STORE HOME OF DANCING SHOES b SELVA RHYTHM TAPS - Ballet [ Acrobatic . . Musical Comedy “Everything for Dancing Feet” J UVENIL E SHOE STORE 936 “F” N.W. Agbiiin MASTER TAPS «-oze you'll never know HA\LOWE'EN .can be so much fun ooro;until you learn to DANC E sit on the sidelines—wish- Eéréa;“ Tha er 1215 CONNECTICUT AVENU THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, OCTOBER 25, Jeeter Returns as a Famed Author HENRY HULL, - Who recently attamed his greatest stage fame as the illiterate Jeeter Lester of “Tobacco Road,” comes to the National Theater for the week starting tomorrow as Edgar Allan Poe, in Sophie LUMES IN THE DUST,” by Treadwell’s play, Sophie . Treadwell, Henry Hull starred as 4 P Edgar Allan Poe, opens to- morrow night at the Naticnal Theater, presented by Arthur Hopkins. Many biographies of the great American author have been printed, but this is the first time in this gen- | eraticn that the drama of Poe's life has been brought to the stage. Gable Star Of Earle’s Next Film| “Pigskin Parade” Is| Booked by Capitol. LARK GABLE and Marion Davies are co-starred in “Cain and Mabel,” new Cosmopoli- tan production, which com- bines music, comedy, romance and the | action of the fight ring, scheduled to be the next screen attraction at| Warners' Earle Theater, starting Fri- day. The feature of the stage show will be the appearance of Don Bestor and his orchestra. Other vaudeville entertainment will be contributed by Eddie White, the singing comedian, and Allen and Kent in “Dances of To- day and Yesterday.” Max Reinhardt’s production of Shakespeare’s dream fantasy, “A Mid- FEALF in a Dance Recital WARDMAN PARK THEATRE November ln, 8:45 “Six of a Kind” ALSO THE OFFICIAL CAMPAIGN FILMS of the GREAT MAJOR PARTIES 260 to 5:30; 30e—i0c 106 PARKING AFTER 630 70 years of buying, selling and lending on diamonds, jewelry, etc. CASH FOR OLD GOLD (Government License) fi_‘;?."f& e E. HEIDENHEIMER Established 1866 NW. “Plumes in the Dust.” ‘ Miss Treadwell, who is known for | Road.” His career also has jacluded “Machinal,” devoted three years to independent research before she wrote “Plumes in the Dust,” gather- ing material in New York, Philadel- phia, Baltimore and Richmond. Hull, one of the most popular stars on the American stage, is best known, of ccurse, for his portrayal of Jeeter Lester in his last sygcess, “Tobacco with | other plays she has written, notably | “Grand Hotel,” “Michael and Mary,” “The Ivory Door,” “Lulu Belle,” “The Cat-and the Capary,” “In Love With Love,” “39 East” and “The Man Who Came Back.” Mr. Hull's supporting cast in “Plumes in the Dust” includes Mary Morris, Charles Kennedy, Fredrica Slemone and Amelia Romano. summer Night's Dream,” returns to town at popular prices, coming to the Metropolitan next Friday in its first appearance since it was here last year as a road show. The cast of the War- ner Bros.: film includes James Cagney, Joe E. Brown, Dick Powell, Jean Muir, | Victor Jory, Veree Teasdale, Hugh | Herbert, Anita Louise, Olivia De Havi- land, Prank McHugh, Ross Alexander, Ian Hunter, Mickey Rooney and Hobart Cavanaugh, The foot ball season is feted with song and dance in “Pigskin Parade,” new film which comes to Loew’s Cap- itol next Friday for a week's en- gagement. Stuart Eywin, Patsy Kelly, Jack Haley, Dixie Dunbar and the Yacht Club Boys are principal con- tributors to the entertainment. The Capitol’s stage bill will present Martha Mera, radio chanteuse; Eleaine Ar- den, commedienne from the “Sketch Book”; the Picchiana troupe; Pete, Peaches and Duke, and Anderson i and Allen. Jean Harlow, William Powell, Myrna Loy and Spencer Tracy, four of Hol= lywood’s most populan players; are co- starred in the new Metro-Goldwyn= Opening Concert NATIONAL SYMPHONY HANS KINDLER, Founder and Conductor Constitution Hall. Today, 4 p.m. Soloist— TITO SCHIPA Tenor Metropelitan dun [ . Single seats: 50c. flce Cnn'lltutlon Hlll ickets in Hots a it mer‘ i a - u.bu m Sunday and Midveek series. HETIWI'III.ITAH Mayer film, “Libelled Lady,” which is scheduled to follow “The Big Broadcast” at Loew’s Palace Theater. “A Woman Rebels,” film version of Netta Syrett's novel, “Portrait of a Rebel,” with Katherine Hepburn and Herbert Magshall in the leading roles, will be the next attraction at R-K-O Keith's “Thepter, following the cur- rent run of “The Gay Delpendc o Arts Club Play. TALBO’Il JENNINGS' play of three of American pioneers, “No tier,” will be presented tomorrow,.' Tuesday and Wednesday nights by thie Arts Club at the club house as its first drama event of the season. The play is being directed by Denis E. Connell, and Maud Howell Smith is production director. Hugo Inden has designed the settings. WILLIAM SEABROOK AUTHOR OF “ASYLUM” DAILY DOUBLE SUNYA lIlLll SLAYNE halh Corio T J'h"a"i HORT EDWARD F. PAYNE Sketches From DICKENS Crayon Sketches and . Impersonations of. Dickens' Characters Nationol Press Club Auditorium November 6, 30 P.M. O-Do nta Club e DEVIL 16 2 SISSY fnll.lllllll._l!' COGPER * ROONEY reuesens FALL FROLIC 1936—PART FOUR. First Dramatic Smash Sherwood Play Is Season’s Best According to Broadway Commentator— Remain” Gets Cold Shoulder. By Richard HE first resounding dramatic smash of the season is Gilbert Miller's production of “Tovarich” and it must be indicative of the general state of ideas in the theater that “Tovarich” relies for its story on that familiar yarn about the fugitive Russian aristocrats who are forced to become house servants in & bourgeois family. This sentimental comedy that Robert'E. Sherwood adapted from the French original of Jacques Deval has been so ecstatically praised: by visitors to London during the last two years that & few of us skeptics have wondered how a play on so hoary s theme and based on the Anglo-Saxon gift for nobility worship could live up to its advance billing. Now we know. The new Broadway hit does not depend on snob appeal, Bolshevik baiting or familiarity of narrative, On the contrary, it has| turned its back on all such easygoing | efforts after audience appeal. It is because the two central chardcters of | the play have been made so charm- ing, so gallant, so gayly melancholy | and so wistfully merry that their ad- ventures become so thoroughly de- lightful and so completely heart- warming. You accept them and are led to believe the other characters in the comedy accept them not as pro- fessional aristocrats appealing to a national snob but as enormously and inescapahly likable human beings. It is proof of their chiarm that you hate to see them depart for the last time, Assuredly it is rare in the theater when, as the curtain falls, you are filled with a genuine regret that you are not to encounter its hero and heroine again. I think that at the close of “Tovarich,” when the grand duchess and her husband, the prince, go off to a Russian party with the adoring son and daughter of their employers, you will feel pretty sorry that you are not going along with them. Obviously it is true that a great part of their charm is due to the delightful playing of the fascinat- ing Italian newcomer, Miss Marta Abba, and that illustrious Hollywood refugee, John Halliday, in the roles. Here are two performances that are the quintessence of deft, urbane high comedy, with sentimental interludes. You have an instinctive sense of well- being when you watch the work of two such performers as Miss Abba and Mr, Halliday. They never seem to do anything wrong and every move they make is just what you have in- stinctively hoped for. Such charac- terizations, in properly enguglng roles, make for something that is not | far from perfection. But you mus remember that the roles have to be sufficiently delightful and here Mr. | Sherwood—or Mr. Deval, or both—is | brilliant. The combination of mnv-l cence and sophistication, of gayety |all of its weaknesses of structure, Mr. and melancholy, of wisdom and vali- | ant folly is enchantingly devised and | when these qualities are filed with a | gallant determination to face the facts of & new existence, not the cus- tomary White Russian performance for living in a land of dreams, the ef- fect is virtual irresistible. TH.IS insistence of the authors on giving the Czarist exiles all the charm and humor and gallantry of character conceivable might readily have made for a violent anti-Soviet propaganda play. But somehow it does nothing of the kind. It is not merely that the Communist commis- sar, who has been the cruel enemy of the hero and heroine, turns out upon his appearance in the second act to be a civilized and likable gentle- man. Even thought the commissar is attractively drawn—not only by the authors, but also by Cecil Humphreys, who plays the part—he could hardly be described as an ideal bolshevik hero. What keeps “Tovarich”—I sup- pose you know that its title means | “comrade” in Russian—from being a wistful lament over the tragedy of | the Czar's overthrow is that it never presumes to tell you that its hero and heroine are typical of the vanquished Muscovite nobility. It is obvious that they represent a special case; that they are exceptions rather than the rule. It does not take long for you to realize that if there had been many | of their kind the Romanov empire | would not have crumbled so readily. The Russians are such an in-| stinctively dramatic people that their character is replete with dramatic | contrast. As “Tovarich” reveals them | they are given equally to wild melan- cholia and wild gayety, to childliks NOw ! KEITHS = |5 NINO !AITIII “The Gay Desperado” «4 LEO CARRILLO IDA LUPINO Comag . KATHARINE HEPBURN HERBERT MARSHALL “A 'IOHAN REBELS” | their nature that they can at the AMUSEMENTS. “And Stars Watts, Jr. simplicity and the most urbane of |sophistication. It is equally true of same time reveal an astounding ca- pacity for living in a dream world | and a marvelous adaptability to pre- | vailing conditions. You have only to see white Russlan exiles and their | children existing so precariously, but still” existing, in such hostile places | of refuge as Harbin and Shanghai to note that quality and to realize the | | beauty, is n value of an opiate in their case. There | is, however, an unhappy air of futility | about the use of a dream opiate that | one cannot completely resfect. I is | because the hero and heroine of “Tovarich” do not live in a dead world of make-believe, but face their new life boldly, gayly and even gladly that i they become something more than | sentimental symbols of the ashes of | empire. You know they will make their way in their new world as realis- | SHIRLEY 'rf_w L tically and with as much determina- | tion as their fellow countrymen back home. IT IS notorious that the Theatre | Guild, our most illustrious dramatic CAROUNA organization, has an insistent way of getting off on its worst foot. Each year it begins its season with an un-| CIRCLE #» F—5 Next at National. THAN FROME,” Owen and Donald Davis' dramatiza- tion of Edith Wharton's aovel, will be presented at the Nationa! Theater by Max Gordon the week of November 2, with Pauline Lord starring and Earle Larrimore fea- tured as Ethan. “Ethan Frome"” is the story of a New England family's ruin. There’s a nagging farm wife, who constantly imagines she is sick and uses what little money her husband has earned or bor- rowed to buy herself useless med- icines and needless contraptions. She brings to the home her cou- sin to do the housework, and as the play progresses the cousin and Ethan fall in love. In the end both are sadly victimized by this mutual love, “The Age of Immocence” and “The Old Maid” are two other dramatic stories of Edith Whar- ton’s which have readily lent themselves to dramatization. Goldwyn Signs Newcomer. THE newest Goldwyn “find,” Evelyn Terry, 18-year-old Pittsburgh ow headed for the West Coast, signed to a long-term Goldwyn contract. ACADEMY ©* Perfect Sound Photoplay E. Lawrence Pm'hm Th;n‘l\’;e Benulflul atinee 2:00 POOR_LIT: H‘\RRY CAREY a; PLE TLE RICH GIRL." H “THE LAST OUT- 0T GIBSON LAW." = ASHTON . in _CLARENDON VA, _1\—5H1RLEY Beaxs “THE_FIRST BABY.’ 11th and N_C. Ave. ROBERT T lOR Sra JANET GAYNOR in “SMALL TOWN GIR! 2105 Pa. Ave NW. Free Parking. 2009 K St. satisfying play that makes one fear | WARNER OLAND, and HELEN woOD ig that decadence is about to set in, only | to discover in later productions that the Guild is just as lively, if not as experimental, as ever. We should | therefore be tolerant when the first offering of the year turns out to be a FAIRLAWN futile comedy called “And Stars Re- | ALICE PAYE in main,” which, at its best, manages only to"achieve the quality of a second-rate S. N. Behrman imitation. Although the play offers a number of bright lines and gives Clifton Webb a chance to | speak them with dry skill, the milk- | BARBARA s‘ and-water viewpoint and the tmnlues‘ of the plot structure make the work | seem as futile as the mild liberalism SCCO that it advocates. There would be no reason to be\ _TRACK: " Comedy News, DUMBARTON Wisconsin Ave. 4 Carrier Air (‘ondlllnn!l ARREN WILLIAMS and 1 SHAW 1 NLHE £ASE OF THE VELVET CLAW News and Comedy COSTIA. D. C. 8] BABY. SING.* 9ib Between F and G Acousticon Eauipped LITTLE CLAUDETTE COLBERT in “THE __LILY.” with FRED MacM RR 119 PR[NCESS vork R cobaNicaea YCK in * BRIDE WALKS OU HENRY HUNTER in “PAROLE." 8211 Georsia Ave. Sitver Sarins. Md. “MARY OF SCOTLAND,” annoyed or upset about this sight of SATHARINE HEPBURN. FREDRIC MARCH the Guild in a charasteristic phase if STANTON | it were not for the fact that the same ey's play, “Daughters of Atreus,” a | retelling of the story of the murder of Agamemnon by his wife from the viewpoint of the women involved, For Turney’s drama is eloquent, noble and moving and the writing reveals a fine talent for dramatically poetic verse. AN 3 fill“s “‘“ o OGE« 1O flm (AL DAN SUN. THROUGH WED. OCT. 25 T0 28 INCL. Warner Bros *ANTHONY ADVERSE * by Hervey Allen with FREDRIC MARCH N0 ADVANCE IN PRICES) HILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA EUGENE ORMANDY Conducting Soloist—JOSEF HOFMANN OCT. 27—8: 45 Constitation Tickets, $1.00. 1. 00. 3. Season tickets. $15. u . $10. $9. $6. 83 T. Arthur Smith Bureau, 910 G St. WITT-HAMILL MUSIC C MON. * AND A = WEEK Nights—$1.10, $1.65, $2.20, $2.75. Wed. and Sat. Mat.—53c, $1.10, $1.65, $2.20 ARTHUR HOPKINS resents HENRY in a new “Plumes in ueLL n the Dust’ P 4 SOPHIE TREADWELL Settings by Weodman Thompson... Staged by Ml Hophins NEXT WEEK BEG. MONDAY EATS THIS THURSDAT MAX GORDON Presents auLINE LORD { w ETHAN FROME”~ Aoramatization oF EDITH WHARTON'S noveL" ETan FroMe” by OWEN DAVIS and DONALD DAVIS | “story WARNER BROS. THEATERS DIRECTION OF sbesv LUST _ Gth and C Sts. N.E. inest Seynd Equipment eg 2:00 PM = n “LET'S SING AGATN ARMETTA. _* L with JACK OAKIE| .nfi ALLY EILERS OT0 Wis. Ave. STATE-BETHESDA arectar aa: PAUL MUNI in of Louis Pasteur.” COLOR MUSICAL & NEWS. FALLS CHURCH, VA. . LEE flA’rE NO PARKING WDIIIES TOD. MORR/ FRED AS{AXRE and ancu 2490 OG! in e'rm.'rcH 4 d_Butternnt sm riin Trosbies Continuous Prom 00 JANE WITHERS, TRVIN' S, cofian and ELIM SUMMERVILTE in “PEPPER %) WALT DISNEY “THREE LITTLE WOLVES » HIPPODROME .%ok, Today-Tomer. Continuous 2:00 to 11:00 EDDIE CANTOR in “STRIKE ME PINK.” CQMEO X 5 RANDOLPH SCOTT in “LAST OF MOHICANS.” ARCADE Continuous 2:00 to 11:00 PM. ADOLPHE MENJOU and ALICE FAYE in “SING, BABY, SING.” MARCH OF TIME. RICHMOND *““EApRia, & KAY FRANCIS in “Give Me Your Heart.” MILO I e Continuous 2:00 to 0 GARY COOPER I “General Died at Dawn.” | AMBASSADOR g5* &5 R4 ol 5508 how Start s 2:00 PM. GLADYS GEORGE in “VALIANT 18 HE WWORD POR CARRIE." witd APOLSLO - rnom“u?‘e‘ 3378 JOAN. cf{:vmb'fi'oz'fldr oserT iSY' in “THE GORGEOUS AVALO Conn. Mrl(lnley “ANTHONY ADVERSE o With FREDRIC MARCH and OLIV: N0 ADVANGE TN PRICES. AVENUE GRAND &5 I A% Matinee 2:00 P.M. dON in G “BENGAL " T JUNE 'm,:\vxs BARTON MchAN!.' and COLONY “ANTHONY ADVERSE " With FREDRIC MARCH .na reatOLIVIA DE HAVILLA o ADVANCE IN PRICES HOMF Phone Line. 10 “ANTHONY ADVERSE,” With FREDRIC MARCH, -na LIVIA; D! Feats? NO ADVANCE IN Show: Starts 2:00 P.M, CLAIRE TREVO I\ and _ARLINF JUDGE in “STAR FOR A NIGHT. 46 MENJOI o ALICE o YSING, BABY. SING. Mickey Mouse. JESSE THEATER "' Carrier Air Conditioned. “STATE FAIR,” WILL ROGERS and JANET GAYNOR. = ; T Ave NW. 4 Carrler Ay Condl “SING, BABY, SING. ALICE FAYE. ADOLPHE MENJOU. _____Comedy. _Cartoon. PALM THEATER 7% “THE CHINA CLIPPER e wog -ri&on. l(ll ll 2 P.l(