New Britain Herald Newspaper, September 27, 1924, Page 5

NEWS OF INTERES T ABOUT THE SPOKEN STAGE, SILENT TWO NEW PLAYS HAVE THEIR PREMIER ON GOTHAM STAGES “Dear Six” Is a Delight- ful Musical Farce and “Grounds for Divorce” Proves to Be Fleet Comedy. ; Two new plays opened in New York this past week, each of which seems slated to ride the tide of popularity for some time, judging from the critiques of the first night- ers, The are “Dear Sir,” at the Times Square theater, and “Grounds IFor Divorce” at the Empire. Here's what the metropolitan crities have to say: “Dear Sir" The new musical piece, “Dear Sir,* ‘that came to the Times Square theater last night is enjoy- able entertainment, Among its positive merits it boasts of the +«most comical Walter COUPHI the agréeable and human Oscar Shaw and the sweet and bravely, if hope- lessly, tuneful Genevieve Tobin as stars, the beautiful Katherine Mar- tyn as a not too minor accessory, as first class a score as Jerome Kern has written within recept ‘memery nd unusually intelligent lyrics Howard Dietz. The production is in the grand manner. There are beautiful set- tings, against which are arrayed large collections of handsome cos- tumes on girls who are for the most part worthy of them. Thé evening’s comic high water- mark was achieved by Mr. Cattlett, with his observation that something or other was as uscless as a glass oye at a keyhole, Many of his re- marks were not unworthy relatives of this great jest, and the few pain- by | There 15, however, enough story to carry the proceedings, and when they seem to lag an energetic chorus hestirs iteelf to keep the beholder's mind from the cares of the workday world. Dayid, Bennett, who directed the dancing, manages to achieve several spectacular effects In ehorus work. A young woman named Claire Luce—probably a newcomer to the Broadway ficld—gives a good ac- count of herself in an exhibition of theb usiness of kicking the back of the head with the toes, a pastime that has come into great favor with the dancers of this decade. Miss Martyn, as intimated above, is daz- zlingly beautifud and takes the hur- | dles of a stock role in her strides. When the book allows, Mr, Catlett is comical in his familiar manner but with a collection of new material. Mr. Shaw again shows that he is one of the few musical comedy leading men whose performances arouses in his audience neither the murder nor the. mother instinct. Miss Tobin, to the cynical few, may seem cloying in her sweetness, and the inade- quacy of her voice must be apparent to even the great-hearted many, but she meets the demands put upon her in a workmanlike way. The Kern music is beautiful, and | much of it will almost certainly be | popular. Howard Dietz is a most capable substitute for P, G. Wode- | house as lyricist In chief to Mr, Kern. “Grounds For Divorce.”, | “Grounds For Divorce,” the flect new comedy at the Empire, had dif- | ficulty last night in keeping pace | with Miss Ina Claire's delightfully | nimble performance, It was a quick little satire on marriages, relatihg with romantic synicism some of the odd ins and outs of Parisian and other wedlock. Sophisticated, in- genious and at times witty, it sped along with considerable celerity, an amusing example of, light entertain- ment. But it was the impetus of ful moments in the evening's pro- ceedings were obviously part and parcel of what musical comedy producers have learned to call the | hook. The present book, it may be thus easily gathered, is not among the play’s attractions to those who care for comedy, plot or, in short, a hook. | Miss Claire’s twinkling tempo that made it more than an ordnary siuc- | The play, otherwise alert, may | have been hindered a bit by its la- borious cynicisms on matrimony and divorce. Many of these were not only thrust into the audience, but were kept there for several mo- Sunday Night—Excellent Double Features Anita Stewart —IN-— “THE WOMAN HE MARRIED” Franklyp Farnum —in— “A TWO-FISTED TENDERFOOT”, MON.—TUES.—WED. KEITH VAUDEVILLE FEATURING “THE COTTON PICKERS” — Presenting — A Company of “All White” Artists Characterizing the Southern Negro ] Du Fraine & Craig Baithall “Serambled Matrimony | Lynn & Howland i | ‘A Racy Conversation’ Harry La Vail & Sister “Aerial Perfection” Myers & Nolan “A Smart Couple” CECILB. ADOLPN TUKOR AND JESSE L.LASKY PRESENT DeMILLES ments with explanation and repeti- tion. Mr. Reeves-Smith, playing, as ukyal, the bland Old Friend, was burdened with most of those oner- ous observatigne, He is too good an actor to have to remark that he re- members his wedding anniversaries because they are of the same date as his mother-in-law's death, Mr. Ren- avent, as a volcanic Italian aviator, was expertly overglowing in that task, and won loud applause at every one of his several exits, Mr. Merrivale's begulling\ awkwardness was, of course, irresistible, and you are made content by his blissful re- union with Miss Claire as the cur- fain falls. It is altogether a bully show=—buch bullier than usual. VALENTINO IN FILM COMES 10 LYCEOM Special Attraction Monday-- Double Bill for Sunday Evening “The 8ixth Commandment” and “Swords an the Woman” will be the two speclal attractions at the Ly- ceum Sunday night, rounding out a program that includes the latest news reels and comedy features. Starting Monday for three days will be a double attraction—Marie Pre- vost In “Cornered,” a great mystery drama, and Rodolf Valentino in an elaborate specialty starring himself in 88 prize winning beautles selected from the principal cities of the United states. “When a Girl Loves” is the last half of the week. In this last named picture, Valen- tino appears to-advantage and his support cast of beautiful American glirls adds to the interest in the fea+ ture, “Cornered,” in which Miss Pre- vost has a dual role as Margaret Waring and Mary Brennan, has a most intriguing plot. The story em- braces many phases of life from shades of Chinatown to the glimmer- ing luxuriance of wealth. There are glimpses of the poor and the rich and the picture is the film version. | of the famous stage play, of the| name. Here's just a hint" of the theme, Twin sisters who have beefi separ- ated in childhood meet in woman- hood. One ig a thief, the other an heiress and neither knows the other. that their (dentities become mixed and the heiress ls“mistaken for the thief. «It Is fate which brings them together and fate which eventually untangles the complications, Rock- liffe Fellowes has the leading male role. Truth i stanger than fiction and Iin “When a Girl Loves," which opens Thursday, this is brought out! For example, ‘there is a scene In which Agnes Ayres, playing the leading role, wanders Into a New York op- erahouse Ly chance and hears from ! the | loves but ‘COVERED WAGON' had believed to be dead, {Season's Greatest Film Specticle | Shown Here A magnificent eple of the early west is James Cruze's latest Para- | mount. prodpetion, “The Covered !Wagon,* which will be the feature at the theater for 7 days beginning |Sunday. This is picturization of | Bmerson Hough's new novel of the |same name, and it sald to be one of the greatest photoplays ever seen on the screen. The features embraced In this |story are many and varied and in- |elude among others, the start of 350 covered wagons from Westport Land |ing (now IKansas City), in 1848. |The terrors of fording freshet rivers, prairie fires and the like are deplet- od with great reallsm. A buffalo |hunt is one of the most exciting |scenes. Old Fort Bridger with a —reemee—— 2899905559058 509585008080 HOLY TRINITY G. R. CRURCH stage the voice of the man she PALACE NEXT WEEK VR NEW BRITAIN DAILY HERALD, SAT'UIRDAY, SEPTEMBER night attack and fight by day with | Indians, are shown, The dividing of | the tralls to Ovegon and California | at old Fort Hall, a toueh of the gold : fever In California, magnificent mountain shots and a culmination of the romance with the establish- ment of one of thoe first homesteads in Oregon—t are all incidents In a pleture that bristies with big scones, Such historical characters as Kit Carson,/Jim: Bradger and Bill Jack- son, scouts and typical western cfar- acters, are portrayed in, the Para- mount screen version of the novel, which is conceded to bhe one of the most notable Hterary achievements of the present decade, A cast selected absolutely for type was chosen for “The Covered Wag- on'" Lois Wilson plays the heroine— Molly Wingate, a typical girl of the frontier days, heautiful, big of soul and with the bravery and stamina that ‘the wild experiences of the car- avan times demanded, James Warren Kerrigan is scen as Will Banian, the intrepid leader whose sterling qualities win through in the face of impending disgrace and hold the heart of Molly despite the efforts of a rival to blacken his character, The rival, Sam Woodhull, is portrayed by Alan Hale, noted screen villain, Over 300 people use the Herald ads every night—There's a reason. q“ The costliest frujt in the world Is he ethrog, or sacred Jewish citron. FAIRR The resemblance is so astonishing “SWORDS AND DUDJAK'S HALL Sexton Street Sept. 13, 15, 20, £7, 20 Benefit Church Building Fund Entertainment and Dancing FOPPEPITIIIPIIIINNNN0S —LYCEUM— Sunday Only “THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT” and THE WOMAN” MON., .TU AMERICAN ES., WED. SPECIAL Rudolph Valentino AND HIS 88 PRIZE WINNING BEAUTIES MON., TUES., WED. 21, 1924, DIXIE PLAYERS T0 | (APPEAR AT CAPITOL Keith's “Cotton Pickers” Head Vaudeville Bill The Capitol headline attraction first half of present the “The Cotton Many years ago attained this dignity of its present! day at the for the next week will big Keith headliner, before vaudeville status, blackface acts largely depended upon to the comedy element of every pro-| gram. In those days that branch of amusement was called “Variety.” | At present there is a dearth of| blackface acts, but none that come! up to “The Cotton Pickers" for good entertainment. This company are all white artists and characterize the southern darky to perfection. Oth- er acts on the bill will include Du- Fraine and Craig in “Scrambled Howland in Harry La Vail and Sister in “Aerial Perfec- tion;” and Myers and Nolan ff®a very fine singing, talking and piano offering. In “Triumph,” at the Capitol on this bill, Cecil B. DeMille returns from the ancient spectacle of his were furnish PALACE ) ONE ENTIRE WEEK BEGINNING SUNDAY NIGHT THE GREATEST THRILL SHOW ON EARTH! Every Man, Woman and Child in New Britain Should See It! JESSE L LASKY 'DRAMA AND en Commandments” to the type of ultra-modern society love drama in which he scored his most sensational successes and of Which “Male and Ifemale” and “Manslaughter” were such notable examples, Here 18 the typical DeMille pro- duction, with its gorgeous scttings,: luxurious backgrounds, beautiful | women, flashing gowna and an .af- ray of featured players that looks more like a copy of the roster of the | Paramount studios than cast, | Leatrice Joy, Rod La Rocque and Victor Varconi have the principal roles. : On Sunday night films will be offered, one presenting Anita Stewart in *The Woman He Mar- ried,”” the other will offer Franklyn Farnum in “A Two Fisted Tender- two fine oot.” On Thursday, Betty Compson comes in “Miami" with five new acts of vaudeville, Parsons Theater SAT, MAT, PHILIP GOODMAN presents MADGE W.C. KENNEDY-~ FIELDS PRESENTS TONIGHT AT THE STATE ARMORY The FRENCH VILLAGE DANCING 8:30 TO 12 Admission 50¢ Tickets for ANDREW BASSO’S CONCERT SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26 are on Sale at C. L. Pierce & Co. Quality Smoke Shop M. J. Kenney, and Walsh & Holfelder » JAMES CRUZE rrooucrion “CORRAL! CORRAL! INDIANS!” That Was the Terrible Warning Cry in the Days of '49. SEE—THE RAGING PRAIRIE FIRE! 3,000 Actors—300 Covered Wagons— A 2-Mile Train—600 Oxen-—1,000 In- dians—3,000 Horses Here To Thrill and Astonish You Exactly As Presented on Broadway For 60 Weeks. ¥ Special Big Augmented Orchestra Mr. George Tourtelotte, Director AT 2:30 \LL SEATS RUSH MATINEES Special Showing For SCHOOL CHILDREN Each Day At 4:15 P. M. Orchestra Reserved. .. EVENINGS AT 8:15 75¢ Balcony Rush Box Office Open Daily— 10:30 A. M. to 9:30 P. M. PRODUCTION ‘TRIUMPH'’ wiTH LEATRICE JOY, ROD LAROCQUE —10c— 35¢ Plenty of Good Seats Left Tickets On Sale At Palace Confectionery All Day Sunday Thursday—BETTY COMPSON in “MIAMI”