The evening world. Newspaper, April 5, 1922, Page 24

‘ e THE NEW PLAYS © “Taboo” Casts Voodoo Spell BY CHARLES DARNTON r ctvilization ts only skin deep it may depend somewhat upon the color of the skin, judging by “Taboo,” the yoodoo play by Mary Hoyt Wiborg that might have further disheartened the author of “Birthright” tf be had happened to be at the Harris Theatre yesterday afternoon. It is rather curious that this wild @————————————— thing, pulsing, jumping and yelping, should be the work of a woman, un Jess wo consider that even the gen- Uest creature to-day may at heart be savage with jazz, which here can be traced to !ts lair. Be that as tt may, *"Taboo"’ casts a voodoo spell with its snakes, toads and other charms, its strange incantations and its grotesque people. It is voodoctsm turned loose in Louisiana and harking back to the African jungle. So far as story goes there ts nothing more than the haunt- ing dread of a woman, the mistress of a plantation, for the fate of a de- fective white grandchild believed to be under the voodoo curse, This child falls in with a wandering darkey. lost in @ swamp much like Emperor Jones and given to weird imaginations of remote inspiration. At sight of him when he reaches the plantation, the distraught woman falls dead. The stranger is threatened with lynching, when speech finally comes to the child -“moon baby,"’ as a mammy calls him—and so Jim's life Is saved. All the trouble is really caused by a drought, with the superstitions it ex- cites. By this means Miss Wiborg, who has evidently made a thorough study of her subject, swings into the uncanny business and makes it a barbaric spectacle. Scores of Negroes, warming up to their work until they created a dis- tinct atmosphere, were the life and spirit of the frenzied affalr. They acted with the freedom and instinct that marked the performances given ly a similar company at the Garden ‘Theatre a number of years ago. The drought that brought on the swamp orgy was not of the Volstead variety, for there were at least two bottles of whiskey in the party, The Negroes might easily have got along without any other stimulant than the natural eloohol in their veins had {t not been necessary to saturate with whiskey the “luck ball" given Mrs. Gaylord by way of making her feel easier about her grandchild. Jim's dream was even wilder, for tt went back to the African jungle, went back, indeed, with a vengeance. Here Mrs. Gaylord was transformed into the Queen of the tribe clamoring for rain, and by her order the white child was offered, as a sacrifice. This cream had the suggestion of reality in the survival of a@ superstition hinted at, to say the least, in darkest Louisiana. There was still the story of a white child “spirited away" by a black stranger—not exactly a bed- lime story, a5 you must agree, yet effective in a voodoo play. Except when they were occaston- ally given words that seemed out of character, the Negro players were thoroughly convincing. This was expecially true of Marie Stuart and Fannie Belle de Knight, crooning, muttering and laughing by turn. With all their doubts and fears, they were not without.the saving humor of the race. In the groping superstition of Jim, as played by Paul L. Robeson, there was something of the Gtfipin power that made “The Emperor Jones" so gripping and so pitiful. He also fairly feaped into tho fantastic role of the jungle King. Alex Rogers ‘was another who did good work. By way of relaxation—having only five roles in “Back to Methuselah'— Margaret Wycherly played the South- ern lady and the dusky Queen, In the black wig of Mrs. Gaylord she Screenings! By DON ALLE) | TIMES DO CHANGE. Tempus, while it is fugiting, cer- tainly works wonders, now, doesn’t it? A few years ago gum manufac- turers put mirrors on slot machines so that women could see whether their hats were on straight or not. Yesterday Mae Murray wns stroll- ing along Fifth Avenue when a very fipperisa flapperish fupper hailed her. ardon me, Miss Murray,” start- ed the flap, “but would you mind telling BD whether my hat is on and ssured Mae, after a crit ical look. “Thanks, so much," gushed the fip, “I thought it might hav: worked around straight, and that would never do. Goo'-by!"* ANSWERS. ANNA KELLY—You win. Mary Carr played the mother in “Over the Hill" und Margaret Seddon played the ckly maternal parent in ‘*oomerang Bi.” MYERS—It wopuiarity contest finish way up front. get our vote, CURIOUS—No, Monty Banks didn’t hite one of the ions during his latest lecture We know this because none { the Hons has died MICHAEL—Yes, 8. Goidwyn'n name Was originally Goldfish, Valentino entered a he'd probably But he wouldn't STUDIO SCRAPPED. ‘The oldest and most interesting, trom an historical point of view, ot the score of studies in Los Angeles ls 2o be “ecrapped’’ decansd Loula B. looked and acted as though she had stepped out of a Greek tragedy In a forgetful moment, and as the mighty one of the jungle sho set her teeth so hand that she was a bit difficult to understand for a primitive creature. But her moments of sheer passion struck fire, and she wes always an imposing figure. Augustin Duncan achieved a pic- tureaue production, though the tmag- ination balked at Jim's hiding behind what looked like a curtain on the plantation in the final scene. I may be wrong, but no one can make me believe that curtains grow on even the most productive of plantations. THere’s THAT SAD LOOKIN’ MY aa ~) Veo wane} Tiese CAR OWNERS GIMME. A PAN! “They Think ty! FACTORIES ARE TRYIN’ “T'SEE WHO CAN BUILD “Ty! CAR THAT'LL STAND “The Most ABUSE. — \F THEY @AN'T WRECK A CAR INA WEEK “WEY THINK IT's A BEAR | HE'LL CRAWL UNDER A FENCE CAREFUL SO'S NOT “T'HURT HIS “HIRTY DoLaR, IT, BUT HE SLAMS HIS Three THOUSAN' DOLLAR CAR OVER HOLE Road An! yoore BALL FOR PUTTIN’ Cr IN Wessin-DeeD DEAR ME -Ou = Havet MUST HAVE HAD MANY "TRIALS ! Su PooR OLE FELLER — HERE'S ' “Wo-BITS FoR “OUT 1 was Bo 1K mq of TEARIN’ OP THE STREETS. pla 2 BAD ~ ft HEAR OF WHADDA 4 GonnaA ! Tuc dere ANYBODY FINDIN’ THINK ol TAHar > tr Geel “Buy Some | YOu LoaK | A NicKe L, TELL PI DIDNT Las OUND “ny ‘CANDY BUT , FOR IT. EA TS Mie. MY NICKEL aT Ath. NICKEL @ I Loet on Witt Yar — IT WAS RIGHT co x IN MY NEW Pockel Aww THE TiMe~ —~ VER SPOT A SPIFFY BATHING SUIT PU AND DECIDE To KNOCK THE Boys SILLY WITH IT ON THE AND FEEL ALL SWELLED UP WHEN SOME FELLOW INSISTS UPON TAKING A SNAP SHOT =| OF YOUR SHAPELY 'FoRM —, AND THEN FIND OUT HE'S A POLICE INSPECTOR USING THE PHOTO AS EVIDENCE AGAINST You IN COURT FOR WEARING AN (INDECENT COSTUME ? — and B. P. Schulberg, President of Preferred Pictures, Inc., have com bined their producing interests The new combination will hence forth work in the big studio In whiet Mayer has produced First National for so long crapped studio was frst occu the old Blograph Company and later by The HH. Ines, ana Inder these two able directors some ot the history-making pictures were made there. ‘Then it waa leased by Preferred Pictures and lately has been housing the activities of Katie ine Mac and her comp It in sa tudio building ¥ probably be torn Gown GERMANY WANTS IT. By way of illustrating the pecu arities of human nature, German mou Four H v of the Apo in their cot n for German rights comes top of the great hue and by the German Ambassador in Par over the win the film int French capital Li eption en wrainest + French German ott clais because md the pic- ture would war hatred against Germany. Despite this plea the film ts belng shown in France and now Germany wants it, believe the German masses will be- Neve Evidently the German exhibitors AN" How Ht MOANS WHEN WE HAND HIM AREAS NABLE. SHAPE AGIN! GOLLY a! HEY MISTER. Never MIND ) . 1922 (N.Y, Eve. World) By Press Pub. Co. Ken Kline A-l ~ AN’ A LOT OF CONVICTIONS “Too # (Cope. 1922 (N.Y. Eve World) By Prose Pub Co. { WELL THAT'S WHY WOMEN DON'T FALL FoR EVERYTHING THEY SEE IN Sey WINDOWS In the message deli ed by the pleased? THROW STONES. inning stretch, He was wearing a CUT-BACKS. William Fox specials on the coast. picture. When the ¢ an rights} brand-new pair of Hght blond spats, A Hittle green parrot that plays an| This is his first California appearance RHYMED THRILLS are settled, every country in tt , Mike!" yelled a freckle-faced 2 Seka Fe . [in more than a year. world save Russia will have seen the Ripe’ FHt| oR eanae mart 3B Sonny," the lates’ Witt Russell in “Tho Man of film. rin! leggin's {nside bl Barthelmess film, is unique, He put], oo pean Hs duepore Ruth] BM Ka @ man who works in ‘Then the conductor yelle the ‘American Army" to rout during Claude Peyton, Harvey| Wall Street, has sent us a thrill, He po YOU KNOW— "BOARD!" the filming, A dozen or more A. EF. | Arthur Morrison and Michael|Says that if he wins the sone, “You That Harold Lioyd wants to play _ vets will swear that Polly can sure May Hold Me Tight If You Get Me “Richard TI F SOUNDER CIRCURSY bite some. Earl Metcalfe, widely-known sereen} Tight,” he'll give it to his stenogra- That Herbert Grimwood, English| We Knew the circus was in towM | “asoanish flappers are all right,"| Reavy," yesterday signed a contract] phor, Look screen player, escaped from a German| but didn’t think it would affect as patob Lecaard. “Put these are| ith, Goldwyn r . prison by bribing his guard wit) evel-headed a director as Chartes| ™USe® jPapiccenalie ut they are! Zipp! There goes another illusion.|/ Went home tired Monday night, plece of soap? Urvant, who swung tho megaphone not allowed to fap, Pat O'Malley was born in Forest City,| /n blessed sleep to find delight That Chaplin ts suing a man whe Nanmova'n. fling at wigas | ORE touch of Prohibition makes the|Pa. And with that name too. T hoped the kids would let alone re apie ree ora: Tut judeine trom a tine or| Whole World a sin, A Metro repre-| Cowboys and rough riders of Wyo-| Our phonograph of raspy tone vat am Duncan, Vitagraph ine Ol yentative writes us from Paris and|™ing are planning @ great rodeo] ie gined; then Mary, with a laugh player, fainted the other day when Brynn uys; “Che Parisian must have the|during tho time the ‘Lady Godiv tfiegt dd Ady i \ ara eat tia takes tor Bi professional: HronibiHon oe oon he [Joy of things forbidden. Absinthe be-|{film plays in that section, ‘These men Said: “Now welt play the phono ‘3 i . or Bling the only beverare forbidden here,|live in the saddle and are greatly in graph.” ak Panes easy Raver; ‘slbad fea not]th® natives Insist cn carrying 1t on|torested in bareback riding. But] A thrill then came to me; disgusted, iny one in his life? de i : ; poll the ip. they won't say whether it Is the back] ne found the phonogre % That Jim Corbett likes screen uct i for Su: Auice Terry, serven atar, designe all ote a ahak et hag aus € phonograph was i Fore! ner own costumes. But that ts no ex-| Godiva" they are so interested in.) ae Phat Jim Jeffries dees not? cal ally cuse to address her as “a designing guitos = ee . ‘That Pred Stone refuses to kiss any an.” / ing ladies”? MO a La Mavr, who plays the] PEORbE, WHO LIVE IN GLAGS! 4 THOUGHT FOR TO-DAY. “ { the leading Indies aro just aos adventuress. in The Prisoner of HOUSES SHOULD ‘ICT Sr couad 4g Ahinke fhotbell a. arent enda,” had a narrow escape fron a" vaevitie aha 7 hima mx Sone. S Sean suse? ny ae ya aa in an auto crash we tee, When the Scotch came over with Weeee ies s Sees Pulte ah ae satone ea py Beardale The chumeters! Weil, that is, i¢ was just narrow|James 1, the windows of ther ae ja is en » ay sell > ite fepouah te get & Nels Teation, by s were broken at the instanoo of] “°"* pee sary THE LATEST. Ae Rene Td eee eee yesterday, eave hin now| the Duke of Buckingham and othors Charles W. Boyer, who has won] Romane Al, seit confidens, auner |daughter a nicepresent. It is a hand- |The Scots, in return, broke tho win- FOOLISHMENT, his screen spurs in several recent) cilious; Syrians, romantic and visiou- | carved "edwood bootjack, . dows in Buckingham’s Palace, known| There was a fat fellow named Glenn, pictures, Was travelling through the|ury; st members of the Yemeu| Claire McDowell, who supports | ay the “Glass House."’ He complained| So portly that frequently when ‘weeds'’ recently and was dressed to wil, Mid-Western town Chariie to stroll out.and do « eaventb Shirley Mason in her latest film, “The Ragged Helress,"" has been star herself. tribes from the south and black Nu- midians from Africa’ What Barnum would have done to that arruy! The train hesitated at a small long enough for ive in glass houses, Steenic, La <a pnt etn ee et tet tt Pt tt A ee IE NES eT A EO AIEEE REI ES to the King, who replied: ‘'Those who Jak Ford te hack at werk @irpcting ee cumetw how they throw stones," Face downward he'd fall, Hed emile, that was all, groca{uly Leunes wp agoin, should How's SHE COMIN'ON MIKE ? MAdE OF “TIN, AIN'T SHE —? IT S'POsE You'LL MURDER MY BANK ROLL ON “THIS Jop ! =-717 mond, Va., to tell of an exciting mix-up he was in recently, Joe was relieving the doorman at the theatro there and, when Frank Tin- ney was ready to begin his didoes on the stage, a big, husky countryman, who had handed Joe a ticket, took occasion to poke said Joe in the nose. A commotion followed and when they pried them apart the countryman was asked what was tho matter. "Matter?" he snorted. "I ben in- sulted. I handed this little guy a good ticket to the show and grabbed it and ripped {t right in half. That's why I belted him." Joe writes he may get over It but he'll never look the same. J: FLYNN writes us from Rich- OLD KING RETURNS, Herbert Corthell is again King of the Isle of Tangerine at the Casino. When “Tangerine” was originally produced in Washington the rotumd Herb was the King. For some rea- son or other he abdicated and Jack Hazzard followed him on the throne. Then came Hansford Wilson and his successor was Richard Carle. IIness has caused King Dick to give up the throne and King Herb is again "it."* A REAL CALAMITY. ‘Al Sanders told us a story last night and we think it’s good enough to re- peat here. Al said a little fat Ger- man merchant boarded a train, and when the conductor asked for his ticket it was not-to be found. “IT bought It, but vot become of tt I don’t know," said the passenger, as he searched his pockets, “I'll go through the car and come back,"” sald the conductor. Fifteen minutes later he returned to the Ger- man. The ticket was still missing. “You don't look like a man who would try to beat the railroad,’ said the conductor finally, ‘Let tt go, It's all right.’* “All right, you say?’ came from the German, “‘No, sir, Now I don't know vere I gits off."" OUR OWN NOTABLES, YAWNING MIKE—His real name was Arthur Penny Schwab, but his friends called him Nelson for short. He lived in Popo, Pa. and was a snow- ler by trade. Each day he stand on the corner of Main and Pickens Ayenue with his mouth wide open, It was merely a ‘abit, but it gave people the impres- sion that he was yawning and every- body who saw him yawned. As a re- sult the crowds passing that corner became sleepy and, instead of patron- zing the stores, went home and ested. This, of course, caused the chants much uneasiness and they made a protest to the city il, Mike wos summoned before ‘he councilmen and osked to keep his mouth shut. He said he would, but tt immediately flopped open and the vhole city council became so drowsy hat it forget to pass an ordinance iving Martin Bluch a contract for equipping Main Street with trash cans Riuch was so angry about it that he hind Mike sent to an tnstitution at Sleepy Forks, where he died with his th open in 1918. He was buried t so that the funeral party wouldn't become bored. GOSSIP. “Partners will open at Stamford on April 14 “MarJoline” will be played on Aprit 19 us a benefit for the Catholic Set- tlement Association of Brooklyn, Fifty ice-men w'll see “Good Morn- ine, Dearie," to-night, We'll bet they have an ice time. J. M. Kerrigan and Barry Maeul- in the cast supporting Kellar in “The Shadow." The “Shuffle Along” company wit tender its business staff a testimonial at the 68d Street Music Hall Sunday night. Party” will be tne title of the revue presented at Jolson's Thea - tre by De Wolf Hopper's Panmakers Sport Pazumba who thumps the tom-tom in “Phe Hindu," 18 a Cin- galese. Ho has thumped before crowned heads, A! Jolson has written Mayor Hylan thanking bim for his letter of good wishes. Al says Mr. Hylan is @ frep clase Mayon