Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-08


KAf ocean? Why incur the ex-
Wv pense of steamship travel and
brave the incidental dscok-
forts of the deep in order to observe the
fantastic frolics of the French capital!
Why go to Paris when Mr.. Florenz LieS-
field will. bring Paris to you? Ot course
fl is not the Paris of the student or the
art lover or the sincere tourist who de-
sires to verify the pictures he has seen
at illustrated lectures. Mr.. ZlegIeit does
not undertake to present the Louvre or
the Hotel des Invalides or the Luxem-
bourg or any of the other Landmarks oil
sedate interest. His ornate and informal
dissertations are of JOY unrestrained- His
purpose is not diddctic, but dithyrambic
His Paris is Paris by nighttime Paris that
is especially prepared for tourists who are
out to be shocked and are willing TO pay
for it.
1t is evident that Mr.. Ziegfeld has taken
up the Review idea with d determlna-
ton to develop its fullest possibilities. 1t
has been touched before, but never with
the completeness with which perform
ances dealing with topics of the day are
presented abroad. The average comic en-
tertainment is based on the theory that
the playSoing puDlic does not read the
newspapers, an animation which any cir
culatlon manager stands ready to stig-
Matte by d short ana ugly word. The
Reviews which have displayed any de-
gree OF information as to current events
combined with real wit have been hilari-
ously received by a laugh-hungry public
The Partisan Model which is the sec
al Vas i'm has
witnessed this season, is chiefly important
as a vehicle Tor Anna Held, whose gowns
are as wonderful as ever and whose
methods are still calculated to convert the
most r,nocent ditty into vehicle for va
rie1 ;sgestion. Like most French artists,
Mis- Held dislikes prudery. In an effort
TO put 1t as mildly as possible lit may be
said that in an effort to avoid prudery
Miss Helds stage performance runs oc
casional risk of going to an opposite eX
IRENE. OF course, America is not France
New York is not Paris. and Washington
is long way from New York. So it
must be difficult to know where to draw
the line. The dance. La Mattchiche,"
did not reveal in New York the astound-
ing effrontery which distinguished it in
GAris. And it was vastly modified for
presentation in Washington which will
doubtless surprise those who saw it here
for the first time and regarded it as a
climax of audaeity.
There is absolutely no use of rising up in
righteous wrath and hurting rhetoric
thunderbolts at The Partisan Model Its
distinguishing qualities were well known
and no one was lured into the theater by
false pretenses to have his sensibilities
shocked. There is an enormous patron
age that wants it's amusement strong and
startling, and the more you talk about 1t
the more their patronage increases. The
treasurer of the National has blisiers on
his fingers counting dollar bills paid for
the privilege of standing up to see the
piece. In questions of propriety the public
is enormously forgiving. The phrase
good show covers Il multitude of sins.
And anyhow there is one thing to be
said for The Partisan Model 1t isn't a
problem play.
'Brewster's Millions" had been much
talked about before it reached this city. 1t
is, in contrast to most performances, an
authors success, rather than an exploita-
ton of actor or scene painter, and this in
the face of the fact that the cast includes
a very capable actor, Mr.. Abeles, and of
the further fact that the boat scene is one
of the finest examples of scenic elaboration
placed on view in long time. There is
something fascinatingly droll in the idea
of a mans being obliged 10 spend money.
1t was worth an evenings attendance to
hear the messenger instructed to take the
broken typewriter 10 a jewelry shop for
repairs; to hear of cabs being hired for
the mere sake of keeping them in attend
ance, at so much per hour, and in snort,
to have the ordinary scheme of pesonal
economy turned entirely topsy-turvy. The
essential quality of the piece is farcical.
The love story is ratner inconsequential.
But IL affords heart interest. And heart
interest there must be. There could be
no doubt of the appreciation of the audi
ences that witnessed "Brewsters Mil
lions" yet the attendance was not what
was to be expected. Possibly the genuine
spendthrift spirit manifested in the repre-
sentation of The Partisan Model rather
took the edge off the make-believe lavish
ness of Mr.. Brewster.
The announcements for the present week
are of peculiar interest. Poly of the Cir
Gus Is the result OF coloSSdl preparation
and bSings guest list which so far as
the first night is concerned would enable
the attraction to boast that it carries its
own audience. The Sothern engagement
takes on a fascinating traditional aspect
by the announcement of Lord Dun
dreary," as Our American Cousin has
been rechristened. its tragic associations
In this city have doubtless been among
the causes for it's being SO long disregard
ed. 1t is the pay in which the elder
Sothern is best remembered, and is still a
source of delight TO the oid-timer In his
reminiscent moods.
PHILANDER JOuNSON.
OUR AMERICAN COUSIN.-Concerning
this play, known in the old days as
Our American Cousin" which Mr.. Soth-