Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-04

dents and copy compose the olaioSoe
IL is the editorial method or dramatic
composition, in which paste pot and scls-
sors play a considerable part. Even the
blue pencil may be used with cautoh'
when the incidents are too numerous and
diverse to be packed in an orderly Wa!
into the limitations of the modern pro-
duction The ideal play, from the prac-
teal and economical producers point of
view. Is one which employs sin~'n save
setting throughout the evening The Gus
tom of shifting the scene three or tour
times during a single act mas passed away
and such method is the exception the
book-dramatist must exercise much in
gsnuity in Keeping the action within the
boundaries of a certain location during a
certain time.
"He Fell in Love With His Wife is the
latest effort 10 brush the dust from the
favorite novel of bygone days. fhe con-
spicuous success of st. Elmo argues
well for ventures of this kind. The con
stancy of human nature Is SUCH that inc
motives and emotions % one period Oh
time are clearly and sympathet cahy ul'-
derstood by the people OF another inc
story of He Fell, etc.'-it Is lengthy
title-eould have been written of the pres
ent as we'll as OF any. other time let IL
= totally distinct from the ''best seller
rb;ct figures the literary lottery of the
present. Its characters are ntliiy drawn
and the Incidents do not lead up to the
..Di- punch'' VIII Gil current conno!sssurs
.,-;dar essential 1t IS soothing, even
soporific at times; never eXhi!areuhs. It's
c+ararters ar. in the main subdued TO the
MIN. If depressjon and curiosity as to
what is goin.s to happen next not very
strongly aroused. But il has the great IN
dispensabe element-the heart story, ana
its appeal may serve to interest MANY
whose appreciation of simple, straight
forward sentiment overhalances their love
Of novelty or surprise The theater III
holding the mirror. up to nature must
show The sunsh ne and shower on the
level field as well as the -tempests In the
heights.
THE Arcadians' is also a gentle and Sc
rome creation. dealing, however. with COM
edy more than sentiment. 1t is series OF
hsautiful pictures embeilished, but no.
disturbed. by speech and song Ii re-
fleets the English spirit OF musical COM
.dy. III which delicacy of detail Is NOR
f. y,,vbt after than vivid and startling ef-
,;re,v idylIc. and its success may indl-
cate a protest on the part OF she puoiic
against the highly seasoned far that the
hos bean proffering. No more har-
,nopious combination of scene, story ana
,ono could he imagined than The Area
d;ans" and the cast. with nothing TO 40
thai is great permits it's II to do nothing
badly. II is a study in English humor
top,ary droll jockey and the ubiquitous
rich hut ungrammatical large lady with
social a.p;ratfoifs These indulge in Ger
rain whimsical pieasantris $ or speech,
bn. never allow themselves to grow
hoisterous The piece sails gracefully
along on an even keel through sunshiny
seas, and If the auditor experiences no
great exhlaration ne is absolutely Sc
cure against discomfort.
II thrills were the object of the play
eoer's quest, they might be found In
abundanc- at the performance OF Alias
Jimmy Valentine Poor Jimmy must
expect 10 find that the territory outside
New York was pretty well worked over
b,- Ills kind during his lonC stay in the
metropolis. limitations have be circu-
lated IN the most bare-faced manner. Tor
there Is no honor among thief-piays- The
s7@ctle distinctions which an alert lnteAi-
gene and keen artistic sense enable an
author 10 draw place Alias Jimmy 1ar
away from and above the preda DRY ere"
THAI has hesn disportins itself MI war
rcrs acting would suffice TO give leg1u-
mate interest to part even less aonara-
bly, drawn than tnis one. The perform
anee seeks to amuse and interest, and
having done both, goes no further. 1t
makes 10 r Spouse TO the questioning
mood which the public appears to have
developed regarding social and economic
conditions Most of the current drana-
fists are eEdeayoring to find some topic
OF popular concern upon which to base
their creation Thin plots, III addition to
maintaining the interest essential TO nc
t.o., discuss public economies and social
perp,exities. The voice of protest is
lift against some institution OF some
prejudice, and helps toward SUCCESS by
awaking sympathetic response from the
spirit Of reform that has swept the coun-
Try. The success of Alias Jimmy Vaien-
tine" is more r,Inarkable because it has
been attained by sheer force OF intrinsic
interest and without seeking 10 impress
O definite moral For the lesson play Is
the play of the hour
PHILANDER JOHNSON.
ORDEALS OF AN ENTERTAINER
In one of the scenes Of Judy Forgot
Marie Cahill has travesty Of the woman
who talks loudly during q theatrical per-
torrance. Miss Cahiil says IL lou
may think my imitation of TINS more or
less common nuisance is funny, but you
may take the word of Il victim OF this
type OF woman that when she mterfeTes
Win u performance il Is no Joke to the
pFople on the stage. Iii never forget a
conversation l l.eard in Chicago, just
AFTER Was married. was on tue Stage
Wacn a man and woman seated them
selves in box. The man stared at me
Ior moment, then he said To his COM
paIiion--i could hear every word: 'She
looks like Il proper PEI SON.. Yes said
iic .aQy, 'sne's respectable Do you
h.io" anything about ner?' asked the
man. On, yes, was the answer that
came TO my anxious eaIs, sac has just
soi Il uivorce from a w AL street % oker.'
and right oenind them Sal my bi aaa-new
mother -ln-,aw. Now DO YOU wonuer that
a.. ,Iress sometimes siNes bad per-
Torrance?
And it was In Chicago that heard
this genealogical gen., she resumed.
''One of the critics had said that in my