Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-31

IL plot, there was comfortable re-
lief in a John Drew play at
the National There was no stimulat-
ing appeal to the imagination In "A
Single Man. nor was there anything
sensuously soothing in the atmosphere
of the presentation Yet 1T meets the
requirement of one of the mOss re-
spected standards Of dramatic art. 1t
holds the mirror up to nature.
II would be irnpracticable to under
take the task of making list OF the
ten greatest actors According to
managers and. indeed. according to
the actors themselves. there are at
least ten thousand of them. But if the
temerity for such an effort existed. it
: doubtful whether John Drews name
would he one of the first to suggest
Itself He has never attempted great
ness either by personal pose the
uinistrations of the advertising eX-
pert Acting with Mr.. Drew has been
rather a matter of straightforward
professionalism than an expression of
personal ambition. He has never over
excited an audience by displays of
emotional fervor nor aroused curiosity
5y exploration into abstruse philosophy
or morbid character analysis. His
plays are revelations of the quiet and
constant phases of human nature. His
stage people are genuine, and the stu
atoms in which they are placed involve
40 nerve-racking suspense. He as
sumes a candid middle ground in the
selection of types to be portrayed,
neither claiming for man the attributes
Of the angels nor permitting himself
10 sheer with Puck. What fools these
Inortals be- n visit to a John Drew
play is like seeing a good, substantial
friend. whose conversation will be
sane though not startling, whose ideals
will be simple and kindly and who, if
ne has little good advice to offer, will
present it in genial guise. without trace
Of supercilious reproach.
"a Single Man is a triumph in its
way. 1t is an ideal John Drew play.
The career of Mutt and Jeff is not more
-emarkable than that of their promoter
n theatrical guise, Gus Hill. In all the
multitude of comic personalities with
which the craftsmen are deluging white
paper. Mutt and Jeff have stood forth
supreme. They made their way into
popular acquaintance for no reason that
AN be distinctly noted. But popular
,ancy recognized just the touch of droll-
cry that it craved and took them to its
1eart. even as 1t took Billiken some
rears ago. Gus Hill has made his way
Is a producer of hum orous stage crea-
ions in something the same way. When
lie appeared on the variety stage a tall,
slim young man with white eyebrows
Who juggled clubs in a way which any
gymnasium could now duplicate without
attracting notice, no one suspected that
ae possessed the secret of managerial
greatness. Yet he arrived Art may
nave been a pleasure to him, but ne
never allowed pleasure to interfere with
business. He never permitted his sense
Is an investor to be overshadowed by
ais enthusiasm as a dramatic connois-
,eur. He devoted himself to satisfying
he taste Of the great majority and has
tmassed resources which make his bank
account sufficient to insure his respect
.ul attention from the biographer. He
taught the popular fancy with produc-
ions in which critical analysis could
discern no merit: and having caught it
ae hung on like grim death.
"Jacinta' is one of the productions
which reverse the usual route of travel.
1t comes from the west instead OF the
east. Mr.. John Cort, whose success as a
manager of theaters is exceptional. has,
from time to time. appeared as pro-
Queer, but his creations have not needed
the rule laid down by great artists that a
man attains the highest results of which
he is capable by expressing that with
which he is familiar. Mr.. Cort disdains
the brisk thrill of the newer country be-
yond the Mississippi and addresses his
attention 10 European models. Work of
this description must depend on studied
and conscientious effort rather than on
spontaneity; and 'Jacinta" is therefore
not as dashingly spirited in speech and
story as il Is delightful in music. 1t
is astonishing. in view of the rather
contemptuous attitude of musicians to-
ward American compositions. that there
should be such an astonishing amount
of good music with no place to put 1t.
A musical show is never a failure I'M
til the company is disbanded and the
scenery sent to storage. Some little
trick of fancy is liable to vitalize 1t
and give it vogue "Jacinta'' is the
subject of expert attention, and there
is no reason to doubt the possibility of
eliminating defects so as to leave the
real merits il possesses in preponder-
ance.
To get away from purely local dis
cussion. isn't ii lucky for both that
Nat Goodwin and Lillian Russell never
happened TO marry each other? And
wouldn't the New Theater have stood
a chance of satisfying New York's
standards OF high art IL it had put
George Cohan in as director?
PHILANDER JOHNSON
WON FATHER OVER.-Marguerite
Sldrvin was graduated from the National
Park Seminary in Washington In 1910
Now she makes friends with the audience
at every performance Of the farce Eek.
cuse Me-
When Miss Skirvin attended school or
9TH avenue, New York, she planned to &c
on the stage. being innocently aided In
her design by an indulgent father In
have rebeiled. and now that he does
know is not altogether pleased. This
father. who owns spots with buildings or
them all over Oklahoma City. sent a gen
erous allowance to the daughter in New
York She used 1t secretly to pay for q
curse in a dramatic school, at the same
time Keeping up her other studies.
Miss Skirvin made no secret of her in
tcntions at school. 1t was only from
father that she hid her purpose. At the
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