Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-10-27

vv;,hout effect in dispelling the theatrica
gloom Of the present season
paw patrons have stood on the CURE
and frankly mourned the stock com
Dsnies- In a stock company production
Won cou.d always depend on the author
tried and true. however you might zee
about the cast.
..Hawthorne U. s. A." brimful OF "a
triotism, heart interest, laughter ano
athletics, gives you. for a single price Of
admission, every kind of drama In ex'
istence from a Zenda romance to a pro-
duction by the Hanlon brothers 1t Is
highly entertaining. though frankly IT.
RESPONSIBLE Every now and then scene
Ia introduced in which the play appears
to be buriesquing its own plot
Its success on the opening night was
emphatic No demonstration was neg ect-
ed that might serve to convince the
players that their efforts found appre-
CiatiOn.
But that cold. c.anlmy influence, the
second thought interviewed somewhere
Those who had seen and enjoyed the
piece were unable to describe II In a
way that would carry conviction 10 o'hsi
possible pay .airons in any great num-
into action before the week was hail
over theories as to why play does no
command attention at time like tho
presen, are abu..dan,. The clima.e in
yites to outdoor iecreat-on. the cleo
ron whose 0iscuss.on has caused
peculiar unrest is a. .iand; less expensive
forms OF ENTERTAINMENT are iaAlng un-
reasonable loi. from Inc pica& Nre-seeknS
purse; stoAk Com. aaies nave set such
hlgn STANDARD or popaiar en.er taInment
that han, peop.e fail 10 see a dnei ence
in value corTes pond.ng to olner,nce An
prIce ana, mercy n an INCIDENTAL, OH
land way, II mI.nt Dc il.enICneo t..at tne
pays pr,sent.d so lar tn-s season nave
not Teen very sood-
Hawthorne" is full Of reminiscent
notes. 1t has the gay 3useni ity OF
Bobby BURNT which aid not succeed.
and tue breezy Impotence OF w aiming
ford" which cid.
The mop scene was almost a para
phrase OF the Waliingford h-ransue TO
The boobs and plncn-wads who decline
to slip their casu into the TIL OF ne
smooth guy-a thousand apo.ogies! That
George Conan vocabua airy Is irresistioiy
Infectious.
II Hawthorne fats to impress itself
as ar. there is no ch, nee to question Its
pre-eminence as athletics. When Doug
las Fairbanks vaults over high stone
wall at the close of the first act admira-
ton is mixed with doubt whether he can
keep up the pace he his Sc for himself.
But the fight later In the pay. hght
In whose rehearsal 1t IS claimed that M.
Alsop broke two ribs. is revelation OF
physical courage and skill that Is sure
sooner or a er to cause some impres-
sion Bile person to rise from his seat and
ask II there is a Doctor in the audience.
II may be true that the cap over the
wall in he first act Is accomplished with
the aid of a spring-boa:d. There en- be
no suspicion that the flying leap with
which Mr.. Fairbanks bears Mr.. Aisop
to the floor Is accomplished with the aid
of wires like an aeria ballet It Is OBJ
viously a risk of life and limb.
The reckless emper of the amusement
seeking world is tending toward the mood
which cal ed forth the Roman adiato-
rial games. Steps may be necess ~ TO
prevent some enterp Using manager =
tempting to lure the pubic by killing an
actor at each performance.
Whether or not the plays offense
against logic is beyond condonement
must be ascertained elsewhere The
auditors logical sense is not, as rule,
exacting, SO long as he is being active
Iy enter tanned. The fact stanos that
the production was a break in the
monotony of try-out performances
which have discouraged the audiences
of this city. who not SO long ago were
eager to assemble to welcome a new
presentation. The play was well re-
hearsed, and a competent cast permit
ted no narrowing incidents. Washing
ton would son became ga tirs,-nignt
town once more IL all the initial
presentations were as spirited In theme
and as smoothly acted as this
The Chimes of Normandy was In
line with the spirit Of reverence for
The past which has taken possession Of
producing managers. The opera does
not lose its old admirers. and finds
favor even among those who do not
permit their taste to be Influenced by
tradition. Henrietta Crosman. whose
appearance in The Real Thing proved
IA pleasure TO so many people. might
he encouraged to revive Mistress Nell
If rediscoyery were as easy in the
drama as il is in music.
PHILANDER JOHNSON.
DRAMA LEAGUE OF AMERICA.-The
1stabE shrnent of a new influence in the
drama is to be undertaken in Washing
ton I'm addition to the several local super
visory organizations already N evidesce.
ii takes the form of a chapter Of the
Drama League Of America This orsan-
iZation in two years has attained
an affiliated membership of more than
$1,000. largely in Chicago. it's birthplace
and other middle western cities. Nov
with active eastern branches in Boston
Brooklyn and Philadelphia. it Ia organ.
izing in both New York and Washington
w lille most efforts to improve me stand
ards OF theatrical entertainment have
been through censorsh p and direct ex-
clusion, the Drama League idea Is Z
censor moth ng whatever. but on the Other
hand to affirm and support what Is goUd
II Is, in other words, an organized effOi,
to develop larger audiences for the pro
auctions which IL pronounces worthy. Il
recognizes that managers cannot produces
the better things unless they receive sup
port at the box office and assumes TIA
large numbers Of the most discriminat ms
element of the public stay from the
theater through indifference grown out o.
too frequent disappointment. The ain
of fha lea g1Ip serve the urhC,la Uroa