Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-14

,.rh. college of self-constituted autnoris
Critical Prejudice. II takes years =
solemn study and reverential regard lot
precedent. together with a snare oi
diplomatic adrotness in securing adver-
tised association with names or tradi-
,ional greatness to secul usually TOO
late in life for the enjoyment OF the titie
through many seasons, the degree OF
i..Great Actress" Every actress is suppos-
cd 10 have submitted herself to critical at
.tention in Shakespeare before she can as
tpIre to the degree of g. a. The ordeal
lis often a cruel one. 1t is lnvarlaoS
survived, though not in most instances re-
heated by personal inclination or popular
request 1t is enough for a Great Actress
10 have played Juliet or Portia or Lady
Macbeth a sufficient number OF times 10
tmake n showing in the records or past
Performances. The inference then Is that
she could have gone on playing these
tarts the rest of her life. only the public
really doesn't care for Shakespeare, you
know.
Billie Burke has no doubt been tempted
To plav Juliet. But she would hardly
have the patience. She would tweak
Romeo by the nose and cali him silly
6hattering nonsense with Mercutio when
she should be thinking of swords. dag
gers and poison. No: she is not and per-
haps will never be Great Actress 1t Is
true she can put character and meaning
into every pose she strikes and into every
step she takes in crossing the stage she
can read lines with a delicate sympathy
that puts in smiles for commas and tears
Tor semi-colons. and by sheer force Of
personal charm make the most impossible
dramatic situation seem agreeable and
iven plausible.
81 But, pshawr' as a rustic old-timer once
marked of the inimtable Lolita, that
amt acting. That's jest her natural
telf."
! Billie Burke and her former stage as
ssociate, John Drew, are engaged in pre-
:senting arguments on opposite sides of
rather interesting question: although Miss
Burke continues to show her esteem for
AIR. Drew by selecting in c. Aubrey
Smith a leading man who looks enough
like Mr.. Drew to be twin brother.
The case at issue appears to be about
this: May a mature and settled man mar
fy a very young girl confident that love
will be strong enough to bridSe the
years that separate rosy cheeks and
si!vering hair? The question in each
instance is answered with the most
courteous Difference to the opponent. Mr..
Drew, who has not been for years eligi-
BILE to the Njuvenfle wonder class, efival-
tously declares in "A. Smile n that
the man who has Aaved his slifes sas no
right to impose the restraint of his ideas
upon a girl who, has her life before her.
He is assisted in his self-denial by the
fact that the girl is rather frivolous OF
Temperament and inclined to he fdgety.
But in The Runaway Miss Burke posi-
itiveiy though politely says NO" She
maintains that if the girl has serious
ideals and the man is a nice cd thing
Of an artist. she can love him as much
as if ne sang in a glee club and said
rRah, rah, rah.''
Entertaining as both these plays were,
they point to the failure of the stage as
a means of calculating serious problems
Their fiat contradiction of each other
vindicates the box Office patron who
frankly desires, diversion and not in
struction.
Margaret Anglin has comedy part in
.Green Stockings which she develops
charfningly The piece is a fine example
Of how much clever people can get out
OF a single idea and rather slight
one at that. There are half a dozen
times in the play when the plot seems
bound TO terminate by some query which
commons sense would suggest To one of
which would put. an end TO a series of
excellent comedy scenes between Miss
Anglin and Mr.. Reeves Smith is deftfy
avertea. Mr. Smith more nearly sup
plies the place left vacant By the death
of Kyrle Bellew than any other actor
az the time.
Baron Trenck is IA step forward in light
yopera-perhaps too far forward to find
the irnir ealate. following which its indis-
putable merits. musical, literary and his
.trionic. ought to win. for il, The music
is excellent and the story eresting.
But its quality is so uncom. ,.nisingly
genuine that the production seems to
carry with 1t hint of scholarly superb
ority. The sensitive public is in danger
Of feeling that somebody is making an IN
SlQlOuS eHOrt To improve 80 AANs
OF the brightest incidents of the perform
ance is sadly handicapped by curious
freak Of stage management. Miss Perie
Bart. whose remarkable good looks are en-
phastzed by contrast with the chorus. and
who also sings well, il compelled to dance
in trio with two pony ballet girls. II IL
Needless to SAY that the PONIES make
perle look like a pushcart engaged In
race with a pair of sixty-horsepower road
sters In spite OF the handicap she man
aged to score with the audience on the
strength of her more serious accomplish
ments.
The future Of Herr Fritz Stum1els Ii
This country will be observed with inter
es, He IL a dramatic tenor of extraor
binary ability in both phases OF his art
Ills Baron Trenck, though rather over
acted. is a striking creation.
PHILANDER JOHNSON.
BETTER ACTOR THAN BANkEH-
George Backus, who is playing me par
of the elder Emerson, president OF lii'
Emerson Banking Company, in fh'
Gamblers" was once a bank cashier IL
Columbus. Ohio The stage bacillu!
warmed it's way into his system mum
her OF wears ago, and one day he timid
w arproached the president Of the pam
u;tb the information that he intenoet