Evening star., 1915-02-07

~ and sprightIy rhythms are
"A availiug more than serious
n discussions in play form.
The Lilac Domino is a reve-
alton of fancy in song. The burden of
the song is no consideration. The rem
.lition is everything. 1t is like one of
the musical creations which express all
he ideas necessary to a foundation in
lie words ira la la If the singers
re efficient, the chorus attractive, the
scenery gorgeous and the orchestra
,oluruinous. 'tra Ia la. pretty nearly
~utttces for a libretto. There is an au-
,Idcity of opulence in the enormous and
ornate mechanism employed for the
,xrression of SO slender idea.
But it IS a graceful idea. and the pres
entatiou is not rnarred by the effort to
support interest by dragging in bald
melodrama in the disguise of comedy.
Light as the theme is. its artistic treat
ment is equally so. and the result is
delicate proportion
Perhaps it is All wrong TO speak thus
approvingIy of an enterprise in which
such extensive resources. both mental
and material, are employed TO accom-
plish so slight purpose. Perhaps Sc
rious thought should point out that
The Lilac Domino" presents no prob
Iem-beyond that of citing a good
seat at the show-anU uiiers no social
. Iggestion-beyond presenting some
costume hints that have as yet been
overlooked in the afternoon parade on
the sunshiny side of the street. Ought
II not to be ponderously remarked that
he Domino is a frivolous garb of
worldliness. with no place in an era
when the great moral object is not to
Jnuse people. but to regulate them?
There is no argument
The piece has no possible right to
recognition on the score of utility.
Neither has an ivory fan compared to
q, palm leaf.
For an ordinary production mana
-,er would suffice. Not for The Lilac
Domino Nothing short of an impre-
sario would do, and Mr.. Dippel as
sumed the responsibilities with suave
serenity. regardless of the fact that
the lot of an impresario has never
been regarded as happy one
In addition to providing gleeful en-
tertainment, Mr.. Dippel paused to say
4 few serious words. AS lecturer un-
der the auspices of the Drama League
ton would be a normal city for regu-
lar season of grand opera. The sugges-
tion has been dropped before ears
entranced The belief that the govern
ment of this country, like that of
other countries, ought, as a matter of
obligation, TO exercise some influence on
30 important a factor in civilization as
the theater. has been profoundly dis
cussed. AS it stands today. the Ameri-
an theater is an enormously capital
:zed machine whose operations are alb
Solutely unsupervised or even infiu-
need by recognized standards of any
Kind. y theater, a permanent and
fesponsible institution. with which the
GENITAL standards of statesmanship
" ere associated as a critical influence
would be something to dream of for
Washington.
But the possibility seems too remote
70 be taken seriously. What chance for
d performance of grand opera would
there be with republican orchestra, a
democratic chorus and progressive
principles?
y peculiar illustration of the spirit of
he time is The Miracle Man." which
occupied the week atsthe New National
rheater II is a story of today told
n the language of the subworld, which
= edging itself rapidly into a corner
If the library shelves. The relaxation
u literary standards both on the stage
md in print evokes scholarly protest
d fault. Practically, it is character
sue OF a time when the popular con-
clousness is alert and eager for the
.dea and not minutely concerned about
of phraseology. The respect
nsSt forms either of diction or gem
design is very faint. II is curious
o note that the disregard for the con-
>entional in bodybuilding has led to
.uplications of the models now called
lassic, prologue, chorus and all. The
.iiracle does not Intentionally in
..dvertently duplicate any classic mod
:, but contents itself with telling a
tory of the wonder-life of the present
-ay in the simplest possible terms.
trough the mediumship of characters
.ot merely humble, but of the lower So
al stratum. II is the Wallingford
omedy of the crook who does his best
o operate Illegally and finds himself
urced, by accident, 10 be on the
vel The piece hovers over the sub
Ilne and the ridiculous in a manner
nat Is interestingly indicative OF the
Oldnsss with which thought of the
resent day addresses itself as a mat
er of casual entertainment to topics
{ the most profound and important
sture PHILANDER JOHNSON.
UNRLEs FRoHMAN HERE-Charles
-r1llnian arrived from New York city last
Git TO produce his new play at the
Olumbia Theater tomorrow night and at
a ...Ine TING hing ont q new American