Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-03-27

A SEASON which began with unusuu
"A brilliance has rather petered out in
Philadelphia. The fall brought us-to
name only three-Mrs. Fiske, Margaret
Anglin and Grace George. The spring
gives us nothing Of great moment in the
way of acting and, only Seven Keys to
Baldpate' and the long overdue Peg"
as really popular plays Premieres seem
destined to limit themselves to "The Blue
envelope of awful memory, and a musi-
cal piece or two. Also, dark theatres.
Blaming the local managers doesn't
Feem provocative of good. Neither is it
altogether just. They are. after all. a
part of machine, a subordinate portion
of vast system. What ails the Ameri-
can theatre must be laid at the doors of
the whole touring system. We in Phila-
delphia have simply to accept what the
powers of that system send us.
And even the powers themselves are
hardly to be blamed for the increasing
dearth of good plays. They are operating
very clumsy instrument, which grows
clumsier and more uncertain each year.
Competition and the cost of production
have mounted together. 1t is little Won
der that plays which might have sur
vved three years ago now go under and
leave yawning gaps untitled or else
choked with Claptrap hurriedly flung on.
economic organization even mote1 than
artistic impulse
1t is pity that so expert an artist in
travesty as Marie Dressler can't be sup
piled with steady stream of comedies
worth her really considerable abilities
The present specimen at the Lyric, "A
Mx-Up." is very far from unsatisfactory
entertainment. With Miss Dressler's aid.
Il makes good evenings diversion; but
without her-! And-to look at il
from the other angle-consider what Miss
Dressler might be If she had piece
which, instead OF being a drag on her,
gave positive assistance TO her efforts
II is curious thing, to be noted more
and more, that our stars are mostly en-
faged In pulling through comparatively
pieces, while all the really
popular plays get along quite nicely with
out featured players even where they
supply decidedly star parts. Seven Keys
10 Baldpate for instance. would make
an excellent vehicle for almost any young
comedian, from Willie Collier to Taylor
Holmes. Peg O. My Heart" no longer
has star. though 1t could easily sup
port one. Potash and Perlmutter,"
which could have taken care of a couple
OK luminares, had none at all
The Little Theatre has been ENJOYING a |
rather unusual type of star this week. |
The author himself. Charles Ram Ken |
lsdy 10 the average theatregoer means |
ne piaywrlght who wrote THE Servant |
n the House. Yet something under 90 |
ears ago. Mr. Kennedy was earning his
wing behind the footlights In Iondon
le was well-known figure; over in
america Mansfield engaged him, more or
ess az shaw's request. TO play the mill
eht minister IN The Devils Disciple"
Vow We see him as the very unmilitant
Itear Of his own drama
10 Mr. Kennedy as star succeeds an
letor little accustomed to the atmosphere
u little theatres" and what they impIy.
,et an actor as expert as any in his line |
talph Herr. Though Mr.. Herr has voy-
ged much In the waters of comedy-frurn
The Folltes' TO "a Pair of SiXes'-he |
as always done distinctive work.
Ia Monsieur Poiret" Mr. Herr is re-
eaPsing his first Frenchman Though
orn IN France, he has played almost an
ther nationalities including. incidentally,
he Prince of Hades.
III adds another name to my theatrical
aptlsmal score. too" says Mr. Herr
Tor shall now be Louis for a change,
nd certainly no actor ever had worse
amea wished upon them than I have.
have been Augustus, Uncle William.
teyen. Finney Doolittle, Timothy, Erich.
Winchester choTttle, The Devil Himself
nsophtlus, plain John and jeremiah, ana
HafSH SHOWS What. It's welcome role
aat makes me a Louis-for in some
eantfies Louis has real financial
ar Belaseo and Mr.. Frohman are still
asy Not content with an elaborate
mi revival IN this bad taiI-end OF a
Al season. they are planning new pro-
Lotions 9ir. Belaseo's viii be a trial
Iasins IN Wilmington OF a piece which
- Ia aHa faf b Il Z
ear It IS The Boomerang.p by win
leli smith who wrote The Fortune |
inter. u viii get as near PhiIadelpbia |
Baltimore and Atlantic City. The 5th |
April Is its date OF production. The |
~ VIII include Arthur Byron. Martha |