Evening star., 1915-02-21

the theaterS last week. Va
ried and ornate were the
traps set to insnare it and
deliver it safely in exchange for pay
ment at the box Office. Laughter, in a
certain sense, becomes habit. Ger
tain suggestions are taken up as call
ing for laughter and the response is
sometimes made almost in the sense
of duty or propriety- The mention of
a mother-in-Iaw became naturally as
sociated with the jocose to such de-
gree that the mere mention of this
form of relationship was sufficient to
awaken expressions of merriment. The
sprained ankle, as the result of a
banana peel on the sidewalk, was an
other reliable signal. A generous and
patient public does not insist on a
cause for laughter so much as an eX-
cuse Occasionally a theatrical char
acter manages to assert itself as
recognized signal of mirth and for
tune is assured the lucky player iden-
tilted with the role
The name Sis Hopkins is the trade
mark of an old-fashioned and reliable
brand of laugh which has circulated
through many seasons. 1t has the
abiding and substantial quality which
defies analysis. Sis Hopkins entertains
wherever she appears. She is abso-
IuteIy democratic. The scale of prices
announced at the box Office makes no
difference in her appeal. The attitude
of a Sis Hopkins audience Is always
patronizing. Her unsophistication Is
regarded with sense of superiority
by the city auditor, whatever may be
his own status in matters of super
ficial polish. 1t is an instance in which
the entire world joins In recognition
of the simple and genuine.
Good old Sis held her own, in the
midst of a dashing rivalry of beauty,
melody and scenery.
one of her most formidable competitors
for attention was Annette Kellerman.
who. having conquered in the sea. is now
pursuing further conquest on land For
her new and gorgeous production she has
elected to be a model girl. and not only
does she swim in way that might make
a fish envious. but she pauses on terra
firma long enough to dance her way into
admirinR attention. THE Model Girl
has a wealth of buoyant music founded
With all its fanciful conceits and beauty
# scenery and costumes. the piece is es-
oentiaIly and entirely a setting for the
ever-charming Annette Kellerman herself.
Another rivalry with which the rustic
arts of Sis had to contend was Lady
Luxury whose title alone might have
served to daunt the little country girl
whose ideas of elegance were expressed
by a calico frock, and whose proficiency
In the arts OF rhythmic grace was limited
to the Snakentine dance. Lady Luxury
proved a musical Interpretation Of a
comedy whose situations were Of the
prosaic rather than of the fantastic
world. Like many musical productions,
it was most remarkable for incidents
which did not depend on the story. among
these being the futurist dance and the
dramatic singing The comedy introduced
a large amount of material, which strong
ly suggested a tendency to adopt fill
clustering methods to extend the evenings
entertainment to reasonable proportions.
None of the material could be regarded
presenting much initiative interest.
10 beguile the tired business man" by
bringing to his attention the forms Of di-
version that have for some time been sus-
pected Of contributing 70 his ennui.
pHII,ANDER Johnson