Evening star., 1915-04-13
BelascO.

A work Of art striking in interest
confronts the laugh seeker who strolls
into the Relasco Theater this week.
In a xiIded frame is picture that
reveals rare Imagination as well as
artistic execution. 1t represents Marie
Dressler wearing a serene and heaven
ly smile while engaged in keeping ooth
feet perfectly still. The fascinated Do
holder marvels at the lengths to which
idealistic art may go in contradicting
nature.
In the theater Miss Dressler aspires
to no repose either of head or heels:
Her new comedy. "A Mix Up reacheo
Washing ton so late in the season as 70
represent a farewell appearance pV
Miss Dressler before going into the
movies under the literary guidance OF
Acton Davies. The little play IS geareu
for speed and not Tor strength.
permits Miss Dressler to dispiaS Al ins
pranksome accomplishments which
have hitherto endearcd her: also a
brand-new suit of clothes fashioned on
strictly Dress1crian lines
There are moments when a serious
oppression fits over the mobile fea-
lures OF the worlds champion heavy
weight coInedicnne: strange, WIS.,
ful suggestion of uncertain Nioou,
She has an assortment OF iaces .ns ~
ranges al the way from EDDIE roy 10
the Mona Lisa: with decided tendency
IN tile direction OF t.ddi" roy Nnu
while her face i induStfiousiA Iinf'o.
r,l, her feet are not 1T rest. i'cl -
rormancc j. Il continuous play cl IA
rlal cxprrSSion pose and gesture iaalt
make her what She is, the princess oI
clowns. -,
4 number of energetic pia NeiS con
tribut, 10 the rather hotsterouS actloh
az INC niece But there was no need 10
pass uow.rs over the lootliShtS ~
emphasize the fact that DRESSER was
the star She is indefatisabic. insisting
ON !, dozen laughs where many d
comedy expert would ne Sfa'eluiis
content with one or two. -,
The vehicle was constructed D!
Parker Hood 1t is mostly constructor,
and in order to give it literary sishih-
cance Miss Dressler starts right out
before the curtain rises with piece
Of poetry, made up by herself. entitied
smile Awhile 1t consists OF PAIR OF
stanzas in drop-stitch, meier. eaeh
stanza containing two lines ana mn
ishing with Il hard knot. The bit OF
smile song represents all the litera-
ture to which the piece lays any claiHi
The construction which constitutes tHe
chief appeal is clever and far-Slghted
in that il plants Miss Dressler squarely
in the center Of the stage and keeps
her there or therea bout during the en-
tire evening. Even during the en-
tr'actes she is bowling her acknoWi-
edgments or making q speech. She also
plays the piano and sings. 1t is at this
juncture that the Mona Lisa smile as
serts itself
with all her fun Marie Dressler is
brainy and conscientious She seems to
have real affection for her audience
beyond sense of gratitude or hope
concerning the box office. Her role OF
burlesque queen who stumbies INTO
the wrong apartment and is palmed off
as the wife of decorous young hus-
band during a visit from his relatives
becomes a creation of fantastic hunor.
The introduction of pantomime epi-
sodes at the back of the stage to eX-
plain the action of the story adds to
the interest. There are numerous
clever speeches, and even little touches
of sympathetic appeal. but all these
are overwhelmed by the hilarious
hurlyburly. J.