Evening star., 1915-11-21

- NE of those charming conver-
sational comedies which only
the British stage develops was
~ on display at the Belasco last
week. under the caption, "A
pair or Silk Stockings An element of
plot which might have been utilized for
roaring farce is turned to account for
p,,rposes of clever dialogue and delicate
human nature study. The result Is both
graceful and amusing The play is In
some degree study in slang-English
slang such as "bally." ''blighter." 'squiffy'
and other crisp peculiarities OF speech
whose significance is swiftly and agreeaoly
gathered from the context. Now and tnen
a touch of American slang is Included
For some reason it sounds harsh by COM
parison The impression is due, no doubt,
to association of ideas, for the slang
words of America are, intrinsicaliy, quite
as euphonious as those of England. But
English slang, as imported in theatrical
performances is associated with smart
society. founded on hereditary traditions,
and American slang suggests only ebul-
Iiency of idea with limited resources OF
speech American slang seiZes the first
word that comes handy, if its sound fits
the sense, and disregards to an extent
that is often more than charitable the
suggestions that cling to it from its
original environment. There is not much
chance for American patriotism to hold
out for American slang. The comparisons
In a play like silk Stockings" convey an
impression of inferiority to the English
brands so conclusive as to defy argu-
ment.
John Drew was displayed in another
new play, 1.-The Chief at the New Ma
tional 1t afforded an evenings enter
tainment, and provided material en-
couragement for the hope that another
typical John Drew play has been dis
covered.
They Did Know Him.-While in
Cleveland this week Cyril Maude listened
to Bill Nye story that furnished him with
a hearty laugh. The incident was related
by an oldtirne manager named Marks, now
oldtime manager named Marks, now
retired from the theatrical business
and residing in Cleveland.
Many years ago Mr.. Marks controlled
the opera house in a small city in
southern Ohio, and one of the attrac-
tions he booked was lecture by Nye.
The day for the lecture came and only
one ticket had been sold. However,
during the forenoon, the advance sale
Increased to three seats.
With a decided air of detection. Mr..
Marks went to the depot to meet the
MONDAY train from Columbus, which
Upon the arrival of the humorist the
manager made himself known, and the
former, noticing the air Of gloom that
hung over the local impresario, in
f1r
well. Mr.. Nye," replied Marks. 'r
had looked for big crowd at your lee
ture tonight, but there are only three
tickets sold. so / guess they don't
know you here.
'Oh. no, you are mistaken-they do
know me-" was Nye's quick answer.
Cyril Maude now on tour with
Grumpy" tells of walking in Jarvis
street. Toronto. and seeing in the win
dow of a barber. the following fair
minded guarantee of good work: If
you do not like your shave. your
whiskers refunded
Lois Bolton ON "The Mov1es."-Lois
Bolton. the young woman who plays
the leading part in Twin Beds,
has views upon the future Of the mo
tion picture industry" She says 'it" Is
an industry" and not an art"
"It is not possible" she declares, "to
conceive of the motion picture business
putting end to the spoken drama
The thought is absurd. even though 1t
does seem to have put a crimp in the
popularity of the legitimate theatrical
attraction for the time being
For this l blame the theatrical pro-
ducers themselves. who have not only
permitted their big plays and players
to appear in the movies but have
actually dabbled in the motion picture
business themselves.
There are those, however, many OF
them. who love the literature as well as
the art of acting in the theater, to
whom delights come as readily through
the ear as through the eye, and il is
these who will ultimately force the pic
ture pastime into its proper station and
insist upon the restoration of the real
TO the position that now seems to have
been usurped by the imitation.
1T is going to take something more
than the mechanical cleverness of the
cinematograph to kill Off Shakespeare
and Sheridan and the host Of play
wrights whose art may have become
too difuclt for repetition or reproduc-
ton by sordid SUCCESSORS.
The demand of the cultured mind
and taste will compel even the indif-
fererf and designing amusement con-
strucsors of the twentieth century to
turn to other fields for their wares and
perhaps to inspire timid and backward
authors of merit TO uncover the light
that has been latterly hid under the
bushel and compel theatrical purveyors
to do tardy Justice to real merit in spite
Of the commercialism of the age"
Paul Herve and Jean Brauet-
The theatrical problem. who are
Paul Herve and Jean Briquet," which
has long been a mystery. has at last
been solved. Adolf Philip. who has
been identified with Alma" Auction
Pinochle." Adele" The Midnight
Girl" and The Girl Who Smiles" tells
the secret
Il have been q playwright and COM
poser since my fourteenth birthday
The FIRST play wrote was a Christmas
pantomime.' 1t was produced three
times. This triumph inspired me to
write more musical plays and also to
try my luck at dramas. OF course, /
had to wait quite a while to fnd a
Npyoducer. My chance came at last. and
At a benefit performance i was given
an opportunity to hear my first dra-
while engaged in Vienna at the
Theater an der Wien I wrote my first
real comic opera. called THE Poor
Nobleman. which was produced at
Hanover. ran for 100 consecutive nights
and later was produced in all the prin-
cipal cities of Germany. After that /
wrote the book. lyrics and music of
another comic opera. called The Royal
ists.' and still another. The Adven-
turer.' But. Ike other young authors, /