Evening star., 1916-12-10
.HE type of entertainment that
has swept Overwhelmingly In
to current prominence def1es
criticism: it also defies the


to current prominence defies
criticism; it also def1es the
. climate whose thermometric
records suggest nice warm winter wear.
Itadefiance does not end here IL re-
noiinces all responsibility in matters OF
thought and declines to limit lts
matinees to the customary two-a-week.
A Few of its performances, in all PROP
abfsity enabled the box office to ring
up-more cash register results than the
combined receipts in this city OF
legitimate actors such as Tom Wise
ana Otis Skinner. 1t was grand
parade of affluence. The costuming was
of the Kind that appeals to sense of
the bizarre and shows how much eX-
rease may be attained in spite of
4 scafcity of material. Crowds liked THE
Passing Shaw There were few able
to-xplain exactly why they liked it.
Ile enormous vogue of purely spec
ia gllar entertainment, offered without
responsibility as to plot. or propriety,
maS be considered a strong argument
for the suggestion made from time to
tiiee that America has no theater of its
own. When it is not rejecting the
for the benefit of a family patronage
the Partisan gayetes designed to ap-
peal not much to the domestic ele
msUt of the French population to
the. furriner" VINO wants to see the
sights. The exceedingly liberal atti-
tuUe of the American public toward its
thsater insures to the youth of this
continent a breadth OF observation
wEtch would be vigorously denied the
Youth of any foreign capital Some
tive ago 1t was protested that the
theatei' is not for the young person."
Thls protest no longer remains possi
bl0s for the young person is the domi-
nstat quantity whose right to be thor
oIShiy informed on matters hitherto
contemplated with more or less reserve
by-hls elders is universally admitted.
COUSIN Lucy, although attributed to
Charles Klein. is no moe drama
than The Passing Show" and relies
up0H the sense of the unusual for it's
chg interest. Julian Eitinge, the star,
hak enjoyed the distinction of having
q Aheater named after him in New
YORK city 1t is a prosperous theater
ana plays many attractions above the
diSRity allotted playhouses whose ira
diaen are linked with the most dig
niued personalities of the stage.
Another ebullition of frolic and song
is promised in the George Cohan
thing from popular songs to senti-
mental melodrama. MIR. Cohan appar-
entity has found himself compelled, in
seeking new worlds TO conquer to
write about nothing at all, this ap-
pafently being the only topic that the
reSpe is permitted to discuss. The
hiSEory of the theater has become a
history of buriesques. A theme which
classicaiiy eliminates in tragedy, hav-
inS4served its purpose, is utilized with
less heroic types Tor drama. and again,
with types OF still less personal dig
nifty. for comedy; the comedy in turn
loWSd by the broad humor which seeks
to Qile Ossa on Peiion and make fun of
what was already considered sufficient
ly funny of itself. The revue, ire
extravaganza, like the Black Crook"
or -<'f2vangeline" appear. by compari-
SOFT like model of structural con-
sisfency. 1t is the ultra development
Of .she theater of the present time and
makes the spirit of the Christmas
panfomime the ruling influence of an
entire theatric season.
Touches of the legitimate are not
wanting in the outlook for Washing
tom Morosco brings a new play blunt
ly emitted The Brat" for the con-
sideration of eastern audiences, after a
favorable decision on the Pacific coast.
Beyond this looms the arrival of
George ArIiss. who has showed thE
play "Paganini,' which comnrSnded sx
much personal art on the paS of thE.
actor with SO little reward in the way
of dramatic results. Mr. Arliss has
taken up with play that endears itself
by pheasant associations. The Profess
sor Love Story. recalling James Bar
rie and f S Willard, both at their best.
The interest invited by the theatrical
fucure may easily suggest a shop
early movement for box Offices, as well
rs for the establishments of vendors of
more material things.
PHILANDER JOHNSON