The Washington herald., 1916-08-27
Capital Bids Fare,UeH to Summer TheatricaLs
And Gladly Greets Opening of Winter Season
Managers Predict Brilliant Of
ferings for the New
DramaticeYear. {
By THE PLAYGOER.

The final curtain has descended
on summer theatricals at the Capt.
tai and tomorrow evening ushers in
the real dramatic season of I9Io-I7.
II seems rather early for serious
productions, indeed, so successful
and diverting were the summer
forms of amusement that their pass
ing is rather lamented. But whether
the managers are in league to cut
the summer season as short as pos
sible, or whether the brevity Of
warm weather theatricals can be
attributed to public taste, which
Graves a piquant morsel in the form
of new productions as FLIP to the
languid midsummer palate is ques-
ton likely to remain unanswered.
Perhaps with the stimulating breezes
of autumn close at hand the ability
to assimilate the heavier type Of
dramatic offering places the world
of playgoers in prime condition for
the "springing of new stuff" At any
rate, the transition from light sum-
mer fluff to the heavier attractions
of autumn is in progress at local
plsyhouses.
Polls Opens.
PelPs formally opens the doors OF its
refurnished and redecorated theater to-
morrow evening for Look Who's Here,
the musical show Of the newly-formed In
ternational Circuit. After a season OF
unprecedented popularity and success and
witkfut twenty-four hours intermission-
Keith's will inaugurate its new vaude-
vile year at tomorrow's matinee. Next
Monday, while not exactly launching the
dramatic season at the Belasco Theater.
still opens activities, with the much
heralded screen version of Helen Hunt
Jackson's "Ramona," which was to have
made its Washington appearance In the
spring. The burlesque shows are already
established for the season. and II re-
mains only for the New National to an
nounee its opening to put the local the
atrtcal season IN full swing.
That It will be a brilliant season is the
forecast Of Those Who Know. Heaps OF
plays will visit Washington-EOOd plays
with good players. From New York
comes the assurance that, for the first
time since motion pictures began to COM
pete with the spoken drama, the tide of
actors IL flowing back TO the footights.
Not that the screen has lost any of Its
lure, but the features" which required
the talent Of the best Of stardOm, are no
longer so plentiful. Another reason
ascribed by the astute to the influx Of
leading men and women who may be cast
in the new plays. is the success OF last
season, which has every augury for repe-
tition.
Season Opens In New YORK.
The theatrical year is already in full
swing In New York with new productions
scheduled for premieres almost every
night. A number Of the plays which had
their first nights in Washington last
spring are playing to large houses in
tse Metropolis. David Belascos artistic
production Of Seven Chances" was pre-
sented recently at the COhan Theater
with an exceptionally well-balanced cast
Of players and is drawing crowds for
each performance. 1t is pertinent to Won
der what peculiar fortune will attach to
the charm Of three for, though never other
than assured success. the lively little
comedy by Roi Cooper Megrue has had
three Christenings. II was called The
Cradle SnatCher' before It was sub
mitted to the light OF public approval later
became "A Lucky Fellow" and now has
Seven Chances" for a bid to popular
favor. James T. Powers has opened his
New York season in Somebody's Lug
gage" which was produced for the first
time at the BelascO Theater here in June.
and the merry little farce. His Bridal
Night" featuring the Dolly sisters, which
also had a spring premiere in Washington,
Is making good in New York.