Evening star., 1917-03-11

" XCEPTIONAL as are the equip
ments of Sir Herbert Tree, both
as a producer and as an actor, he
- does not place his entire reliance
upon them. His audiences at the
New National Theater were not limited
to the poets discussion of the intrigues of
the uxorious Henry and the temporal am
bltions of Wolsey. but were permitted to
gain acquaintance with the eminent Eng
lish stars attainments as student of
public affairs. Not only were his refer
ences to current international conditions
happily worded. but they were delivered
in speech with the grace OF finished and
well modulated oratory. 1t is seldom that
q curtain speech sustains the impression
OF personality that an actor or author has
created by his well studied work in the
performance. In this instance the one i'm
preston fortifes the other
Il IS
Once upon a time there was little
French actress who sang "Georgie' TO
an embarrassed man in the orchestra to
whom she made desperate stage love. She
appeared quite incidentally in the Hoyt
farce which made Evans and Hoey fam
Gus. Hoey was celebrated rs the only
comedian who could wear natures own
T.
tricks was TO rob a house of one article
after another. finishing with a red-hot
stove. which he carried with an irresistible
air OF trampish triumph across the stage
The little French actress had another song
of direct appeal II was Won't You
Come and Play With Me" Hoey-he was
better known as Old Hoss-came on at
the conclusion OF the song, dropped
the stove and in the spirit of inimitable
epontaneity that made him irresistible fol-
lowed the singer as if hypnotiZed by her
charms. Anna Held made many other
heart-to-heart communications, including
the confession, IL Just Can't Make My
Eyes Behave" She was one of the eX-
ponents of the "coon song and had the
world that whistles unanimously echoing
her melodious protest, Il Want Dem
Presents Back. Sic was typically Paris
ian Those who We're then disposed to
be reminiscent recognized her artistic
kinship with those piquant visitors who
brought real opera Bouffe-Aime, Soldene
Rose Stella and others who crossed the
ocean when managers brought over not
only manuscripts. but the people who ,
originally interpreted them.
= IS -
The influence Anna Held would have
on theatrical entertainment in this
country was then unsupported. 1t is |
not fully recognized. even now 1t |
would be difficult to mention any one
who had so much to do with trans |
planting the spirit of French frivolity
cious songs with a demure air that |
made their audacity the greater Her
knowledge of stage effects was exceD-
tlonai. her ingenuity in costuming ex-
traordinary and her industry beyond |
calculation. Nearly every Anna Held |
show had something worth imitation, |
and Anna always had some little touch
of novelty that put the audience on
terms of seeming acquaintance with
the stage people. The mechanics of |
the ioea were easy to initiate and am |
piify. and now almost every well regu-
lated Gay Paree" show has its parsde
of choristers through the audience, en-
oeaVorins TO make up by super |
abundance of charms for the absence
OF chic individual appeal The petite
cnanteuse whose arrival seemed so
slight an incident has really been an
influence. and she has arrived at the
nelght or every players ambition She
owns her own show.
What effect will prohibition have on
the theater?
No effect whatever.
Your experienced manager will tell
you that the effect was long since dis
counted by the theaters themselves.
The bar. regarded by previous genera
lions as an Indispensable adjunct of the
playhouse. was long since discarded.
Its solaces were not sufficient &oNefoe
pensate for the annoyances itsr1uxg{i
Ihe man who went out between the.
SeS ~ sec q man anu came PACK -cheW-- |
ing Glove was first ridiculed into un-
popularity and then summarilyesup-
pressed by the alert amusement -pur-
veyors- The jests of public are not |
without value in serious endeavor to |
gain acquaintance with their moods, |
manners and intellectual processes The
man with Glove has disappeared along |
with the big hat which for centuries af- |
nicted the auditor who found himself
screened from the stage. OF course.
traces of the paleolithic past will be |
FOUND. as every geologist knows. Fos-
silized tradition still asserts itself in a |
degree that excites curiosity, rather
than active resentment The Glove
chaser in isolated instances meanders
around the block But he is sporadic
and without cotemporaneous signific-
canoe The big hat is not wholly ex-
tinct. But it is to be found only at
afternoon concerts.
PHILANDER JOHNSON.