Evening star., 1917-03-25

truth whose Significance touches
even matters of current enter
tainmeut. y week of "Follies" sought
TO dispel all human cares. but only a
few blocks away Nazimova bedewed the
atmosphere with sympathetic tears
Her indisputable rank artist of
the stage has led her to go beyond art
and assume controversial responsible
ties in fields of thought apart from
those in which she has been a life stu
dent. In attaining dramatic effects she
is Incompatible. In seeking to impress
social and scientific propa ganda she
cannot command unanimous enthusi-
:Lsm. The propagandist never does
Nazimcva's appearance in War
Brides" gave the pacificist more aid
and comfort than any other expression
made on the subject. The appeal of the
play was directly 10 the emotions. and
had the magnetism of intense personality
10 fortify It's lIue of reasoning. Popu-
lar sentiment is rapidly being forced
away from the line OF suggestion which
repudiates the idea OF raising boys to
he soldiers. But the real drama in War
Brides was SO powerful. even though
limited to one act and its irterpreta-
tion so torceful, that IL still holds rank
as a great hstrionic production capable
Of welding emotional influence to be
reckoned with.
In "'Ception Shoals the dramatist
has provided a line Of thought which
may lead attention away from the
theme, should the theory that Juvenile
education In biological mysteries is
obligatory and wise prove uncongenial
to the spectators habit of thought. \
contradictory argument is offered early
in the play. when Eve stands forth bold
in unsophistication, clothed only in her
innocence. detiantly secure under cir
cu'nstances which imply temptation.
Her purity of mind seemed 4 greater
safeguard than all the knowledge that
worldly wisdom could beStoW. The
beauty of the play depends much on the
loyalty to her one ideal, once she has
found a lover. than in any scrutiny of
the nature impulses which the play sets
out to analyze. Enlightening as "'Cep-
tion Shoals" may be found to the deep
and sympathetic student. ii does not
by the acting leaves no room for ad-
verse criticism. yet it throws no CLINT
or passing cheer into the gloomy sug-
gestion abundant in the daily news
Back TO The FollieS."
@ - ~
People who question a five-dollar bill
seriously before bestowing it on grand
opera hand IL over without hesitation.
for pair of seats to The Follies.
Bert Williams struggles for no high c,
nor does Fanny Brice seek to rival the
anatomical graces-of the classic dance
The orchestra disdsins the artistic au-
tHoIilN VI lut patton ana
surrenders itself spontaneously to the
leadership of the man behind the drums
He is no ordinary drummer. He has a
collection of auxiliary effects which
could be accounted for only on the
theory that he has collected every
noise making device known to mechan-
les from locomotive whistle to a fry
ing pan. The drummer has always been
most responsible element of an or
chestra engaged in comedy or dance in
depreciation. The advent of the tango
band has added even greater cares and
he often divides attention with the
stage as the wondering impression
arises that in addition to the use of
hands, feet and mouth, he somehow at
tains weird effects by vibrating his
ears. The show is as big as a circus
and its voluminous pay roll is calcuia ted
to limit its season. After its Baltimore
engagements this week. it will head for
summer quarters, where preparations
will be made for The Follies' yet to
come.
Preparations for activities of a special
lied local character are not being neg
lected., The squirrels which have romped
Monument grounds will be satisfied, no |
doubt. in a short time that these are not |
designed as intrenchments to meet the |
possible onslaughtS of a foreign invader. |
The Sylvan Theater will enlist cohorts of
art under valiant leadership that has |
emerged triumphant from many histrionic |
engagements MIS- CnriStldn ftenlnllck, |
the announcement of whose return to |
Washington has carried a thrill of hopeful |
expectancy. after a winter of more or /
less amateur discomfort, to an army of
Thespias most intrepid volunteers, has
been invited to act as chairman of a COM !
nittee to take charge and arrange for /
dramas, pantomimes and other suitable /
productions No JOY is unalloyed. even in |
art: the law ntrudes with its restrc- |
tons. No charge can be made for any |
portion of the entertainment and there /
OF he sol nf oil
grams refreshments anything else. II |
Is further provided that the entertain |
fnents will be Of high character. The ex- |
pertinent is one which must have eXtraor- |
dinary value and which should enable |
Washington to contribute literally in
tho field of serious and worthy production |
as it has contributed to the personnel of
the footlights. At glimpse it looks like |
the Little Theater idea broadened as |
TO bring it into relationship with popular
interest in a manner beyond anything |
that limited auditorium would provide |
for. The relationship with the national /
government is slight and very guarded in
its forrnalities Yet. not to infringe on |
prophetic prerogatives, the scheme con- |
tains the germ of a possible National /
Theater, whose opportunities should en- |
list the sympathetic and energetic inter |
eTt of the greatest artists the country is !
capable of producing. If it IS true that |
an aroused national spirit means an
aroused national literature and theater.
the development Of this little stretch of |
turf and trees so modestly exploited at
this beginning may well be worth watch |
Ing for. That its early history will be |
stormy must be taken for granted by any |
observer of the intricacies Of tempera- !
ment characterizing the theatric endeav- |
orer. whether his purpose be social. Pc
cuniary or art for arts sake. A depart |
ment of the drama. should one be created !
IN response to our awakening art sense, |,
would find more bulletin work on its |
hands than the Department Of Agriculture |
and more disputes to settle than the inter !
state commerce commission Could this ,
theater, however. become established |
national institution il might provide |
worthy elimination to the careers OF some
OF our emln. Mt producers. who have. while |
giving the public what it likes. not wholly |
sacrificed their ideals
PHILANDER JOHNSON. |