Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-09-22

was mechanical and thinly woven. william
Hodge submitted an empty piece of his own
making, The Road to Happiness" The
play met its Waterloo after leaving Phila.
delphla.
DOSSlBLY the present season owes its
L attractive beginnings to the flashes of in
tclligence which swept through Broadway
during i9le-17. While Philadelphia was be-
ing fed with pifie. New York producers we're
making significant strides toward art. The
height Of their endeavors was indisputably
achieved in "Peter Ibbetson," which still
holds the Manhattan stage. but other COM
mendable attractions have been released for
the rest of the. country. and IL is this har-
vest OF good things Of which Philadelphia's
share is now conspicuously large.
The Thirteenth Chair" proves to be a
delectable mystery melodrama. "Our
Betters' offered the most superb exhibit
of acting in recent memory. THE Riviera
Girl was assuredly a vast improvement
musically, dramatically and as regards in
depreciation over Miss Springtime." The
Wanderer" is a biblical spectacle OF signal
splendor. Merits Of the japanese fantasy
The Willow Tree" which opens the regular
dramatic season at the Garrick on Monday
night. are substantiated by too many trust
worthy authorities to be seriously uues-
toned. Billie Burke, who returns to the
Broad Street Theatre next week after two
years in moving pictures, has little play
by Clare Hummer, whom New York has
hailed as one Of the most diverting farce
makers Of the day. Within fortnight the
latest Barrie comedy "A Kiss for Cinder-
ella" will be disclosed here, with Maude
Adams in the leading role. Nimble Fred
Stone has an elaborate new musical offer
ing, said TO be worthy successor to Chin
Chin" The Lyric, which almost invariably
opens its season with ragtime and show
girl frivolities, Is TO have a Legitimate"
dramatic attraction in Maude Fulton's play,
The Brat" product Of the stars in
spiratlon
Even supposing that some of these prom
ised entertainments fall to live up to all
expectations. they can scarcely attain the
nadir to which THE Two James" and sport
Of Law" emphatically fell The Philadelphia
theatre today is healthy and vigorous. The
Drama Leagues cautiously composed bull
letins sound new note of cheer. The man.
agerial grievance against music and mo-
tion photography is almost inRudibe. 1t
was loudest when the playhouse bookings
were unworthy the standing of n great
city. Good footlght entertainment need
fear no competition. A delightful Barrie
play can easily fill a house here on the
same night that Caruso sings TO a more
northerly Broad street auditorium, and
when John Drew offers us that brilliant
Pinero comedy, "The Gay Lord Quex"
which will be staged here later in the
year, he need not lose a wink of sleep over
the lost Dimes nickels and quarters OF
movie fans. Once let the public dismiss
the idea of dramatic degeneracy-a point
of view that must come II the present rec
ord Of excellence is sustained-and the
theatre will be made safe for prosperity.
TT MAY be noted that the physical expan-
i sion of the Philadelphia stage is keeping
pace with the revival Of the dramatic spirit.
The Chestnut Street Opera Householder
in honorable footlight traditions than any
theatre in town save the venerable Wal
nuts being reconstructed on modern lines
Wel-founded rumor asserts that it will
soon be entered on the list of active high
class playhouses here. Alterations at Hor-
ticultural Hall, now under way, will con-
vert that fine structure into home Of
legitimate footlght diversion.
To resist being optimistic over the pres
ent stage outlook is exceedingly difficult
Theatrical history sometimes develops on
freakish lines and footlight prophecies fire.
quently go awry. But the man who pro-
claims only a false dawn now must draw
his horoscope on purely imaginative lines
The facts in hand announce a bona fide
sunrise. II. T. C.