Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-11-24
SIDES


| 1T presented clever Holbrook Blynn in a
wholly unfavorable artistic light in Miss
anglln's production of the play last year
IN New York Mr.. Emery, now that he Is
| more familiar with his artificial speeches
| tnan on the opening on --onday. prob
| AMY makes the least lamentable exhibit OF
| the three. But the sterling talents with
| winch he has lately illumined Stevenson's 5
John Silver in Treasure Island" and, IA
week ago, his delectabe role in Lonely
| soldiers" are largely in obscurity.
| MISS Angln's wisdom in combining the
| pay TO n single weeks engagement is very
| evident. The revival is attractive as II
| chapter In stage history well as for tho
| still animate comedy scenes. But its ap-
| peal in repertory season Is apt TO be
rather special. What is heralded as n
more conscientious specimen of playwritinl
will be revealed next week at the Little
Theatre when the star produces for the
first time here Somerset Maugham's mod
ern comedy of Caroline" The piece scored
substantial hit in London two seasons
ago. New York proved rather cold to the
bright dialogue and cleverly contrvcd situa-
tions set forth by the fast developing and
once overprolifc author of "Our Betters."
our playgoers have long evinced liberal
appreciation of light comedy The 'punch
Is less craved here than on Broadway IL
seems probable that our playgoers will in
dorse I.ondon's verdict and repudiate
Gotham's
- A MONG THOSE PRESENT is dra-
a matte trailer" Crook plays. mystery
plays trick mclodramas. have delurcd our
stage for several seasons. Possibly were
Seven Keys to Baldpate" now new. its
success would be problematical George
NJ. Cchan feels the public pulse with un-
errng Judgment. Messrs Evans and Per-
cival, who compounded the Breads present
Offering, are laggards.
Plays inferior to among Those Present |
have triumphed because they filed the |
popular demand Of the minute. ON the |
other hand the new piece is not good enough |
to overcome the handicap of merely echo |
ing dramatic notes that have passed their |
CrcsCendo
The authors are palpably novices in |
stagecraft. Their sense Of effective melo- |
drama is well enough evidenced when the |
wheels are once in motion But there is |
a deal of "staling' in the opening scenes. !
The club window episode virtually leads |
nowhere. Its substance could be condensed |
in few lines. Rumor has it that the |
first act was written in great haste. Gre
dence of that statement involves no mental
strain.
Shelley Eull the featured player. start
lingly reminiscent of William Faversham
in his younger days, is a competent and
facile artist, but he is as yet more to be
than to be welcomed in sem-stellar efful-
Eence. His withdrawal from the cast of
The Willow Tree unquestionably les |
sened the appeal Of that delicate product |
as revealed here earlier in the season
Supports" Of big-typed actors are often so |
emphatically misnamed that the detection
of so admirable n reinforcement as Mr. S.
Hull is rather regrettabe.
Plenty of time is left for his stellar hon
ors. lndisputably nothing like the full
measure of his ability has yet been devel-
oped. Experience is the best husbandman
for the seed of talent. When Mr.. Hull.
through actual intercourse with the stage,
knows as much about his art as Arthur
Byron does, it will be time enough to
consider "bold-face" program mention.
In this connection it may be recalled that
Mr.. Byron himself, who is not a star in |
he refreshngly unstellar and superbly
played boomerang" once entertained am
)itions to head Il production. This was
nearly fifteen years ago. The piece was
'alled 'Petticoats and b lyonets," and was |
he work of former dramatic editor of the |
PUBLIC LEDGER, Asa Steele. Whatever its
merits or defects might have been--the flag |
never reached Philadelphia-Mr. Byron's
stellar hopes were frustrated. Since that
late he has portrayed almost every sort |
If part in the dramatic gallery, not as !
tar but as sterling player whose pres
nee lent substance and dignity to any
asst The choice between sound repute and
he mere adventtious flash of advertising
5 here suggested to Shelley Hull. {
ME restoration of the Chestnut Street a
Opera House to the category of first :
lass theatres scheduled to take place on q
londay night, awakens the same sort of !
fectionate sentiment that would be in 7
pired by resuscltation Of New York's Z
'aly's or the London Lyceum. There is I
his difference, however. in the present stu- S
ton. The other two houses are now un- I
lvorably located But Tenth and Chest
ut streets is still an admirable spot for II
theatre of real distinction. The play- G
ouse should never have slipped from its L
d honorable estate. This opinion was :,
early registered by the public, which U
fused to sanction the unwise vaudeville. q.
ock company and moving picture experi- /,
ents. Managerial miX-ups alone not loss :,
patronage for worthy offerings brought | y,
oout the temporary eclipse. 81
To the theatres new pilot Lawrence Shu- n,
'rt lsaacs, who succeeds to the high dis
notion so long held by J. Fred thinner
an. the best wishes of a theatre loving Co.
lblic are assuredly due. II. Il. C. .;