Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-12-07
THE PLAYGOER'S
WEEKLY TALK
Observations on Plays and
Photoplays Seeking Favor
in Philadelphia


ing scheduled at the so-called Legitimate
houses This will be Back to Earth
the latest creation of William lie Baron
author of THE Very Idea" and other
entertaining and successful plays, which
comes to the Broad Street Theatre to
begin a two weeks engagement. Pro-
iuced by Charles Dillingham; in WASH
ington two weeks ago the new piece ap-
pears to have achieved success In the
capital and in Baltimore, whence 1t d.
rectly comes. the newspaper reviewers
found II praiseworthy. After Philadel-
phia theatregoers have passed judgment
the piece will be taken to New York.
Back to Earth" according to reports.
is an unusual comedy. Structurally 1t is
a play within a play. Its chief char
acter Is an angel who is given permis-
sion to revisit the earth for a period Of
two weeks. Unannounced, he arrives
at the bachelor apartment of we'll
to-do New Yorker and declares his In
tention of remaining as his house guest.
The comic possibilities of the situation,
1t seems, should be numerous from the
minute the host introduces his visitor to
his friends and undertakes to account
for the strangers unconventional ideas
and actions.
For the performance of Back to
Earth Mr.. Dillingham; has assembled
" brilliant company, whose most i'm
portant members are Wallace Eddnger
Charles Cherry. Ruth Shepley and Minna
Gombel Fred G.. Latham. whose repu-
tation as a skillful director of drama
is firmly established, produced the play
for Mr.. Dillingham;.
IYNTIL the arrival on Monday last OF
" "Seven Days Leave" at the Chest
nut Street Opera House many moons
had come and gone since frank melo-
drama was offered on the stage of that
old playhouse, True, in years gone by
every conceivable form of theatrical en-
tertainment had at some time or other
been presented there. Most of the bright
luminaries of the English speaking
stage hrve appeared in the theatre
But during the year just ending under
the management of the Messrs. Shubert
musical comedies and spectacular revuss
have been the order. The coming, there
fore, of "Seven Days Leave" with its
spies, heroes, heroines. soldiers and sail
ors. it's battleships and U-boats, its noise
and stirring speeches and the big
church scene which brings the action
to a close, was quite an innovation
For while it looked as If the old the
atre was to be conducted for but one
type Oh DIS Tic " ihtSi
Garden. the Hippodrome and the AM
sterdam roof in New York, and that type
the girl and music show. But with the
coming of the London melodramatic
spectacle gunpowder now prevails where
face powder SO long held sway, as one
wag put it.
"a While the war was on "Seven Days
Leave naturally had a strong patri-
otic appeal as propaganda. With hos
tilities at an end the play still affords
good entertainment. AS in most out
and-out melodramas plausibility is
strained, yet the piece holds interest.
The production has had a remarkable
success. Essentially a British patriotic
piece, It has played around most Of the
English speaking world before 1t found
presentation in the United States. Orig
tnally produced at Sir Henry 1rvings
Iyceum Theatre, London in February,
19I0fsft met with such immediate favor
that II was soon being presented stimuli
taneously in South Africa, Canada, Aus
tralia and New Zealand. Last year. fol-
lowing Americas entry into the war, the
play was produced in New York and 1t
held the boards nearly the entire sea-
son Walter Howard wrote the melo-
drama. He has given Drury Lane and
other stages numerous successes, among
them "Second to None" THE Life
Guardsman," 1.-THE Soldier Princess"
s.The silver Crucfix" and '"The Story of
the Rosary" 1t is contended that the
piece is more than mere entertainment
that 1t has a message. The Garry
On" speech is one of its strong features.
Strength of cast Is another point In
favor of this production. Most Of the
players are well known to Philadelphia
theatregoers.
- to- Nya a n
lyl only other opening at the Legitimate
theatres this week. The production Is
another one of those plays with music
which seems to be most in public de-
nand Just now. These shows when pos
Eessed of average merit only are almost
sure to prove magnets for casual the
atregoers who want to laugh. and be
sung to and to hear jingling tunes
ground out by a big orchestra. Head
Over Heels fills such bill.
It is problematical what would hap
pen to the piece If Mitzi were not in 1t
Mitzi is on the stage during most OF
the evening and it is good she is. This
,merriest and most mischevous OF
musical comedy. stars makes the show
She really plays no character; she is
Just Mitzi, uses her own name ant
apparently does just about as SHE
pieases. and what Mitzi pleases is usu
ally good She has a fine sense O.
liumor and in her present vehicle i
Is constantly in evidence. Mitzi fits into
the show perfectly and the show Is nigl
a perfect setting for Mitzi. Her swee
little, voice appears to have gained II
strength somewhat since she was herr
last. Or It may be that Jerome Kern!
music for several of the lyrics assigned
her fits her better than did previous
compositions, while much praise canno
be iayished on the lines or lyrics.
Head Over Heels is at least a clear
performance. 1t, is interesting to not
the gradual passing of the vulgar an
suggestive elements that. for while
IN the name of art marred some of oul
theatrical offerings. The success tina
over Heels" .tMaytime" and "Oh
Lady Lady p here now and Leave 1
10 Jane" and "Oh, Boy" of recen
dates. is evidence of the kind of enter
tainment that pays. 1t has been said II
some quarters that we are getting to-
much musical comedy--and perhaps W
are, of certain stripe-the kind mad
on books from Paris with salaciou
theme There is little to offend i
Head Over Heels" True, Mitzi ap
pears In tights, but modestly SO. Their
81 little chance of surfeiting the publ
with musical plays il they are KEEP
f sweet and wholesome.
TTyO SEE ourselves as others see u.
ii has always been the wish of man
&. people. That wish can now be grante
~ those who appear before the motio
0t6;ture cameras and whose shadoy
selves are projected upon the silver