Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-08-31

F4@ son here in August was admit
4 {&1y a hazardous undertaking.
E6iladelphia is VIGOROUSLY chary of
IN theatre during the dog days"
lit the war has turned topsy-turvy al.
&s1loet every rule and tradition, and the
managers felt reasonably safe in turn
AZ ~ their backs ~sauarely upon pre-.
c6dent. The substantial success en-.
5oved by "Chu Chin Chow since its
ff0pening last Monday night at the
81 Shubert, and by Leave IT to Jane"
! during its first two days at the CHEST
nut Street Opera House has abunuant-
~. Justified the managerial guess. and
has apparently terminated all specula-
ticn and difidence as to the wisdom
OF early openings.
flHE new season will be virtually
In fun swing by Monday, when
III Of the leading theatres except the
Adelphi will be open. Eleanor Gates
new comedy of whimsical implications,
Phoebe Pretends." will inausurate
the season at the Broad with a Labor
e Day matinee, and the Lyric will begin
its season simultaneously with the
third comedy dealing with the bust.
ness adventures of those enterprising
commercial gentlemen. Potash and
Porlmutter. In Business Before
Pleasure" they invade the motion pic.
ture business, bringing along the
ideals and methods of the cloak and
suit business. The results can be
Imagined. AT night Klaw and Erlang.
a will make their first metropolitan
cal comedy production in The Girl
Behind the Gun" at the Forrest. while
Charlotte Walker will he seen at the
Garrick in Eugene Walters Nancy
Ice" which deals with the modern
woman whose life BECOMES a tissue
Of sham n deceit in the strenuous
effort to keep UP appearances"
TyHE ancient makers of fairy tales
! nevrr dreamed that their stories
would ever be visualized with the gor-
geousness manifested in staging the
Arabian Nights legend of Ali Baba and
the Forty Thieves in the production of
arhu Chin Chow &. the new Shubert.
Even the color revolutionist from Rus
STA. Bakst. is exceeded by some of the
striking effects achieved in the mann
moth scenes that fairly swim in all the
hues of the rainbow. But magnificent
and elaborate as this Orienta spectacle
IL the circusing Of its big scenes at the
expense CT it's quairter qualities is the
M eaA0f anPtnIe IN t,tGfipa TINT ma hn 1nna
to 1t.
The popularity of the Christmas tree.
whether there is a convenient child to
serve as a pretext for il or no. Is suf-
ncient proof that even the most sophistl-
Gated Of us retain somewhere at least
tho ghost of the heart VI childhood lays
when ponds were pools fraught with
magical possibilities. and romance lurked
N attic corners. "Chu Chin Chow" eff
fectually revives this childhood senti-
mSenf fits effective fairy tale quality I'M
doubtedly appeals with far greater pc
tency to audiences than the sunlptuous
manner of its staging. A decidedly orig
inal effect Is produced by alternating
miniature scenes with the great stage
pictures. 1t would he interesting to
know whether these close upsf have
been inspired by the technique Of the
movies"
TT is significant that not one member
Of the cast of 'Chu Chin Chow 70
whom some bit of song is intrusted is
afiicted with an inferior or mediocre
PNvoice. The public undoubtedly demands
. Much more in his respect than It did
\ eveu a few years ago. and the vastly
.tncreased popularity of opera prooaplF
plays a definite part in TINS hner muslcai
{discrimination. Tessa kosta, for in
stance. has a gracious soprano that
could cope easily will dramatic roles II
u repertory of the Metropolitan opera
Company, while the admirable voice OF
Eaaeene Cowles as Abdullah proves to be
Ms one real asset,
EYERITY is about the last quality VIC
expect in a musical comedy. So &C
es,stomed nave we become to the mos
ia ring incongruities of plot an
surdity of characterization that we ac'
cept them with philosophical r~esignation
II was a gratifying surprise, consequent
il. 20 And in Leave II To Jane which
heran its career here Thursday night
~ biand but pertinent satire of th'
.fyairs and folk of the small co(leg'
town which marked George AIDES o
lesa widow from which the presen
entertainment has been made. It i
crisp in movement, amusing In situation
and several of the musical numbers ar
among Jerome Kern's best.
HLEANOR GATES, whose lates
~ comedy, "Phoebe Pretends,' WI
have its metropolitan premiere here OF
4 Monday. has some highly original view
about successful play writing. The
probabIy would be austerely shunne'
BY the best regulated correspondents
school families. Get married. drinI
oceans of tea and make material o
your friends, is the way her philosoph
on the subject might he epitomized. A
any rate, 1t has brought success to Mis-
Gates. But she doesn't guarantee ii
universal success.
Marriage is essential to the fu
development of The creative artist, "a
the woman who has been called 9TH
American female Barrie shortly afte
her arrival here on Wednesday to supel
wise the ANAL rehearsals of Phoebe Pr
tends." Miss Gates's husband. CAPITA
frederick Moore, left three weeks as
as an officer with the American exp
Hifionary force to Siberia. II feel {
though I had been decapltated,' d.
Jared the playwright.
HRlSS GATES is slim. trIm and ner'
I ~ GUS in her movements. She
working under the handicap of injure
ayes. the result of a gust of lime dui
ri