Evening journal., 1918-04-24

Miss Fay Banter starring 10 the
kiss Burglar" which comes 10 the
Playhouse next Monday. for the entire
week, will be remembered by Whining
ton theatregoers as the charming will
low Tree Princess" Local society
women, who made the acquaintance OF
the young actress at a tea given for
her by Mrs. T.. Coleman dupont, dur
ing her frst appearance I'm this city
viii agree that IL Is a pleasure TO meet
this gifted young lady of the stage
Through the courtesy OF Messrs. orr
and Welch, the producers, and OF the
Playhouse local newspaper writers
were given the privilege Of meeting
Miss Balnter and attending rehearsal
OF the kiss Burglar" In New York.
last week and The Evening Journal
representative believes that the readers
.of this paper viii be interested i'm a
closeup Of Miss Banter.
Miss Banter, who is "a years Of age.
Is pretty, but her good looks are neither
ot the doll nor the statuesque type.
Her beauty has the elusive, individual
quality, which artists love TO paint for
It's vitality, but which seldom photo
graphs well The famous Robert Henri
has just finished q painting OF her as
the black-haired Willow Princess in a
wonderful kimono. a painting now on
exhibition In New York Miss Bainter's
own hair Is not black; the piled up
masses which crown her dainty little
head are deep golden, two or three
shades more would make lt chestnut.
Her pale, clear face Is redeemed from
GOODNESS by two captivating dlmples
and a frequent and sunshny smile. THE
observer may not remember whether
her eyes were blue or grey, but ne will
not forget their clear, direct gaze.
which bespeaks a frank friendllness to-
ward the world She is a fairly TAN
young person. but her slender. deli
cate build gives the impression OF Pc
titeness. Miss Banter, moreover. has
an artists eye for dress on the stage.
she dresses quietly In dark suit
and furs OF just the right shade.
with a little peacock blue toque hat
TO give a color note incidentally. the
star is glad that the new play doesn't
require her 10 wear four klmonOs at
a time, plus simply yards of drsped
sash, which was her lot in The Willow
Tree" She is a trile dismayod al the
palamas which the new play demands,
but anyhow they are pretty ones
The young actress wears a pensiye,
rather melancholy look I'm the accom-
panying photograph. which Is as far as
possible from her own disposition The
spirit OF buoyancy and youth. or op-
timism In the "nih" degree. Is what
she expresses in every motion and
word. Not that life has always taken
her along a ilowery path From the
day, when at four years Old She began
her stage career In California. through
out her years of stock playing I'm the
west, she has had many ups and downs.
Twice she essayed broadway before her
notably successful appearance in the
Willow Tree" That four-year-old be-
ginning was rather amusing The child
queen In the pageant was not forth
coming, and little Miss BANTER calmly
stepped forth from the chorus and took
the part without any0ne's leave. Nor
osco was i'm the audience, and was so
pleased that he took her straighiaway
for child parts.
Miss Laurette Taylor inquired Of Fay
Banter why she was going into musi-
cal comedy. for this Is the young wom-
ans first plunge into this form OF
drama. For fun" said the Willow
Tree princess. 1T seemed 20 be so
much fun. and I have found out that
It is"
Did you realize that when the or
chesira tapped with their bows on
their fddles this morning. at rehearsal,
they were paying YOU a great and I'M
usual compliment" asked Raymond
Hubbell, composer Of the 'Kiss Bur
glsr" music and. by the way. the COIN
poser OF Poor Butterfly"
MOI exclaimed The star. her ewes
widening in girlish delight as she added
gleefully, Now. wasn't that nice %
And her two dimples framed temptingly
smiling lips And everybody realized
why the men in the cast threatened
TO so on strike II the kiss burgling
privileges were not extended to All OF
them. Under present plans, there are
only two kiss burglars