Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-11-23


ment and adverse criticism. which often
results in the complete failure of the
play.
TNIiE good old days of the comedian
l. who to create a laugh resorted to
every conceivable sort of physical dis
tortion are no more and the modern
comiques are wont to rely upon the
cleverness of the lines written for them
and upon their facial expressions and
ntonationS of the voice to win a re-
sponsive note from their audiences.
Take the cases of Raymond Hitchcock
in "Hitchy-koo" and the Howards in
THE Passing Show" all of whom have
a considerable crop of laughs to their
credit during their current visit to
Philadelphia theatres. Hitchcock arouSes
more mirth in his Comcal monologues
than a good half dozen of the old-school
comedians with their pasteboard ears
shoes of unequal sizes, sky-sCraping
foreheads and all the other ancient de-
vices. And the HOwards, too, are more
genuinely funny when without being
artifically re-enforced, they accomplish
their inimitable take-Offs.
DELGIUM will not only be feted for
ID her part in the war, but her poets
also should receive just recognition.
This is particularly true of Maurice
Maeterlinck. whose newest poem in
prose. THE Betrothal." was enacted for
the first time in America last Monday
evening at the Shubert Theatre in New
York.
Although this new play is a sequel to
Maeterlinck's well-known work. THE
Blue Bird" it has the quality to stand
upon its own merits. Several of the
characters are carried forward from
The Blue Bird" and they play impor-
tant parts in the unfolding of this new
episode in the life of the boy who has
now reached the age of seventeen and
whose thoughts are turning to the Sc
lection of a mate. Marriages are con-
tracted at an earlier age in Belgium
than is usually the case in this country.
The sister has no part here correspond
ing to that she played in THE Blue
| Bird" but the poet intimates that her
| time has not vet arrived, thus leading
one to believe that he intends to write
about this character at some future
| time. Seven years have elapsed since
Maeterlinck's original philosophy was
unfolded at the New Theatre, now the
Century, and under the same direction
of Winthrop Ames.
HNE after another the stars of the
~ dramatic, and even the concert stage,
have been surrendering to the charms
of the motion pictures-or is It to the
| emoluments? Caruso is the very latest
! OF these to take fling at the screen.
| And now word comes from New York
| that John Barrymore is spending his
spare hours away from the theatre
where he is appearing with great sue
cess in The Redemption" in again act
ing before the notion picture camera.
| hn of rnlaa Cd ie Ia
screen version of "On the Quiet" Here
| Comes the Bride" and Something to
| Do are two others of Barrymore's new
screen vehicles.
ssrTNHE Make Believe Wife" in which
I l. Billie Burke will appear on the
screen at the Arcadia next week. is this
actresses latest vehicle, along with
Good Gracious Annabelle." the Clare
Hummer play in which Lola Fisher won
success. The story of THE Make
Believe Wife" deals with the annoying
complications resulting from an esca-
pade of two engaged persons, Phyllis
Ashbrook. engaged to Roger Mason, a
lawyer. and John Manning, engaged to
Anita Webb, who got lost while climb
ing a mountain. They are found In each
others arms. and no amount of explain
ing will convince people that Phyllis
was aITalu OF pears, blllle Burke as
Phyllis is again her own charming self
other forthcoming photoplay treats
are Marguerite Clark in "Lovey Mary
adapted from Mrs. Wigs of the Cab
bage Patch; Douglas Fairbanks in the
Augustus Thomas play Arizona" and
Evelyn Nesblt in her third picture. "or
Desert Affairs"
4 PHILADELPHIA movie lovers who
i saw Tom Mix several weeks ago al
the Stanley will be interested to hear
of Mix's recent experience while re-
covering in hospital from the remova
of a bullet which had been In his Les
for fifteen years. Three of his nurses
In succession were taken with the in.
fiuensa and finally Mlx became alto
gether sympathetic and took the flu
himself. At last reports he was re,
covering from both the operation ant
( the disease.
tIlI -. ttNI f|E m ~ ~ ~