Evening star., 1918-02-24
, ow much the personality that
qualified a man for more or
less legitimate Interpretation
in the light opera field counts

in the light opera field count
was shown in The. Passing
Show" . production which systemati
cAlly violates all the accepted pro-
prieties in sight, including the custom
OF Sunday observance. The SHOW
cannot be held solely responsible To-
. process of Sunday smashing. 4
K. & E. musicality selected a story b,
Jerome K. Jerome on which to revea
on Sunday night frivolity which in.
troduced some rough Bible burlesquins
by Billy Van. who, though not yer,
large, Is old enough to know better
jerome is far. far away, inspirationall,
n well as physically. There is very
little, indeed. In his musicalized story
To suggest the author of THE Passing
of the Third Floor Back"
Mr. Hopper. though provided only
with the habiliments and speech OF the
sheerest clowning, seemed to hint OF
past dignities- Hopper was once an
actor. He was also a singer whose ex-
cellent bass was a distinct asset TO
light opera Now he is principally {.
curtain speaker, a comedian Wlthout
. role a vocalist without a score. His
speeches and recitations reflect the pol
ish of an art acquired in school of
more exacting standards than that
which applies itself only to giving
the public what it wants.
. x q
The theater is the only institution
that is encouraged to give the public
what 1t wants. The public brain IS not
80 we'll protected as the public stomach.
The grocer is not allowed to give the
public what it wants: not while Mr.
Hoover is looking The drug store is
supervised from soda fountain TO pre-
scription counter The productions de-
tired business man should in some in
stances require a service card or even
an alienist's prescription
- = S
The Sunday opening is now an un-
challenged episode of the weeks en-
tertainment. No restrictions as to
scenery or costumes calculated to give
it a semblance of right to be classified
as a sacred concert are observed.
The shows "cut loose" to use a bur-
lesque term. and Sam Howe's own
show at the Gayety found abundant
moral support at the hands of pro-
ducers who made. their displays in the
legitimate theaters. The fact that Sun
day openings are well attended does
not argue convineingly that Washing
ton is normally Sunday show town.
The audiences are distinct from those
that assembled at Monday openings.
They are composed for the most part
of men. The policy of Sunday open
ings probably originated in New York.
II may be part of a process of metro
politan Sophistication inevitable to a
community experiencing such rapid
growth as Washington now shows.
Whatever it is. il is not an expression
of local ideals and purposes.
g as &
Judged by the efforts to entertain it,
the public's gloom must be something
abnormal. The spice of fun does not
suffice The doses of care cure are
allopathic to q degree that implies a
desperate i'll, requiring desperate rem
edy- A shock does not matter if the
desired reaction of laughter is pro-
duced. 1t seems to be a pretty hardy
public with strong constitution. Its
moral makeup survives. like the ply
sique of the old fellow who attributed
MS survival to the age of a hundred
to the fact that he never stinted him
self on whisky or tobacco.
The portion of the public that does
not care for the "cut loose" material
will have it's innings this week. "Old
Lady 81" is distinct from the type of
entertainment that overwhelmed the
city last week. 1t is one of the comedy
hits, with vein of sincere sentiment,
and viii not open until Monday night
this fact being entirely due to the
booking of Private Peat for a Sunday
night lecture The Land of JOY dis
penses with the rough dialogue, the
euggestive song. and gives a big dane
ing revue that promises to be some
thing absolutely different" Dancers
whose fame in their own country Is
represented as eQualing that of Car
mencita and Otero themselves are an
nonnced. with big ensemble company
designed to reveal to the United States
how Spain amuses itself All this is on
the word of George Lederer and as
sociates in the direction of the enter
prise Mr. Lederer vows that he has
given up moving pictures and will re-
turn to the producing game that made
MIN a sponsor for such creations as
The Merry World" THE Lady Slavey''
and many others. including The Belle
Of New York" The Slavey" had its
tryout in Washington, along with
others of its type. when the Casino was
setting the pace for extravaganza.
The Belle of New York" is Lederer's
pat as it was the pet of the public.
Almost an American comic opera as
Robin Hood" was an American
romantic opera. it was one of the pro-
ductions that enabled the late C. NJ. S.
McLelland to amass a fortune, and
which gave the composer, Gus Kerker,
the handsome competency on which he
has practically retired. 1t made Edna
May star. She had not previously
had even the training of chorus ex-
perfence, but was selected because of
her winsome personality and sweet
voice from group of novices. THE
beHe was not welcomed in New York
at Its first showing. It's career was
extended with reluctance by the book
ing authorities in order to give it a
chance to make good in Washington
and Baltimore, if it could The Star
was the first newspaper to give THE
Belle Of New York" a favorable re-
view, and Washington. Mr. Lederer re-
calls with emphatic appreciation, was
the city that started this operetta on
fts course as a pacemaker. The man
AGement then would not have opened
on Sunday night, if it could They
needed all day Sunday and a good part
OF Monday for rehearsals
PHILANDER JOHNSON.
Actresses Who Have Made Stage His
A.