The Washington herald., 1918-05-05
Two New Dramas
Make Bow in City

FIRST nights" of his for granted, just as we DO
! Congress, or the President or the dollar-a-year"
patriot
or all the Belascan luminaries, Miss Frances
Starr is most familiar to Washing tonians least
of recent years 1t was here that The Easiest
Way" her first big starring vehicle, was launched
upon its memorable journey. here also that Marie
Odie" was given; and this week we are to see
| her in a new play by Hutcheson Boyd, Over the
Hills" Mr.. TayIor's playhouse on Lafayetts
] square.
] 1t was in September, 1908. that Miss Starr ap-
peared in Washington in her never-to-be-forgotten
| role of Laura Murdock in the Walter drama which
| is now generally recognized the high-water
mark of American playwriting-"The Easiest Way"
No who was present on that great premier
| can ever wash from his memory her blazing and
brilliant work in this role by far the biggest which
she has had. 1t does not fall to the lot Of
every actress to make reputation in a really
| great play, and it has not fallen to Miss Stars
| to have another play of equal caliber-and Incl
| dentslIy the playwright who wrote it has been
| striving equal his achievement in The Easiest
Way" since, but in vain.
May Repeat Success.
But who knows: over the Hills" may be the
| play which will much to this talented
actress as Eugene Walters piece did. At any
| rate, let hope If there is one thing which
the American needs today, and has needed for the
4
ago that we actually believed that Messrs Walter,
! Sheldon, Smith and Moody-the latter two have
now passed from esrth-were the forerunners Of
new golden age of American drama. We actually
believed that we the threshold of produc-
| ing an American Pinero, an American Barrie,
American Galsworthy. How futile this dream
was, how utterly hpoes blighted, is
| matter so apparent that it hardly needs any in
spection OF the playbIs OF the past few years for
| proof. As matter of fact, have become Injured
| and hardened to abnormal condition. The
| American play in the real sense of the word had
| become about as extinct as the dodo until there
| were signs OF a renaissance recently.
Three Wise Men" is a new offering from
| new, enterprising and promising managerial part
| nership-that of Winchell Smith and John L.
| Golden, which stepped into prosperity year ago
| with the well-known comedy, Turn 10 the Right"
| Their piece is written by Austin Strong, OF
: "The Toymaker of Nuremburg" and Drums of
Dude" fame and it is to be played by impress
sive array of players, including Lester Lonergan,
Albert Bruning and Claude Gillingwater.
Three Wise Men" opens at the New National
tonight Washington will have the opportunity of
passing it 10 Broadway either with blessing.
or otherwise.
Winter Garden show is-a Winter Garden
show, and to the thcater-go public that state
ment is al-ncuSve and all-sufhcient. The Show
of Wonders" is coming Polls this week, and
if it sustains the pace of merriment set by See
You Later" it is due for the kind of prosperity
which makes glad the heart of the box-offce
person.
David Belasco hereafter is share the
agement of the Empire Broadway with the
Charles Frohman corporation. The union is
matter for congratulaton both for the theater,
which has the most consistent tradition and stand
ard of any in New York, and for Mr.. Belssoo.
The Empire is about the only playhouse remain
ing Broadway which approximates the old-time
standard Under Frohman it always safe from
the erraticisms OF purely speculative management.
and held to certain fixed and stable standard
OF quality in what it offered to the public.
Eugene Ysaye, the great Belgian violinist, has
been appointed permanent leader of the Cincinnati
Symphony Orchestra, the former conductor having
! been sent to intcrment camp. The New York
Globe says:
Because of the wonderful expressions Of
sympathy which have been extended to Yssye as
l a Belgian and exile from his devastated
and suffering country. all things American are very
close to his heart. For this reason and also be-
cause he believes many American compositions to
possess undoubted worth. he proposes including
American pieces whenever possible in his programs
: next winter. second group which is interesting
the great composer is that which includes many
: OF the composers of modern France and Russia
compositions OF extraordinary interest in their
orchestraton and their human appeal"
4 Geraldine Farrar will be heard here in a con-
cert program at the New National Thcater Tues
day afternoon, May II, under the management
OF Mrs. Wilson-Greene
Among the coming attractions are the George
NJ Cohan and he Ta,, 7 Tord - IL
: John Drew and Margaret Ellington, at the New
National; "Her Regiment" with Donald Brian at
Polls; and Loyalty" new morality play by
George V. Hobart, the Belasco.
sf0ur Rows" to Coo I aad;n6 pIoyars