Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-10

HE war discussion at which
the theater has been nib
bling was bitten off in
chunks last week. Sam Ber-
: nard and Louis Mann appear
led Jointly in discussion of the Ger
man-American and attracted the large
audiences that always greet them even
as separate entertainers. The play.
Friendly Enemies" discusses the
position of a German family in a coun-
try at war with Germany. 1t has not
the same seriousness that marked
Margaret Schiller" the play by Hall
<Cainc. which Elsie Ferguson produced.
The German in America is treated in
more farcical vein than was his COM
patriot in England. The drama itself
is burdened with Inconsistencies, which
require all the energetic humor of both
comedians to hold the attention. Its
most cornmendabIe feature is its fun
which found liberal appreciation AS
/ message play" il is too confused in
purpose and expression to invite much
earncstuess either in praise or pro-
test.
& &
The fact that its theme deals with
the -hyphen' paved the way for some
very exceptional publicity, which found
events of news interest entirely TO the
liking of the press agent The play
goes direct from here TO Chicago. Just
before its arrival some miscreant
planted . bomb in the Woods Theater.
which is to be its home. The daStardly
attempt was ascribed to resentment OF
the play by some one who had taken
the trouble to come to Washington 10
see il and who made the trip in time
-hsaT
before the opening night Nobody was
hurt and no damaSe was done. accord
ing to the news dispatches. The Incl
dent is clothed in mystery. 1t cannot
be conceived that any explosive expert
would thus DEFY the authorities and
jsopa-djze himself merely for the sake
Of sending mp a signal of mental dis
tress- on the other hand. it is incon-
ceivahle that any publicity promoter
would be permitted to seek sensation
aliSTl by hints of the possibility of that
most Cruesome of all suggestions.
theater disaster. The incident is so
good mystery that il is perhaps bet
ter to let it rest without serious at
tempt at solution.
=
SO Long Lefty had a big week All
plays have big weeks in Washington,
now The stage is again the brief and
abstract chronicle Of its time, reflect
ing conditions in which supply cannot
keep UP with the demand
=
The big film. The UnbeIiever.' at the
Strand offered a patriotic discussion
which involves no questioning as to
purport and influence II drew large
audiences. The war is hereafter to be
admitted frankly to footlights, and
film, and the delicate theme of inter
national relations viii have the atten-
ton Of the capital and talents hitherto
limited 10 the discussion of acute
domestic and social problems. The
Kaise is the title of a film at the
Broadway Theater. New York, which
will no doubt be sent on the rounds. 1t
is described as calculated to- make
pacihst's blood boil; Yet it is not war
play play opening at one of the
small theaters is Her Country" de-
scribed in the advertising as zone
which every American. even German
American. should see" Evidently the
lid is off and insorder to get a correct
angle on the psychology of the current
drama il viii be necessary for the pa
tient chronieIer Of the playhouse to
turn the entire subject over TO the
political experts af the press gallery.