The Washington times., 1919-12-03
APHEODTE NEEDS
I. N|GHT|E IN PREMIER
But the Naked Truth Is That
Exposures Were $3.50 Both
Sides the FootIights.

NEW YORK, Dec. s.-Aphrodite
I,Aphrodite! Shouldn't you put on a
nightie?
That's the burning question tina,
has New York all agog today after
the premier of Pierre Louys' drama
tized novel, which Morris Gest has
produced so lavishly at the Century.
With almost hysterical excitement the
newspapers have taken sides for and
against the acute clothing shortage in
this spectacular drama of ancient
Egypt.
II you want to know the naked
truth about Aphrodite (and to be per-
fectly candid no other form Of truth
could be used appropriately to de-
scribe the spectacle), undue exposures
were much more prevalent on the
near side Of the footlights than on
the far.
Anything as near perfection ~
Dorothy Dalton's figure, which, n
Chrysis, she displays with an engag-
ing candor unblemished save by
strand of beads and two breestplates,
can awaken only the highest thrill of
admiration. Whereas, the broad ex-
nanse Of barred hack belonging to q
female In the seat ahead had no es-
thetic excuse to get by the censor.
Really, looking over the undraped
portions Of the feminine audience, you
realize with a shock that dressmakers
and designers in Alexandria, B. c. IS,
and New fork II. c. L. 1913, had the
same ideas OF cloth conservation.
lust the some. Morris Gest must
have spent almost . fortune for
beads, fringes, leopard skins and
wells.
Drapery SPELLS View.
Heretofore Dorothy Dalton has de-
pended on her engaging dimp'es as
the mainstay of her film success. but
after the revelation Of her debut a.
Chrysis her torso is even more so. II
Is a terrible disappointment to an ex-
pectant audience. however. when, in
the final scene. she stands on the PIN
nacle of the lighthouse. A drapery
from the proscenium arch cuts OF the
top view Of the beacon tower and
makes you take on faith and the nut
tering down of her chiffon mantle the
fact that she Is all dressed up solely
in the IA = al co NIB. the mirror and the
strand of pearls for which Demetrius
has committed robbery, murder and
sacrilege.
Mildred Walker on a pedestal as the
statue Of the goddess Aphrodite her.
self makes Dorothy look almost over
dressed as she holds her pose and the
audiences undivided attention, attired
only in a form-htting coat OF white
enamel The wild discussion in some
Of the papers as to whether the top
Of Mildred wasn't au naturel and the
lower part wax cast was completely
settled when she stepped OF Of her
70 q 10 a. ~ h,rr
ing embrace. Wax Is so easily melted.
Little to Hamper Hero.
Demetrios. the sculptor hero, is
played by Mckay Morris. with an al
most perfect understanding unham-
pered by little save high-strapped
sandals. Some of his best lines get
across in the last scene when he re-
moves his mantle to cover the barely
breathing Chrysis. and reveals a nifty
costume, consisting of one gold and
purple suspender attached to q purple
loin cloth.
OF course nobody wears the cos
tunes in the ordinary sense Of the
word, but the lengths of satin and
gold brocades and silks that are
dragged around in one scene more
wondrous than another until the
grand climax OF the gold and vermil-
ion banquet scene with its rose-petal-
ed and rosy-limbed bachanale ballet
make New York sit up and gasp at an
inimitable sumptuousness that even
'The Wanderer' and "Chu Chin
Chow" former Morris Gest offerings,
have not prepared them for.
First nighters paid exorbitant
prices to attend the premier of this
elaborate production because they
were sure the thrills would all be ex-
purgated xfter the opening night.
And today scandalized controversy
started.