Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-12-13
THE PLAYGOER'S
WEEKLY TALK
Dissertations on Plays and
Photopldys of Interest to
PhilddeIphialS
TWp PIE .holiday tamine before the

TUE holiday famine before the
= customary Yuletide feast will put
aim fare on the theatrical board next
week. Only one new Offering, Tiger
Tiger" with Frances Starr, is under
lined, but the week after next will end
the theatrical short rations with boun-
teous variation of the menu at half a
dozen or more playhouses. Captain Ed
ward Knoblock wrote '"Tiger Tiger -
while at the front in France. He is
said to have treated sex theme with
force and frankness, but without in
got into the fight against the Germans,
but he deteutonised his name, which
wss spelled "Knoblsuch" when be
wrote Cottages in tho Air. which was
one Of the early offerings at the ILL.,
fated, even though heavily endowed New
Theatre, in New York; ''Kismet," for
Otis Skinner; "The Fawn," for Will
lam Faversham; "Milcstones, with
Arnold Bennett as collaborator: THE
0utcast," for Elsie Ferguson, and
Marie -Odile," adapted for Miss Starr.
TT WILL be interesting to see Frances
4 Starr in a new emotional role. From
the time that she first won recogni
tion as q star of promise in THE Rose
Of the Rancho she has proved her
versatility IN some of the most difficult
roles that have ever fnllen to the lot
A more realistic and gripping perform
ance was her contribution to the Eu
gene Walter drama, The Easiest
Way" Laudatory comment was
evoked by her conception of dual per-
sonslities in ''The Case of Becky"
role Of the most complex sort, one with
classical counterpart in Richard
Mansheld's memorable portrayal of
Doctor Jekyll and Mr.. Hyde"
with fine strokes the effect of jealousy
on the human mind, while as the little
convent girl In Marie Odile" she was
called upon to assume a role that put
her to a severe dramatic test, from
which she emerged gratifyingly.
In 'tThe Little Lady in Blue the
opportunity was afforded Miss Starr Of
proving that her long experience in
highly emotional roles had not dulled
her sense of comedy, and in this de-
Hghtful romance of 1920 she captivated
ftFT1HERE was a time when people
4 went to the theatre to be misera-
be, but, happily, those days are over
1 can remember my mother telling how
crowds used to flock to the theatre to
enjoy themselves over the suffering of
the actress, who if she was not fainting
or ranting took turns at throwing her
self on divan or giving herself up to
marathon of grief
Thus Sally Tysher, of "Daddies,"
who modestly insisted on giving her
stage philosophy instead of press
agenting her own charming personality,
which some think interviews are for,
ut is such a happy relief to find |
that American Actresses do noc snriek
and vail" continued Miss Tysher.
Audiences today demand natural |
xeBs on the part of the players. and it |
applies to musical comedy as well as to |
serious drama. The majority of play
crs are no longer poseurs, and audi
ences have come to the point of re-
fnaing to stand for posings ou the
stage. Any actress who has developed
the art of observation can detect from
the attitude of the audience the instant
she strikes a false or artificial note in
mar playing.
t.And how infinitely harder must
acting be today than in the olden days
She must make plain that she feels all
tia emotions, but she must do it in Il
repressed and quiet manner. Women
of today don't shrek and faint when
they are being narrowed. The new
woman has developed strength of |
personality and with it has come pride. |
She no longer clings and pleads. She
can and does fight, and to fight sue
esssfully she must control herself and |
bar wits
HTJUMoR-comedy-is Infectious"
! i says Joseph Cawthorn between
cage at the Forrest. "That is the reason,
= part in the success of a comedian. An !
actor may be ever so amusing once, |
hut he cannot keep it up through an |
entire evening if his audience doesn' t |
respond with laugh. That Is as wine
70 the traditional funny man. And he
likes IL better than one-h half of I per
cent.
pendent for his inspiration on the audi
snee. That must come from within.
and in proportion that It is of high
zained, but 1t is spur to him to do his
hest. Indeed, ] doubt whether come
dian can do his best if the audience
doesn't give audible signs of its appre-
cdation.
''This is because, as said, comedy is
infectious. One amusing act or particu-
lar twist of an actor's 8 personality paves
the way for another, and that next will
be forthcoming all the more spontane-
oualy IL the audience anticipates it just
a httle. It is sort Of circle of cause and
eject, the latter in turn becoming the
cause, and so on--a sort Of endless chain
or perpetual motion Of drollery."
TJERE is this:
LII "To the Dramatic Editor
t'It may amuse you and your readers
10 know that q Broadway comedy hit
l.aa haan comnelled 70 take to the yynnds