The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-07-16
THE REVIEW OF
 THE RIALTD
(By Dixie Hincs)

New York, July 16-A Chicago doughboy sat crouched in his dugout in No-man's Land and listened to the 'big berthas'' signify their presence. The din was ear-piercing, but still the doughboy medfated ''Whas you think of, buddy his pal inquir- ed. Gee" was the reply, 'I was just thinking that back in Chicago one time I let guy hold me up with a meaSly A This illustrates with ptth and point, the indications for the coming theatrical season. Time was when a social comedy, or a sim pie little drama satisfied us. Gone are these days with those of drink the dollar table d'hote and other childish recollections. Now we want action, excitement, noise, confusion And we are getting 1t. Early this season Who Did It?" was produc- ed. The only thing it did was to start a lot of murder mystery plays. A fortnight since At 9:45" started out from the Wm. A. Brady shop, and the opening scene was one of the most exciting we have ever wit messed Then the wireless from all points of the compass announced murder mysteries in singles, doubles, companies, platoons and regiments coming in. No manager had a com plete catalogue without a murder mystery play. Mir. Brady having taken his bow, this week George Broadhurst shines In the spotlight with '"The Crimson Alibi'' It is a play made over from a story by Roy Octavus Cohen. Like Who Did It?'- and At 9:45" it concerns a murder and a stage full of suspects. Every one concerned in each of the produc tions is suspected except the press agent and the front door tender. MT. Broadhurst suspected as many of his cast as the best of them, and as usual. the only innocent people on the stage are those who are most strongly sus- pected. The Crimson Alibi'' is red blooded melodranla. It possesses excitement enough to gratify the most sanguinary mortal. And to make it more effective, it is acted with skill by the entire cast. Bertha Mann was one of the suspects and she gives the chief thrill to the play. She acts with vigor and effectiveness. Harri- son Hunter is a. detective, hence he is never suspected. And for a man who isn't in the running, his performance was notable. Indeed, the entire cast and it was a large one, put over another dramatic sensation A H. Woods is to take the stage next with "A Voice in the Dark and then Cohen & Harris will have a chance with '"The Acquittal,' and after that the managers will be assigned their positions in the spotlight alphabetic- ally.
 The foreign invasion continues from Broadway. While England sends her actors to the United States, the United States is shipping plays and players by the shipload to Eng land. Woods, Brady, Comstock and Gest, and others are thus engaged Mir Brady will make the next inVa- sion, and already has assigned a score of plays to London for produc- ton. One of them will be Little Women" which Jessie Bonstelle will produce there as she did here- Miss Bonstelle, by the way, shares with Lillian Triple Bradley. of the George Broadhurst offices, the distinction of being the only feminine producer now actively engaged. Last week she produced a new play at Detroit call ed Penny" She acted a leading part and had as her chief associate Paul Gordon whose success appears 10 have been such as to interest R-oa dvyay. q thousand miles away. Mir. Gordon is a. brilliant actor, one of the best we have, whose career
 
 him to do his part towards winning the war And he did it as his cap tain's commission indicates.
 The foreign-language invasion will also be considered this year. Susanne Caubet, a petite Parisienne, is an nounced as the first member or the Theatre Parisien, which will be con- spicuous permanency in the theatr1- cal district. It will occupy what IS now known as the Belmont Theatre but which hereafter will have the French title of Theatre Parislen. The entertainment here will include va rietv- A short play. a brief musical comedy or operetti, chansens, special ties and the like will give it dis tinctly Parisien atmosphere. It will possess the characteristics or the Scala and the Capucines in Paris with an individuality its oWn- ms season starts in November