The sun., 1919-03-20
BARRYMORES PLAN
FOR BENELL1 DRAMA
Will Appear Soon in Famous
Italian Tragedy STA Cena
Dele Beffe."
IN ENGLISH "THE JEST
Justine tombstone at a Loss
Where to Place Her Talents
Just Now. -t,.

Who made a new version OF Dunfas's
old play, Camille" in order that Ethel
Barrymore might crafty her ambition
TO appear In the role?
Who so changed Peter Ibbetson',
that It was made possible for the play
founded on Du Maurier's novel to have
a run with Lionel and John Barrymore
a; the Republic Theatrea
Who wrote several cinemas for Billie
Burke? sf-
The knowing are aware that the same
answer serves for all three questions.
IT was Edward Sheldon. tho playwright,
who save his skill to all these enter
prises in two cases at least, because of
his friendship for the Barrymore FAM
lily. His incognito was in every case
preserved although It was an open Sc
cret that the famous American play
wright had performed these services
for his friends p..
The point is interesting now for the
two Barrymores are about to embark on
what Will be the most important theat-
rical event OF the spring season. Both
Lionel and John will be seen In an Eng
fish translation of the famous italian
drama Of Sem Benefit, called la Cena
dele Beffe." II has never been seen
h'lt III tne dltHouBu
eral performances have been announced.
In the winter of 1911 Sarah Bern
hardt, who had introduced the play in
Paris. announced a single performance
in French under the name Of La Beffa"
at the Globe Theatre. The public showed
little interest however and at the last
minute a more familiar play Of her
repertoire was substituted. Nine. Bern
hardt gave the drama in her theatre In
pa,;. In. Nfara I'm
made the French version.
Various performances OF this famous
dramatic most famoas of the Italian
stage since d'Annunzio's "Francesca"--
have been announced here. Ada Ster-
ling made an English translation and
George Brennan promised its produc-
ton this spring. This was withdrawn
when they heard that John Barrymore
had personally secured the rights from
the author. Mimi Aguglia has often
acted the piece with her Italian troupe
here and in other cities.
John n. Williams has closed the sue
cessfvl season of Lionel Barrymore in
The Copperhead" that he may be pres
ent for the rehearsals. which began
yesterday. He and John Barrymore
have parts of equal Importance. Mr..
Sheldon has called the piece The Jest
instead of The Supper Of the testers"
edy in the Plymouth Theatre.
Benefit is the author Of the libretto OF
'L'Amore del tire Re-" which has been
30 successful in the Metropolitan Opera
House.
Just as the fame OF Peggy Hopkins
is slowly rising--pver the foot OF the
bedstead. as IL were. in the second act
OF "A Sleepless Night"--there is a set
back TO the world of art in the an
rouncement that her predecessor.
Justine tombstone, has retired temper
arily from the stage, which she Gid so
much to adorn, Miss tombstone Is just
now resting in her New York apart
ments preparatory to taking the next
step IN her profession. 1t will be OF
course step upward and onward, al
though its direction has not been
definitely settled. But 1t will not be
guided by the. Shuberts.
Miss tombstone. thinking of the
present state of the Coincide Franchise
AFTER the cruel war. lie not certain but
that It Is her duty to. go to Paris
put her shoulder-even her bare
shoulder-to the wheel and do what sh,
can TO restore the ancient glories Of
the House OF Moliere. Then there hal
arisen nobody to take the place Of
Sarah, Bernhardt and Miss Johnstont
hesItates 1t may be true that hei
French has a West Forty-fourth stree
accent, but Miss Johnstone's motto IL
matters of art has ever been that sh'