Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-08-10

out Of dramatic form and the
best authorities" during the
week. The casus belli Was
Charles Emerson Cooks production OF
Mark Swans play. "a Regular Teller. .
1t was not over the spelling Of eel
low" but went deeper and to the very
roots Of dramatic construction. D. T.
ana the best authorities felt that the
playwright hsd introduced incidents
not plausible with some improbable
ties in the story. that the players
mixed up comedy and ourlesque indis-
criminately and some more things
Just as wicked. And vet large au-
diences laughed and laughed and
laughed and while they laughed and
when they stopped laughing they APP
plauded.
1t Is not good policy to consiEn to
the waste basket the wisdom Of ages
in things dramatic. The famous rules
that have governed drama time out
Of mind are certainly not to be dis
credited But the fact remains that
Mark swans play. "A Regular Feller.'
made pronounced hit in Washington.
and the provoking thing about It all
Is that the story that Mark Swan hAs
foisted upon the public and that
Charles Emerson Cock has spent a lot
Of good money in giving a really
notable Production of is interesting
throughout; that II makes people
lsush almost continually through the
nrst two acts. really thrills IN the
third act and winds up with the pref
ties kind of an su-round happy end
ing The cast pas aktonishinsly
good, especially James Bradbury that
veteran player who ought to know
better and who does know better than
70 spoil good comedy with funny bur-
lesque. But, notwithstanding the
warning given him, he just continued
psrsistently doing that very thing all
the week. and the only punishment
meted out to him was more laughter
from the audience and a very percep-
tible increase in the applause.
1t may be that "A Regular Teller"
10 an exception to true dramatic form
and proprieties. but whether it is or 1t
isn't 1t makes people laugh at a time
when that other exception. the high
cost Of living. is having q tendency to
make many. sad Perhaps for that
reason it might be commended. as
we'll as because the war has brought
what makes people laugh makes them
forget the cares and the sorrows of
life There is a precedent also for ex-
cusing exceptions sometimes Genius
ID an exception in its way and the
world owes much to genius. even IL it
10 sometimes temperaHental. 1t was
sort of exception to aee-old custom
for the world to get together 70 drag
down "the divine right of kings" But
II did that very thing and seems well
content with what II did. Then the
movies are an exception, and see what
sxy ~ q 4
that some exceptions should be toler-
ated. and "A Regular Teller. is SO
amusing. so entertaining, perhaps
dramatic form and the best authori-
ties may be tempted to forgive it.
~
IT is not entirely through his per-
coral productions that David Belssco
Wfll impress himself in public recol-
lection Like some OF the old paint
q those who have been associated
With him and studied his methods.
A. well as by his own artistic crea-
tions 1t was not long AFTER Richard
walton Tully produced a drama in
association with Belasco that the
nsme Tul.y became one OF fnde-
pendent significance in the stage
world William Elliott, now one of
New York's most active producers.
made his first presentations under the
bG.aSC0 tAlSiS8Ss ShAAtOo xSAACs eva
Cook. long . member OF the Belaeco
stan and combining the gr8css Of the
polished writer with an intuttive in
sight and acquaintance with the de-
tails Of the thester to IN extraordinary
degree. aleo has establishes himself
- q director after the severance Of
ar old association that came to an
ed only that . competent man might
hSve his chance in q more conspicuous
capacity and. as In every other In
stance, with mutual expressions OF the
wArmest pride In that old association.
The latest Bklasco graduate 10 Wen
dali Phillips Dodge. who. although
enjoying personal distinction in the
general literary field. both as an
editor and q contributor. allied him
self with the man whom he has been
pleased to call The Prince of Pay
makers" because of the lure that
drama holds for every mind of poetic
tendency Mr.. Dodge has decided in
his turn to go forth with the Belasco
benediction. selecting for the launch
ing of his own enterprises q season
that seems peculiarly propitious for
substantial offerings His irst pro-
duction will be Esther" by Baroness
L1enie de souiny, and the presenta-
tion will be . revelation OF the re-
sources of the modern stndio-