The Washington herald., 1919-12-29

of the theater will be required to
sleep in their clothes II that IL ac-
complished. for one is appalled, by
the amount of repair work this piece
needs before 1t is an accomplished
production.
Belasco-"Joan of Arkansaw.,
Joan OF Arkansaw" came to town
last night to add the charm OF her
presence to the holiday atmosphere
and was warmly welcomed at the
Belasco Theater.
She is pretty. witty and well dress
ed. with an interesting book and tune
full with music with the snap and
sparkle of French vintage.
You simply had to laugh and en-
joy yourself with a fine company OF
clever principals and a large drove Of
dimpled darlings. evidently the result
of considerable labor of a fine eye
in selection.
The story concerns a former mess
sergeant who has the misfortune to
be employed as a valet by an erst-
while kitchen police victim While
not particularly remarkable for fresh
ness it immensely amusing and is
embellished with multitude of
anu OpA9NAOo ~
invite smiles.
Herbert Stothart has provided very
pleasing music for the comedy-if
liveliness is a saving grace. truly the
score needs no life preserver. There
are many-a great many-enjoyable
airs-not "hikh-brow," but colorful
and harmonious measures with the
Broadway swing. When
Joan OF ArkanSaw" dies-and that
won't be this month or next-at least
one of the fetching melodies, Always
You," will live on.
There are some very clever people
in the east. Indeed. much of the hu-
morous result of the piece is due to
the expert playing of the comedians
themselves. Ralph Herz's eccentric
comedy former mess sergeant was
funnier than he has been in many
moons, and he has a typical topical
song called Woman
Walter Scanlon's pleasing tenor has
several fine opportunities, and Helen
Ford is a charming ingenue. Anna
Seymour and Julia Kelety were also
very much to be admired, while Rus
sell Mock and Bernard Garcey also
gave material assistance in securing
the happy result of the evening.
The costumer. too, has shown mex
haustible resourcefulness in providing
dainty and elegant patterns; the scene
painter. the electrician-all have con-
tributed their mighty mite to make
Joan OF Arkansaw' a delight of the
senses. Everybody went home hum
ming and smiling, which is the test
of a musical entertainment II laugh
ter and merriment be exhilarating and
hygienic. Joan of Arkansaw" GER
tainly is the doctor for you and me.
NationaI-"A Prince There Was.
Somebody must have forgot to tell
it around that "A Prince There Was"
Is exceptionally good entertainment.
for a remarkably small audience
turned up at the National Theater
last night to see 1t. No one sitting
near the front could tell it without
turning around. however. because the
ten or fifteen populated rows laughed
and clapped like a houseful. The play
is one of the brightest and best-acted
light comedies seen here in a season
or two.
The title, "a Prince There Was"
somehow seems to point to a cheer
full blend OF sentiment, fun and hu-
and the pointer proves true. The
quality of the plays appeal is IA
miliar enough, being similar to that
of THE Cinderella Man" THE Prince
Chap" and others of the kind, and
there is a scene strongly reminiscent
of one in "Rebecca of Sunnybrook
Farm" There is an obvious mixture
of two discrepant styles that might be
criticized in a serious work, doubtless
the result of George NJ. Cohan's liven-
ing 1p of some less Undetermined
writer's effort. The composite flavor
might be described as Cohanized Dick
ems. A recent press notice has 1t that
Mr.. Cohan took the play out Of old
lavender and made, 1t cynical and So
but this Is a cruel and
exaggeration. His injec-
lions certainly do breeze away any
musty odors, but they are merely
lively and farcical. without distasteful
with the gentle sentiment
Of the basic tale
The first act, We take It, has little
or no Cohan in II. We see Charles
Martin. a man Of wealth stricken by
grief to the point of various indif-
ference to everything, resisting his
friends effort to drag him away from
the monotony OF drink and boredom.
A ragged little child gains entrance to
his apartment and arouses his interest
with her story of her life In a board
ing house at Ninety-sevenN street..
and Of the struggles Of a young wom-
an writer there, In whose behalf the
little girl has walked down town to
seek an interview with Martins pub
Usher friend. Martin Is stirred TO the
point Of seeking adventure ana takes
a room at the boarding house, the de-
lectable inhabitants of which AFFORD
US amusement ddrihg the second act.
This is enough to point the path Of
the romance. To tell more of the
story would spoil some excellent sur
prises.
The cast is one OF the very best
that Mr.. cohan even picked, ana his
picking capability is well and tavor-
ably known. In little Marie Vernon
he has found child who has some.
how thus far escaped the tendency to
oyeract with which stage children are
mostly burdened This littie 0frl a.