Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-01-12
>x- EIsATTvE value" is an m
<afHnss something which
N EiSsSapidiy vanishing from
eeam of the real in
>pff6t>sSw walks OF life.

its disappe dh& from the sphere ter
restrial, atsleAM "A large measure, we
are now be2fi9S Rf the hundred-dol-
lor ehof5ib AiH%A The advance agent
who hd33 es justly. perhaps. or
maybe 9HfaftE compares her to the
winters coal Supply, an Id-fashioned
t1rkey sie3 and ao,5 new ,ss- suit 70 Of
humble ii qef eh ofysfgirls who get SIS a
week and that none is paid less than
$50. And ShiilR iof it--their art must
be reviewed. perhaps criticised. by
unblesjANfrt4paE who if ever they
owned such fabulous sums would feel
s .P oo0s strssS Of Sq ts Bee Te'0n
rutostsssoTE =
And wsise sslai,xe value ttiil liz
known and popular writer OF plays
and scenarios that the movie can
never rival the musical comedy" Yet
only recently gifted wielder of the
pen in the field OF the imaginative, de-
scribing Gaby Deslys' latest "superla-
tive cinema art super-production."
fairly lost himself in a he@iidering
wilderness of adjectives. which left
nothing that can be said, II greater
things should happen. Thus it is that
relative value" which might help in
q dispute between Superlat!yes, IS
famed farther into the misty dis
lance. Tt is not impossible that its
hSeuce may account for the enormous
drawing power of "Chu Chin Chow"
and the neglect Of Shakespeare and
the once famous old English comedies
that used to be sure always of re-
spectful and enthusiastic audiences in
their day Education and skill must
recognize that there is rival in the
field OF endeavor for fame and for
tune. and that the jazz band and the
chorus girl have to be reckoned with.
The coming week opens with mu-
steal comedy in all IT'S glory dividing
honors with Leo Ditricnstein. an actor
of distinction, who now appears also
as a producer of a French play that
is splendidly heralded with advance
notices Just how Well Mr.. Ditrichstein
has adapted il to suit the Anne rican code
of "honor" and mora s must be lett to
the reviewer. That it Will be we'll play
ed is not open to question. That its
theme will appeal to Washington au-
diences is matter for future deci-
sion. "Maytime" and "Rock-a-Bye
Baby" have reminiscent stories, but
clothed in musical comedy garb they
may furnish a delight to their audi
ences that even the movies may not
dare hope to rival Yet, withal, the
announcements of the photopIay
houses have an alluring ring and few,
IL any, will be found to lack indul-
gent patrons.
Plays and Playmaksng.-.1 read a
play through" says Leo Dftrichstein,
with one idea in mind--its humanity
When come to something that is
distinctly national rather than broad
Iy human ask myself. Can this be
bfidged OVER If it cannot, lay
down the play right there.
For example: A very good and
eNacfing French play might be writ
ten about honor as the French I'M
de-stand it. Honor would be the
main theme. would explain the motive
Of the chief characters: but honor as
Is essentially different from that Of
Francs. Such play could never be
successfully adapted.
The continental point OF view to-
ward rfsque situations is also differ
il considerably more wholesome. but
that Is not the point; the point is
that IT is. different. The theater
abroad Is more for mature people
than 1t Is here. You seldom see
and You never see them unless ac-
eoTppanied by. older people The
JeunS file does not dictate the policy
OF the theaters there 50 strongly as
take that into considerations
"0nlxs q small number OF good plays
have been made from books. To the
dYamatist who knows his business
TIE novel offers no Inducements
only difficulties. The novelist can
Jump from the interior of q cab or
An inner consciousness to the top OF
the Himalayas and never break q
bone, but the dramatist must tell his
closely knit sequence Of Incident and
motives The characters must be those
which belong to this limited environ
rnent ana move logically in and out
Of Il, with Axed laws of development
md property graded relation to each
Frequently he must omit the very
: characters In the play which most
appeal to him in the book. and he
must be prepared satisfactorily to
account ser the omission to the books
"Under. play =. limitations, ! too, he
nma q s. ss e s,,ss ss..
10 x6E f6S4niy chance to write a !.
play Pa4c the book carefully.
throw II Re And forget a. much OF
IL AS4e15S3&W can. and then he
,nsss himself and be able
,,s,.s ffE$ go 'PioSSou 'esesi
T3el0A9e book that pass by
the fsadef and are accepted by him
e $500 5s eea a,tsa, of style or
Of sssfns s1 ~onld eee Be- sssey
lute4 I'll 5Ib5 fixed quantities seen
s assa f@anssesnasss1s. aa s sss1 NET rat
due9HysaEf. ,tha dramatist must sup
ply Shin8Jn. their place or re-
conSffNkS{hAEoe%o bear scrutiny.
That which IS done, that which the
audience sees. Is the important thing
in pDlDags4 consequently the mo-
cve5y ,ssssS the dramatist. Il
rneafl9 the novelist: he can
atons W3ssa Hultitude Of sins BY
-ass 0:s q oa.----<-
Un61hnG Dusfm OF q Play-The f1fs-
tory -ta2Auscript and production
Of why MAJ Jesse Lynch Will
lians ses6meSyF,: is almost as interest
ing as the -paay itself.
MfxWHfia15a airst wrote the story
appealed to several theatrical friends.
who pefhGEd6dr HIM to turn il into
play. A. play the manuscript was
declfNeas fSFda%Htfy and consistently
and MeWiliiaf1s concluded he had
been niisS ufded. fife had about given
uf expectation yef public hearing,
when the ~eppertunfty presented TO
have sslisL paa produced as a com
seheof " New Yerk, Which desired
IAN un4fiea rfsdfum to test the abfl-
Whi H sapSef ySi ,h,s s.mi-ama-
teuF Mr.. Williams made