Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-06-08

Warmer" becomes a tragedy
line when too often repeat
ed by the weather man.
Dramatically. early June is
no time to open new theatrical en-
terprises. And yet year after year
Washington has filled summer audi
forums and demonstrated the psy-
Geological fact that there is no better
way to conquer a sultry atmosphere
than to sit in the midst of gale
of laughter. The Shubert -Garrick, by
opening Sunday night, got in under
the wire just a trace ahead of the
New National in the matter of regu-
lar summer organization. The Shu-
bert-Garrick has slight advantage in
the fact that it knows exactly where
its laughs ought to come in each
presentation. 1t Is remarkable that
audiences should be so consistent in
their manifestations of approval of
particular points of dialogue and
action 1t is even more remarkable
that every manager and producer ad-
mits his inability to foresee the
laughter and applause until after the
play has been given before an audi
ence. Then it becomes possible to
chart the demonstrations from the
auditorium with almost as c.ose pre-
indicated In the prompt book.
* ~
= Monday nights opening of the
George c. Tyler Company was. there
fore, in the nature of an exploration.
The laughs were there. but neither the
distinguished producer. who assumes
the managerial title role, nor the ex-
perienced stage manager, Frederick
Stanhope, could venture an opinion
Nxrh
would be found. The authors asserted
the privilege of the modern drama
fist and utilized some turns of phrase
sanctioned not only by taste but by
time. Originality sparkled consistent
ly through the conversation as car
bly, the best that has been assembled
since the old days of the Charles
Frohman stock companies. And yet the
biggest laugh of the evening land 1t
had to be pretty big to claim the SUI
perlative) was scored by this good
old-timer, which every Congress has
laughed at and which. probably. has
been imbedded from time to time in
the Congressional Record itself:
Detective-This crook is wanted in
Washington.
Citizen (naively)-What do they
want with any more crooks in Wash
ington?
There is little doubt that "On the
Hiring Line will become a theatrical
property with a lengthy career before
it. 1t will, of course, have to be
recast. when introduced for New
York engagement, or sent on tour. 1t
is not at all probable that a more
evenly excellent performance Of the
play will ever be seen than that given
by the assemblage of actors that gave
it its first hearing on any stage.
4
prolonged their regular seasons well
into the poisoning time, which
would make flowers as abundant at
a theatrical performance as at a
seminary commencement. II hard
hearted managers would only permit
them to be passed over the foot
lights. AS a professional jealousy
promoter q bunch of flowers Is rec
ognixed as q champion. Lew Fields
was sponsor for some good laughs at
Polls in a summer review entitled
"A Lonely Romeo" Prohibition. by
the way, has not Influenced certain
we'll established customs of the the
ater. The decanter of cold tea simu
lating the wicked waters Of intoxica-
tion II still at the elbow of the come
about to nerve his arm for a des-
psrate deed. The near-beer joke be-
trays q lack Of philosophic resigna-
ton as propounded>by Lew Fields.
Tho man who called 1t -near-beer'
was a mighty poor Judge Of dis
lance" The joke IL just as good as
II was when printed in this city.
The Shubert-Belasco gave a week to
the fllm The Law Of Nature" which
10 Of q style that il both strongly
approved and heartily condepned. ac-
cording to the viewpoint Of the indi-
vidual It IL curiously shielded from
disapproving comment. not only by
the distinction and responsible posi-
tion Of those under whose indorse-
ment 1t Is offered. but by the fact
that its theme and incidents cannot
be directly described or discussed
in print or in formal conversation.