Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-10-17


Shak esrcarean drama is not only real.
but as perm. anent as it is possible lot
anything TO be in the theater. Al
least, such is the belief of Dir. Hamp-
den.
Audiences are barometers of feel
ing remarks Mr.. Fla mpden. even
though | reveal nothing new in say
ing that. A few seasons ago. II was
noticeable that virtually all those VINO
attended Shakespearean performances
We're regulars. who observed snakes
peare,' if I might say so. with 'he
sam" regularity as they observe
Christmas. Recently-in the past two
seasons, Say--there has come TO tne
theater another group. heretofore .ab-
sent These are the average theater-
Goers. in lieu of more dehni'e
who have regarded
Shakespeare as being too highpro"-
To their astoniShment. they haze dis-
covered that his plays are really en-
tertaining. with laughs. tears. every
thing. in short that they look for at
the theater. The lyrical lines, the
dramatic suspense-all these are
found in the plays of the great poet.
And so. gradually, but none the less
surely the public is again realizing
that Shakespeare is human. entertain
ing lovable even. And. therefore. re-
ductio ad absurdum. their interest is
its genuineneSS.
T.melfness in the Drama.-A very
successful American dramatlst once
remarked that il he could know but
year in advance what the pubic
would he thinking about he Wouid
guarantee never to write failure.
Thus he pointed out an element oil
chance in play-production that has
caused more success and more failure
in the theater than any other. I1me-
illness may bring triumph to me-
diocre play Untimeliness, 1t is
claimed. is almost certain to bring
failure to even a great play. A poem.
picture or a statue, however badly
received at the outset. may slowly and
surely win admirers. one by one. un-
til it is acknowledged by the world
to be a masterpiece. But dramatic
composition must make its appeal in
stantly. or it is forever lost. The few
exceptions serve only to prove the
rule.
The problem of the playwright and
of the producing manager, is there
fore, to find a subject that is in time
with public thought and that pos
sessess at the same time. sufficient
novelty to be interesting. The almost
obstacle here is in
out precisely what is the pub
lie thought. One may be tempted to
conclude, after reading the newspa-
pers and questioning hrs acquaint-
ances, that there is no such thing
at least there is no unanimity OF
thought on any subject in our men
tally chaotic world.
But there is such a thing. and there
are men in the theater who have the
power to sense it. David Belasco's
gift in this direction is said to be al
most uncanny. Aloof and rarely
mingling with the crowd, he never
theless seems to be able to perceive
men. as day follows day and as hopes,
beliefs and passions come and go.
A fine instance of his accuracy of
judgment as to timeliness was given
by his production, nine years ago, of
THE Return of Peter Grimm" His
to the play of all that was finest of
his mind and heart and soul. caused
Mr.. Eelasco to believe that all men
else were ready to perceive the beau
ties of his theme and to receive its
This despite the fact that
at that time no other manager would
venture the production of play of its
character. His judgment was abso-
lutely correct.
Now, THE Return of Peter Grimm"
is again restored to the stage. Its au-
thor-producer. Mr.. Belasco. and David
Warfield. who rose superbly to the
task Of interpreting the chief charac-
ter. are both at the fullness of their
powers and with all the enthusiasm
of their natures feel the time is ripe
to make the play live again. Is their
judgm ent still as true as Of yore?
Wants to BE an Actress.-Three sea-
sons ago Miss Ann Mason Of Virginia
made her debut in Washington So
ciety a southern beauty.
Just sixty years before. her great
grandmother. also Ann Mason-the
wife of John Y. Mason. who held two
portfolios in the cabinet of James
civil war, left the Capital to retire
south of the Mason and Dixon line.
Her zeal as war worker of that
day won the personal tribute Of Gen.
Robert Z. Lee.
The present Ann Mason. also left
Washington and social pleasures be-
cause of the world war, and, like her
grandmother, she, too, retired to Vir-
ginia and engaged in war work. How
ever, she found that as an enter
tainer for embryo soldiers she had
better success than as knitter of
Army socks So she. sang. spoke and
imperSonated until Armistice day.
Shortly thereafter Miss Mason took
her talents to the professional stage.
She made her New York debut as an
actress in the George NJ. Conan pro-.
duction. The Acquittal." Her ambi-'
ton at present is simply and solely
to be successful actress.
Mme. Schumann- Heink.-The charm
OF personality as we'll as the won
d"riul power of her remarkable voice
n rSks adc Nine. Schumann- Heink
X roughout the world Of music.
has ever had stronger
\ the personal affection of
But II was the great world war
that showed the superb character of
TINS Wonderful woman and an Amer
lcan patriotism unsurpassed by any.
From the outset she visited at much
inconvenience and personal discom-
tort. Tor Nine. Schumann Heink is no
longer young in years, every SOL
diers' camp she could possibly reach
to soothe the hearts of the soldier
boys with a mothers song of COM
fort. and to cheer them on and fill
their souls with the spirit of sacri-
f1ce for their country. AS a mother
she gave her own freely and braveiy.
When bond issues were in vogue.
none sang more fervently the songs
of patriotism to soften the hea rfS that