Evening star., 1920-07-04

TT is passing strange that great
themes no longer inspire the
dramatists of America, whose
one topic nowadays. for pictures
as well as for the stage, is woman.
Not that woman in the abstract
IS not a great theme for poet,
painter and writer. because she is
and then some. But it is not the
beauty and glory of womanhood that
seem to force our playwrights into
action. 1t is the sordid side of the
the bulldog loves to cling to the trous-
ers of a tramp. The big theaters
have laid aside the cares of the regu-
lar season and are indulging in day
dreams and Nightmares afforded by
the picture world. But the brains of
burlesque and of vaudeville are busy
with thought. and, until the result of
the presidential election in November
laughing audiences will roar and en-
thuSiaStic audiences will redden their
hands with applause so dear to the
heart of the variety player. drawn
out by telling hits on the league of
nations. America first" mournful
dryness, the cry of labor. free Ireland
-" -" universal howl against the
profiteer.
home brewer He has to be able
to think or to have some one
think for him, or the applause he COW
cts and which means life as well as
salary to him will not be forthcom-
ing. SO that while theaters close their
doors and tack up the vacation sign.
the peculiar conditions that animate
the people at large at the present
time are more than likely to open
them again. at least this summer, for.
believe me, pal. there's dirty work to
be done. Perhaps the aStute writer
of hve-act dramas in twenty four
hours may turn out something telling
for his party in a Legitimate" play
or. if he can meet the requirements of
the picture world, he may inject his
thought and applause makers into
Celluloid story. But whether he does
or he doesn't. vaudeville and burlesque
viii make him sit up and take notice
and the moving picture will not be
far behind, if. indeed. it does not out
run the spoken word. The theater is
going to play an important part in
the pending campaign, unless the
wiseacre who has prophesied it is
very much mistaken. Vacations will
not go this year.
The dissolution of the firm of CO.
han d Harris, announced during the
week. is of interest. The partnership.
II IL Stdltu was simply d verbal
agreement. although the firm engaged
In large operations. The firm will still
control The Acquittal and The
Royal Vagabond." on tour. and also
the Bronx Opera House and the Cohan
Grand Opera House in Chicago Mr.
Harris has announced long list of
plays to be produced by him indi-
vidually. The partnership has lasted
seventeen years.
Jacinto Benavente. author of 'The
Passion Flower" in which Nance
ONeil will start on transcontinental
tour in August, was awarded the No
bel prize for literature this year. Miss
ONeil was so impressed with the play
that, it is said she will visit the au-
thor in Madrid.
Announcement has been made that
the New York Symphony Orchestra.
Walter Damrosch, conductor, which
has just completed a wonderfully in
tereSting trip converting five foreign
countries and including twenty-seven
concerts in eighteen different cities
of France, Italy, Holland, Belgium
and England. will give double series
of concerts in Washington the COM
ing season, five at the National The
ater and five for the Washington Fine
Arts Society. While abroad Mr. Dam
rosch was decorated by the King of
Italy with the medal of the Crown
of Italy. and in France he was given
the Legion of Honor cross.
X X X X
Georges Plateau, the international
actor, is said to be considering the
production in New York next season
of a famous French play with dual
personality as its theme.
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