Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-09-26


action caused among local play
goers by the presentation at the
- Shubert- Garrick Theater last
week of Come Seven" a stage
INSTALLATION of one of Octavus Roy
Cohen's extremely amusing stories of
life among Alabama "cullud folks.
Those who had read Mr.. Cohens
stories as published in a noted weekly
were in almost every case not nearly
so well pleased with the play as were
those who had not enjoyed the
printed tales
Was this because it was too diff
cult for a cast of white players, no
matter how capable. TO catch the true
spirit of the characters as conceived
by Mr.. Coheno This is said without
attempting to detract in any degree
from the excellence of the work done
by Mr.. Aylesworth. Mr.. Roxe, Miss
La Verne and the other very capable
players who appeared in the black
face roles of the comedy; their work
was superb-but somehow, to one
who had read the stories, there was
something lacking.
In the week which begins today
w
two new plays. one current success
and one revival. Nom" at Polrs,
bears the greater appeal, perhaps, OF
the two new offerings in that II was
written by Rachel Barton Butter,
atithor of the Harvard prize play.
"Mamma's AFFAIR" which scored such
a huge hit here last season. But the
personal appearance of Evelyn Nesolt
in THE Open Book" also will exert
a strong attraction. The revival OF
"Florodora" at the Belasco will un-
doubtedIy draw all those old play
goers who used to chant the praises
of the sextette, as well as those VINO
heard these praises chanted. And In
Clarence" at the National we have a
play that has scored a distinct sue
cess on Broadway. 1t looks IKE one
of those midseason weeks of really
good offerings L
Eleanor Painter. 1ntera king Ca
reer-There are many Interesting
tales related about the karseF f, Of
SINCE the role of Dolores in the
Messrs. Shubert's superb devival of
"Florodora'' at the Shubert- Belasco
Thta,er this week. One of the most
interesting is that which t deals with
When she was about fourteen she
was taken by her mother to Colorado
for the summer. One day she went
horseback riding, and in an 1solateo
spot alighted and, seated on a rock,
began to sing Justify Turning suo.
denly, she saw two strangers. One OF
them, a woman, asked Eleanor II she
liked to sing. Yes" replied the child,
'.and / am going to be great singer
some day
singing teacher, who went to Flea
nor's mother and advised her to take
the child to New York at the first op-
portunity. Two years later mother
and daughter went east. Where les
sons were begun. Miss Painter helping
to support herself by singing in a
choir.
mined to go to Europe and study.
With a guaranteed income OF 500
month, she placed herself. being then
tutelage of MN. Nickisch. wife Of the
famous orchestra instructor. When
the time came for her to make her
debut she took part with about hVe
hundred sorpanos from every corner
of Germany in a competition conduct
rights to Der Rosenkavalier," who
were being assisted by Richard
Strauss in casting the production. MISS
Painters voice and singing impressed
STRAUSS and Col. Mapelson, who was
-esent. so favorably that they en-
rared her forthe role of Octavio. But
the plan fell through and before the
end of the year Miss Painter began
two-year engagement at the Char-
Iottenburg Opera House. later going
to Covent Garden.
At the outbreak of the war she re-
turned to America. where she has
PLAYED in The Lilac Domino" The
Princess Pat" "Glorianna" and re-
vival of "The Climax"
In the Harvard play competition
which ended in bringing 'Mamma's
Affair. to the stage and which also
brought forth the comedy drama
Nom" the decision was much closer
than most people know, for it was a
neck-and-neck race between Rachel
barton Butler and Edward Oliver
Martin. The choice between their two
plays came almost to a toss-up with
the judges. Mr.. Morosco, liked Edward
oliver Martins play the better. but the
votes of the two other judges AWARDED
the priZe to Miss Butler and Mamma 5
Affair" Notwithstanding this Mr.
Morosco Immediately signed con-
tract for the Martin play. as he did
for two others from the forty or SO
manuscripts submitted by Harvard
"workshop' playwrights. On the sur
face it appeared as II Miss Butter
had just skinned through. Below the
surface the situation bore very dit
ferent aspect, for Edward Oliver Mar
tin and Miss Butler were one ana the
same. She was her own rival. ana
both, so to speak. won.
The two plays being accepted at the
same time not only amazed the
judges. but ccme like windfall 70
the authoress She naturally, hopeo
that one of them would WIN the
award. but it came as something OF a
shock tn find that she stood first and
second in the competition. china
coming at the close of ten years OF
Sard work, struggle and disappolnt-
ments.