Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-03-30
MANTElL RETURNS;
NEW MUSIC SHOW
lTfagedian Reappears as Shy.
lock---"Penny Ante" Pleases
~
at Walnut

Broad Interest in the always sub.
stantial and sometimes spirited per.
fcrmanCeS Of Shakespeare given by Rob
ert Mantcll aud his associate players
apparently is not limited either by n
return engagement following hard on
his original seasonal appearance or upon
fhe theatrical viCissitudcs of Holy
Week 10 which some Of those who do
not deny themselves worldly entertain &.
ment during Lent con6ne their period
Of abstentiou from the playhouse. A
very considerable audience enjoyed The
Merchant of Venice" last night.
Mr.. Mantpll's Shylock is one Of his
most accomplished roles. II is more
than an impersonatiou II rises to the
dignity of an Interpretation. II re-
spects general traditions. but it pos
sosses n certain individual quality that
is differrntiating and distinctive. "
stresses. but not unduly. the racial and
religious consciousness Of the jew Of
Venice. and II moves with cumulative
and convincing force to its tragic issue.
And some of the drama Of IL is in the
voicing which is never thoatrically rant D.
Ing. Portia is Miss Hampers most
satisfying part: in il she is well ron
tined. she makes q lovely picture for tho
eve. and in the passages whore arthness
Rassanio replaces Fritz Leibpr. John
Alexander. pprsonahle actor. who
played Lorenzo fcw weeks ago. oh.
viorsly now 10 tho part. he was some
what stilted in the earlier scenes. but
improved greatly later. being genuinely
effective in tho raSkot choosing episode.
'I.par." ono Of Mr.. Mantpll'S best PARTS
and productions. is tho bill for tonight.
Walnut The query as to what's in q
name may wrll he applied to "'cnny
Ante" song dance and girl rcvuSicaI
sort of ConCoctiOn cooked up by Gus
gradients furnished by +. s. Hunting
don and comedy material by Frank
Kennedy. Onc would not guess from
the title that it comprehended a bevy OF
comely chOriStPrs. who can sing. too. a
lot of alluring tunes. plentiful dance
specialtiCs Of grace and vigor. an abund
ance Of pictorial settings and even a
well defined plot with a marked farci
cal trend.
The plot is based on tho familiar but
always hilarious twin motive. with it,
possibilities for mistaken Identities
One of these twins is always getting his
good brother into mshaps and scrapes
A series Of them runs through Penny
. ante anu Keeps inv luu SbluE Ut u
liyeiy gait till the final curtain. \
word Of special praise is due the MI
merous songs. those making the best
Impression being Grandma DAYS,
Candy Girl" mission BELLS" The
Girl on the Magazine Cover 'Tcacf
Me How to Love" The Dance
Danced When Was Twenty one,
SHOWING Picture Mary" aud "Fathcr
Wanted Me to Learn Trade Charles
Drew and Carlton Scales gave the right
touch to the roles of the twins anC
Charles Brown proved capable come
dian. May Newman was good in thu
feminine lead.
Orpheum - Mae Desmond and her
players appear in the tnkissed
Bride The story concerns young
man about town wno finds himself en-
barrassed through reckless speculation
His uncle has promised him dowry
Of large sum on his wedding day. so
In desperation he pronOSes marriage e
a vamnire Of a broadway chorus. Ru
his pal spirits her away and the uncl
arrives just as he has proposed to lii