New-York tribune., 1920-02-16
On the Screen
Four Princesscs at Capitol
Theater Fail to Make Per.
formance Sparkle
BY Ishbel M. Ross


This is week Of princesses at the
Capitol Theater. Four of what pre-
sumably are the genuine article trail
their draperes across the stage at diff
ferent times, but it cannot be said
that they add any sparkle to a program
that Is long and tedious. If some one
were to take the bill in hand and whit
tie 1t down considerably q more salts
factory performance would be the re-
suit. This is distinctly the impression
created by "In a Persian Garden"
presented for the first time in operatic
form. The lighting and scenic effects
are excellent in their way and no doubt
lot of money and energy have been
expended on the lavish get-up Of
hundred or 80 singers. But this Is the
best that can be said for it. Omar
khayyam would turn in his grave if he
could see and hear what happens to
his ,"Rubaiyat" in this production.
The seductive music Is by Liza Lob
mann, but there is no dramatic action
and the singing, is scarcely good
commonplace level The story. which.
by the way, is unintelligble without
your program or knowledge Of Omar,
has to do with Youth, his experience
with temptation and his end as mused
upon by the ancient philosopher.
Mary Cavan represents Earthly In
fuence. She is markedly ungraceful
In her performance although her voice
is good. Edna Wallthrop sings the
Good influence part In pleasant con-
William Robyn takes the part Of
Youth and Richard Maitland of Ex-
perience Princess Diane Zoe Palace
LOCUS, who dances without any great
distinction, is advertised as being
former premier danseuse Of the I'M
perial Khedival Ballet. Princess Della
Patra is presumed to be the niece of
the Khedive Of Egypt. while Princess
Zanco de Primo was formerly court
pianist Of Russia.
1t is something of relief to have
two highly intelligent and we'll trained
dogs trot on the stage after the cur
tain conceals the glories of the Persian
Garden. Their masters are the Gaud-
smiths, European clowns, and they fur
nish original entertainment.
One of the bright spots in the entire
bill is a picture called "The Charming
Mrs. Chase" in which Mrs. Sidney
Drew directs John Cumberland in the
kind of domestic comedy that she used
to appear in personally with her hus-
band. 1t is the story of "matri-
monial canoe that started out gayly,
but as years went on turned into
heavy canal boat laden with life's COM
monplaces." 1t tries to prove the
theory that there are no thrills after
thirty, and manages to get away with it.
John Cumberland is delightfully."- funny
as the gay old married dog who starts
out on an adventure with some one
else's wife, but finds it doesn't have
any tang.
Pauline Frederick does some fine act
ing in "The Paliser Case" Goldwyn
picture: The plot is old and meo-
dramatic, but she manages to sustain
suspense in a manner unusual in pic
lures. She takes the part of Classy
Cara, who comes of a distinguished
family and has to choose between being
married to roue that her invalid
father may have medical aid or watch
ing him die by inches. S. he marres
the roue, only to find later that the
ceremony was a sham. When the man
who victimized her is murdered at the
opera an exciting situation is created
as to which of three persons stabbed
him in the back The solution is with
held to the last moment and the pic
ture is gripping all the way through.
terization Of Cara, Cassy's father. Be-
tween them they dominate throughout
the picture. Others in the cast are Al
bert Roscoe, Hazel Brennan, Kate Les
ter, Carrie Lee Ward, Warburton Gam
BILE and Alex Francis. The picture is
from Edgar Saltus's story Of the. same
name. 1t is directed by William Parke.
The scenario is by Edfrid Bingham.
There is q Major Allen special, en-
titled "The Story of the Wolf" and a
Robertson Cole pastoral in tableau and
story, called "The Sheep O. Leaven-
worth"
Princess Tolstoy Zanco de Primo a
granddaughter of Tolstoy, plays the
Grieg concerto with orchestral accom-
paniment. The overture is from "Poet
and Peasant"
"The Copperhead," starring Lionel
Rarrvrnore ia heirC shouo all III q