The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-12-12
Mary Rose" Sir james M.
Barrie's Latest, at National.
Shakespearean Repertoire
At Garrick, With French
Comedy at Belasco
This Week.
BY LOUIS ASHLEY.

Washington next week, wfil have
Its view Of the most ambitious ex-
travaganza in many a day, "Aphro-
dite," which opens at Polls next
Sunday night for enc week only.
The ticket sale has been setting rec
ords, and il is safe TO say that not
since "Chu Chin Chow" appeared
at the Avenue playhouse will there
bp such a throng tgnting for OPP
Portunities Of seeing a performance
there. Everybody seems to have
heard about "Aphrodite." Many
saw ii while it was shown in New
York, but they will be right back
there next week 70 see it again. And
those who have yet TO see it-well,
from all accounts, they have a treat
in store for them,
II seems to be the particular duty
Of L. Ray Comstock and Morris Ges.
10 stage the greatest pictures tf
these days. They have glv,n us "EN-
perience." The Wanderer," 'Ihu
chin Chow" "Aphrodite." Mecca" and
Agar" The last 10 be sosn here
was the gorgeous "Chu Chin chow
The remarkable success attending
that company was tho talk of the
couatry.
"Aphrodite" burst upon New York
like a shock. SO great was the rush
10 Bee II that spectators sod seats for
as high as 500. In an effort TO Ike y
the tickets for the Washington per.
Iormances away from specula .ors.
Manager. Harris will not sell more
than six tickets to any one pur-
chaser, unless suitable creden ials are
offered identifying the buyer with
theater party.
FIRST TO MAKE MONEY.
Though It cost s25O.Oo0 TO stage
'htnrodite" before the first curta In went
ny On II the show paid for itself before
II left New York. being the first of it's
ty=e to do this IL has been making
money ever since.
Much OF the stupendous cost OF this
production arose from the fact that
the scenery was painted in London
by Joseph and Phillip Harker. who
prepared the "Chu Chin Chow"
scenes, using the original Paris mod
els. The costumes were designed in
London by Percy Anderson and in
Paris by Leon Bakst. while the ballet
and choreography was created and
staged by Michel Fokine, master OF
the Russian ballet.
A cast Of some 500 actors and ac-
tresses is required to produce this
magnificent spectacle with its ten
scenes Of pagan beauty in ancient
Egypt.
For years the novel, "Aphrodite,"
by Pierre Louys, has been considered
one of the greatest of French clas-
sizes. Louys called his novel "a ro-
nance OF manners in ancient Egypt"
and the original dramatic version by
Pierre Frondais has been adapted for
the American stage by George G.
Hazleton.
ALL ABOUT A STATUE.
AS shown here. the action centers
around a statue of Aphrodite. goddess
of love, carved by Demetrios, a sculp-
tor. who lived in Alexandria 1000
years ago.
Demetrios was loved by Bcrenike.
Queen Of Egypt, but he would have
none of her owing to his pure love
for the statue of Aphroditc. Yet he
fell n victim to Chrysis, courtesan,
:lnd the most notorious woman asso-
clsted with the Temple of Aphroditc.
The Gest production Is fairly
crowded with beautiful women, and
Cheir dancing numbers are said to be
the finest ever staged in this coun-
Try, both RS to settings and to char
acter.
"Aphrodite" will be- at Polls for
one week, beginning next Sunday.
On Monday night, December 20.
there will be two openings, LOOK
Who's Here" at the Shubert-Garricli
and THE Half Moon" at the National
Both are musical comedies.
MANY SONG HITS.
There are many well-known song
hits in rT1ook Who's Here" such as
Bubbles" THE Turk Had the Right
idea" II Know and You Know"
when a Wife Gets Fat" and THE
Bell Hop Blues" Silvio Helm wrote
Ihe score, with Frank Mandel and
Edward Paulton collaborating on the
book. Look Who's Here" has met
with success in New York, Chicago,
Boston and Philadelphia, if that
means anything.
In addition to the stars, the com
pany includes Julia Clifford, Sylv
DE frankie, the Clarke Sisters Wal
Ter Arnim, Mario VILLAIN. William
Wheeler and Stanley Warner. not to
mention a chorus worth while.
The Half Moon" should have some
+uneful ditties in it, seeing that We
gor jacob put to music lyrics by Will
liam lie Baron. That's n likely com
pination.
And with Joe Cawthorn, Joseph
Santlcy, Oscar Shaw, Maude Eburne.
Ivy Sawyer. May Thompson. Edna
May OliNer HERBERT SDarllnB' Nudrlt"
Lawrence Virginia Shelby. William
ingersoll and Elaine Palmer working
under the direction OF Fred G. La
than, a pleasant time should be had
by one and all.
HIGH-BROw WEEK NOW.
This Ia high-brow week. We have
Fritz Leibers Shekespearean roper
loire at the Shubert-Garrlck. Sir
James Barrie's Mary Rose at the
National and David Belasco's starring
of Lionel Atwill, in "Deburau' at the
Shubert-Belasco.
For several seasons Mr.. Lciber has
been n strong supporter of Robert
Mantcll. making excellent impress
glons wherever he appeared. Now he
IL at the head Of his own company,
and his work has been well rec iVed
in New York this season. Tomorrow
night Mr.. Leiber will appear i'm Mac
beth" following that with Hamlet
'rhc Merchant OF Venice" Romeo
and Juliet" Julius Caesar and
"RIchard the Third" a most ambi-