Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-10-30
THE PLAYCOER's
WEEKLY TALK

i WEEKLY TALK
AryyHE new week will bring Leo Ditrich-
IL stein in '-rhe purple Mask" novel
type OF character for his artistic talents,
and "The Passing show the twenty-
sixth of the Winter Garden productions
T'hcae two changes OF bills will be re.
spectively at the adjoining Adelpm anu
Lyric Theatres.
.'The Purple Mask" Is modern ana
artistic variant on the old-fashioned
melodramatio 'thriliers." Adapted from
the French Of Paul Armont and Jean
B Manoussi, Il ran for more than year
in both London and Paris. Inc aS1lom ..
OF the play centers about the eonninGnts
between the Royalists and the Repnoli-
cans during the period when Napoleon
was first consul and the Bouroons Were
Noting to regain the throne OF France;
Mr.. nitrlchstein is seen in the role Oh
Armand, Comte de Treviercs, the cheVa-
lier Of the Pudple Mask, whose expioits
have thrilled the country and Won MN III,
such fame that he Is feared ahKe ny
the police and the citizens.
1.-THE purple Mask pursues his trade
Of Kidnapping prominent officials or the
republic and holding them for ransonh
much to the dismay and chagrln OF Ine
police and the detectives HIS adVen-
fures his thrilling escapes and the man
ner In which he wins his loved one conl-
bine in a thrilling plot. Mr. Dltrtchstein
Is largely responsible Tor Inc FHpie
Mask" in its present form
yCHE annual revue. Passing Show"
l. saueezes into one production a wide
variety Of entertainment. PROMISED are
elaborateness OF production scintillatlng
wit, tuueful melodies and novelty anu
gorgeousness in costuming.
"yThe Passing Show" differs from the
usual Winter Garden extravaganza IN
arf nf
In made UP Of travesties on the more I'M
portant dramatic successes OF the year;
There are burlesques on East IS Mest.
THE Jest" and Tumble Inn. vi the
twenty scenes, special attention Is called
TO one as being transcendently spectacu-
lar. the same being the court OF King
Solomon.
NNE very legitimate function of the
" stage is to entertain. The Charm
School," which reopened the Delaney
last Monday night functions finely, ac-
cord,nr TO This tenable conception. It Is
really a comedietta. in which, as in an
omelet or biscuits. lightness Is prime
merit. The story Is pretty well known.
OF the endeavor or comparatively
youthful masculine legatee to run his
Inheritance. a select seminary for girls.
on new pedagogical lines. with the aid
and comfort OF his four chums OF vary
ing ages temperaments and degree OF
and Alice Duer Miller. author of the
basic fiction, have turned out a bright
play, and Mr.. Milton has done the stage
direction with taste. The cast Is es-
pecally we'll chosen and balanced. In
TUESDAYS review II was possible merely
10 indicate the varied merits OF the
acting aside from that of Minnie Du-
pree. Rapley Holmes and Sam Hardy.
1t Is only fair to make special men
. ton Of the spontaneous representations
Of Morgan Farley and Neil Martin as the
frrepressible twins, who toll not nor
spin, but who manage 10 extract a lot
Of fun out of life and send lot OF
fun across the footlights to the audience.
II is brother act' that has plausi-
bility OF aspect and similarity OF man
nerism Nessrs Martin and Farley are
breezy without being brash and are In
gratiatingly natural in their movement
and utterance. Ivan Simpson and James
Gleason as a dour Scot and young
business man also recreate their roles
naturally and zestfully. Elise Scott. as
the strict principal Of the school, adds
o touch OF feminine domination to the
scenes in which she appears.
T AUGHTER. gayety. rippling music,
II beauty and pretty girls characterize
The Sweetheart Shop" which opened
at the Forrest It Is a musical comedy
Of the ultra modern type, rapid in Its
action so that no time Is left to think.
Song, dance and rollicking fun follow
each other in quick succession. Its oc-
sasional touch OF merry improperly Is
achieved with a grace almost Gallo.
Harry n Morton, a novelty as the
male comique, is smart and pert and
runs the gamut Of high travesty to the
3est aCrohatic cun witnessed for many
\ day Esther Howard, his vis-a-vis IN
he play. proves herself young and
,omic woman, who can act, sing and
lance.
"The Sweetheart Shop" is a happy
how and keeps the auditor in that con-
lition from rise until fall OF the curtain.
no THE rescue of vaudeville from
"high-brow contempt" comes Bea-
rice Herford. who might r!ghtfully call
lerself' the successor OF George Cross
imith. for she writes all her own mn
eral and makes humorous and surpris-
ng narratives for her talks about pc
Mliar people" Miss Herford. who a
ihort time ago was induced 70 leave the
yceum and concert field. Is now a fea-
ure Offering Of vaudeville. She comes
o Keiths next week.
In taking up the cudgel for vaudc
Vile recently" Miss Herford said, "i
rave heard complaints ond charges that
levotees Of the two-a day were different
han other :heatregocrs ! have beer
asked how ! felt appearing between al
animal act and an aCTObatiC turn. Ny
experience on the vaudeville stage gives
ne the highest respect for the intelli
gence Of the average vaudeville audi
nee"
Miss Herford has been In vaudevill,
'ess than two years She has an inter
natioraI reputation as an entertainer
but has hitherto confined herself L
irawing room entertainment and re
sitals.
IJOW Is It that such feminin,
IL actress appears on the stage /,
male attire? Mtzi the prma donnf
tomedienne, who wears gray overall
and blue trousers in the musical 70
nance, Lady Billy" at the GarrlcR
saws II Is her own fault.
Il have spent half OF my life" con
aded the d!minutIVe star, IN trouser
instead Of skirts and I brought /, O,
myself by being selfish.
II wanted TO play the mos, inlportan
role IN q school performance when
was q child" relates Mltz! 81 vas +
pov That is why my wardropcs an
Hosets have been fllled with trouser,
oreechcs, overalls, shirts. ties socl,
ana mann!Sh shoes instead Of soft nufT
apparel
1T happened this way" continue
Mitzi. a school entertainment was ,
90 given. The headmaster told me n
could not find a play that did not re
Snire more boys than girls He said h
mad only one boy with ability. bu
many talented girls
81 became Interested Instead =
spending my recess period at games
ran 70 my room and wrote Viilaper
Come - the city. II was a r1eludrans
mo one was hurt in IT, u was rOr,7tn+i,