Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-08-08

CRITICAL reviewers of the week The
1auit in the play. if there really be
srievous one, seems to be that it
was completed an act too soon. SO
mat the authors. in order to be Just
10 suffering public, felt called upon
70 supply very delightful supple
ment without cause. The cast re-
ceiVed universal commentator and
tne new producers, Comstock and
Gest complimentary greetings for the
manner in which the production has
been staged. In these DAYS when
faults are said to be so common anf
captlous critics SO plentiful the
ohuDert-Belasco may well be con-
graduated on the suspicious opening
OF It's new theatrical season On ali
sues ~ was agreed. at least, that
,he piayWr1ghts should be congratu-
iated on avoiding devious ways and
doubtful suggestion.
Next week. the National Theater
VIII reopen it's doors with a new
play. "Rab," presenting Helen HAYES.
whose first hiStrionic success was
achieved in this city some years ago
with the old Columbia Players. when,
as a small child, in the role of Lit
acterization remarkable in its fin
lshed detail. Since then. although
MISS Hayes is still in her teens, she
mas Inquired in tlse big dramatic world
IN way that has elevated her to
stellar honors. Washington has seen
some of her maturer work, but her
most brilliant success. it is said. will
be found in the new play in which she
ID soon to appear in Washington.
So successful was Manager L. Stod-
dard Taylor's experiment in reducing
the price of the s2-50 and 81 seats and
in renting the war tax, or rather
IN having the theater. assume it for
those seats sold at other prices, that
Wagenhals & Kemper, the produc-
ers of the new play spanish Love-"
made by Avery Hopwood and Mary
Roberts Rinehart, have consented to
repetition of the experiment Of
the opening night of their pro-
given in another version and under
another name for more than 1000 per-
formances in SpaiI. and for very long
runs in Paris and other European
capitals.
William A. Brady, according to an
nouncement. will present at the Shu-
bert-Belasco Theater the week open
ing August % a new American. play,
'Immodess Violet" by David Carb. an
Dramatic School which graduated
Edward Sheldon. Cfeaves Kinkaid and
other writer's for the American stage.
The new play is heralded as a happy
combination of novelty and native
humor, with characters and situa-
tions that are new. Its story is said
to abound in the unexpected An at
tractive young woman, secure in the
knowledge of her own innocence, yet
having individual ideas regarding the
conventions. furnishes the inspiration
for the story.
Walter Hampden, whose Shake
spearean repertory next season will
include Hamlet" Romeo and Jul
liet," The Merchant of Venice" and
framing of the Shrew," will have
two leading women, Beatrice Maude
and Mary Hall. Miss Maude, whose
Juliet and Ophelia last season were
SO highly acclaimed by the critics.
will again interpret those roles. while
Miss Hall will continue her portrayal
of the role of Portia and will assume
the role, for the first time. of Kath-
crime in Tanning of the Shrew," for
which she is declared eminently fitted
by personality. temperament and art
Henry Miller and Blanche Bates
have given more than two hundred
and fifty performances Of The Fa-
NOUS Mrs. Fair" the play by James
Forbes, at Henry Millers Theater,
New York, and interest in the play is
said to be still undated. They are to
go on tour. with it later.
Marion Green and Nancy Gibbs will
head the cast in Gilbert Miller's pro-
dluction of Monsieur Beaucaire," the
Messager-Tarkington romantic opera
which A. L. Erlanger will send on
tour this season. Mr.. Green will ap-
pear in the title role, which he created
in London and in which he scoredsef-
1ectively at the New Amsterdam Thea
ter, New York. last winter. Miss Gibbs
is a popular London actress who has
been especially identified with many
sof the Lily Elsie roles in the George
sEdwardes' productions at Days
Theater. London. She has very high
soprano voice and her smile is said
TO be the prettiest on the English
stage.
lions and many familiar ones which
they are equipping for the road, Com
stock & Gest are to bring to this
country the London production and
company intact Of "Afgar," the Eng
s1ish musical comedy, with the Pari-
sian music hall star Alys Delysia in
the title role. The firm also is to
bring over Jose Collins, who was last
seen in this country with Ziegfelds
"Follies" and is now said to be great
faporite in London. She will come in
"a Southern Maid" a musical piece.
Gabrielle d'Annunzio's latest works.
y ''San Sebastian" and Helen of Sparta"
also are promised by Comstock &
aGest the production of which will be
sembellished with Bakst costumes. about
800 in number. as shown at the Theatre
Chatelaine, together with the Partisan
sensation "A Thousand and One Nights
sand THE Heir to the Bal Tabarin,"
French farce. Don Diaz de Mendoza,
the famous Spanish actor. with his COM
pany from the Princess Theater, Madrid,
will come with a repertory Of twenty
eight Spanish plays for an American
tour.
cal publicity scribe, is still exploiting
the attractions under the personal super
Vision of Morris Gest, who is assisted
by Lyau Swete, Frederick Kaufman,
George Zorn and others in engaging
casts forehe musical and dramatic plays
stock, with David Burton. Clifford
Brooks and Joseph Hadley. are perform
ing like service under Mr.. Comstock's
personal supervision at the Princess
Theater.
the musical comedy stage. is announced
for engagement by Richard G. Hern-
don for Little Miss Charity" the
musical play scheduled to open at the
Belmont Theater. New York. August 80.
Juanita Fletcher, late of Apple Bios
sons" viii! sing the title role.
Mercedes Densmore, the young Eng
lish actress, will appear this year in
Three Live Ghosts" and, concurrently,
will figure in the season Of Ibsen
madnees to be given at the Little
Theodore Spiering, the American con-
cert violinist and orchestra conductor.
who recently investigated music condi-