The Washington times., 1920-10-24

"Champion''
at NatiOnal
For a Week

At the National Thester. beginning
tonight, Sam H. Harris will present
Grant Mitchell In The Champion" q
new comedy In three acts. by Thomas
Louden and A. E. Thomas. The we'll
selected cast which will support Mr..
will be remembered as the leading
woman with William Collier In The
Hottentot." In which she scored a tri-
umphant personal success during the
long Broadway run OF Mr.. Golfers
play.
Others In the cast are Lucy Beau
mont. Lygia Bernard. Desiree Stem
pei. Arthur Elliott, Frank westerton.
Gordon Burby. Gerald Hamer. Henry
Warwick, Robert Lee Allen. Harold
Cooper. Robert Ayrton, A. II. Kaye,
Harold Howard, Robert Williamson
and Tom Williams.
Mr.. Harris has selected for Mr..
MitchelPs starring vehicle a play of
unusual promise. and IL is predestined
to prove by far the most popular Of
fering In which Mr.. Mitchell has ever
appeared. The metropolitan premiere
took place In Philadelphia several
nounced hit there. II is said. full
houses being the record of the en-
gagement
The motive 10 based on the always
interesting fable of the Prodigal Son,
but the Biblical tale has been given
an entirely new and deliciously di-
verting twist that is distinctly diff
ferent from the usual run of comedy
offerings.
In the title role Mr.. Mitchell IL said
to have greater scope for the exercise
Of his remarkably brilliant artistry
than this talented actor had in either
"A Tailor-Made-Man" or "A Prince
There Was" in which he scored SO
great a measure of success.
THE Champion" strikes a new note
in things theatrical Ii is declared. and
discriminating playgoers will welcome
this entertaining departure from the
hackneyed type of comedy offerings.
1t is free from the cheap chatter of
| sex complications. and the artificiality
Of farcical situations that swing from
! the rusty hinges Of the eternal tri-
, angle.
Grant Mitchell who is starring in
The Champion" is a strong advocate
| for clean plays. He not only believes
/ in them but he is of the opinion that
the public prefers them to the other
/ kind. And in his opinion the stage
is improving in this direction. not
| withstanding that frequently during
the last few seasons farces have been
, done that evoked just criticism from
| conservative theatergoers.
as the Stage improvingT Is the
question that was asked in Shakes
pear><s time" says Mr.. Mitchell.
when Shakespeare had to count
frequently limited box office receipts,
because the public was rushing of
to opposition shows, that consisted
OF beer gardens and other entertain
ments.
In every age there are those who
bemoan the degeneracy of the stage.
!, The drama is SO great a subject that
il is alyays an object of interest, but
the chief interest during the past
year is through an appeal that has
| been made by many associations for
| the betterment of the character Of
plays.
| 1t is quite right that the public
should insist on wholesome and clean
| dramas. because they enter so largely
| into the life of the people. They
can instruct or they can pervert, but
| essentially a play should entertain.
| instruction comes incidentally.
| Politics may be impure, graft may
exist in high stations; fraud and evil
doing may be condemned when under
the guises of business, bat the stage
must always point to one mark and
that is good-natured though who'll
| some reflections of life. That is what
| am doing and have done by appear
| ing in plays of the character of The
Champion A Tailor Made Man and
"A Prince There Was"