Evening star., 1920-05-30

TT was not the mystery of Willard
Macks' Poker Ranch" nor the
comedy-marred gorgeousness OF
the Scandals of 1920" both
rare efforts of the professional stage,
but The Craft of the Tortoise" ex-
cellently presented by the Drama
League Players. with the assistance
and under the direction of its author.
Algernon Tassin, professor of Eng
lish in Columbia University. that fur
nished the dramatic daring and nov
city of the week, perhaps of the sea
son. Poker Ranch" popular in It's
appeal to the weakness of curiosity
with its mysterious murder. was at
most familiar entertainment Tine
Scandals had a higher claim to at
tention by reason of the Suspicion
that the ouija board may have oeeh
invoked for sensation in its construc-
ton But The Craft OF the Tor
toise." with it's daring theme Of femi-
nine evolution, by the aid OF WoH
ans only weapons. sex and trlcKery,,
made small, but distinguished ana
even intelligent audience nrs1 gasp si,, IN
amazement. then litter and many
roll out mighty peals OF laughter:
More, 1T at once started ouzz oi
comment and controversy petween
acts. which promises to continue
wherever Mr.. Tassin's daring dissec-
ton of the fairest of Gods hanolwork
become known.
.The Craft of the Tortoise" traces
woman through three periods OF ms
tory, the patriarchal. the medieNai
and the present from the time she
plunges a much badgered patriarchai
husband into war and his lesser wives
into Something which is and Wnich
isn't" down to the present day, win
turns a lovers plot for her conquest
into a young lady's freebooting CON
quest that surrounds her with Deau-
tiful and costly spoils from her ao-
mirers and makes her apartment look
like a flower and candy shop. Its dfc-
ton bristles with saucy speech. ac-
tually audacious at times and yet al
ways so cleverly handled that iaugn-
ter is the inevitable response: Inc
play is familiar in literary circles de-
spite the newness. because tne re-
viewers have brought it prominently
Into attention. The wonder is, now
ever. that, knowing it's merits and
the high value placed upon them IN
the literary world, the metropontan
managers should force the author 10
the amateur stage for a production
and then neglect to take the trouble
to give 1t even "a look over. 1t may
lack motion picture merits by which
the drama of today is pre1udged, but
it makes very interesting and anus
ing entertainment, especially. for
womankind. One thing is certain, as
the sporting editor remarked. after
seeing John Barrymore's performance
Of "Hamlet," "that play certainly mas
punchy lines"
From the legitimate to the enlisen-
ing is an easy step in these days OF
muddled democracy. And 30 1t seems. .
permissible to direct the thought Tor
a moment to burlesque. Patrons OF
The Gayety, which IL now closing its
season, know of the extraordinary e!-
forts put forth py the management IN
recent years to secure feminine PAL
ronage. and Manager Harry Jarboe,
whose heart is deeply involved In the
matter, says substantial. success has
been achieved. Everything objection
able in the matter of environment. ne
SAYS. has long since been sehminateo'
the shows have been rigidly censored
beautifiedd and improved, and vet the
hesitated. Smoking has long since
been prohibited in the theater. 1t dio
not need the constitutional amend
ment to Danish the serving OF iQulo
refreshment during the performances.
And. he adds. Il point with prioe 70
the fact that we do not have peanut
sellers and candy vendors patrohng
the aisles and harassing our patrons.
as some Of the big theaters DO. All
this is in tribute to womanklnd bur
lesque shows that will fill the thea
ter with capacity audiences OF men,
ought to awaken interest in women
amusement seekers. he thinks, TOT
the modern revue is but an em0ei-
lishment of better and more enter
tanning burlesque."