The Washington times., 1920-12-19

The love of Demctrios, a famous
Greek sculptor, for the courtesan,
Chrysis as it is revealed in the col
ossal spectacle Of "Aphrodlte," which
f. Ray Comstock and Morris Gest
will present at Polls for one week
beginning tonight, will afford local
thcatergoers an opportunity of wit
Messing one of the most thrilling and
beautiful stories that the American
stage has ever Witnessed in the form
Of spectacle. 1t was the sensation of
Paris in 1911 at the Theater Renais-
sanCc, and last winter achieved one
Of the biggest hits at the Century
Thcator in New York that that mann
moth playhouse has ever witnessed.
"Aphroditc" required five years to
prepare for the American stage, and
the masters who were concerned in
it's presentation represent the great
cest brains in their professions. The
costumes, gorgcously colOred and
strangely beautiful, We're designed
by Percy Anderson, the famous Eng
is artist.
Local theatergoers have already be-
come acquainted with Mr.. Anderson's
art, for it was he who designed the
costumes for "Chu Chin Chow" and
now, at the age of seventy-two, and
still suffering from shell-shock sus-
tanned when he went too close be-
hind the British line in search OF ma
terial for sketches, he has fairly out
done himself in the production Of
"Aphrodite."
Probably no living artist. with the
possible exception OF Leon Bakst, can
minglc strange and startling colors
so fastantically and yet so artistical-
~, as Percy Anderson, and in "Aphro-
dite" he has been given a wide field
for his Imagination, since the story
concerns ancient Egypt in the days
when the Greeks ruled Alexandria.
"Aphroditc' relates the story of the
love of a Greek artist, Demetrios, for
one of the most famous Courtesans
of all time. He turns from the love
OF the queen of Egypt to seek the
favors of the profligate Chrysis, who,
to prove his love. cXacts a promise
from him to commit three crimes.
The original novel. by Pierre Louys,
is one OF the greatest of modern
French classics. Pierre Frondaie in
Paris, turned the novel into play,
and this drama, adapted for America
by George g. IlaZ'cton, is the version
that so stirred New York last winter.
The novel has also served as the
inspirati ion of a grand opera by the
late Camille Erlanger, which Mary
Garden sang with the Chicago Opera
Company in New York last spring
The opera and the drama however,
are vastly different in treatment and
execution.
"Aphroditc" Is the most expensive
spectacular offering ever staged in
any playhouse anywhere in the world.
a. IL cost ComstoCk & Gest more than
$780, 900 to put this gigantic produce
ton upon the stage. The costumes
alone in addition to the enormous
foes paid Percy Anderson, cost over
800 600
In this big spectacle Washington
thcatcrcocrs win get their first
glimpse of one OF Morris Gcst's finds
IN the person Of Pauline ArmitaRe, a
beautiful young Southern girl, who.
In the role Of Chrysis, the Courto san
OF Galilcc, causes Dcmctrios to COM
init the crimes of theft, murder and
sacrilege in order to enjoy her IA
vors.
Until recently attending "a Nash
vile, Tenn. boarding school for
girls, Miss ArmitaEc while on visit
o friends in Chicago, met Leo Ditrich-
stein, the actor playing there at the
time i'm THE King" To him she
coundcd her ambit on with the re-.
suit that she was given n small part
in that comedy. later appearing as
the German spy in the English melo-
drama, Seven Days Leave This in