The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-05-29
ON SECOND THOUGHT
BY JAY z. HOUSE.
lFrom Philadelphia Public Ledser.j

The revival in New York of "Pyg-
malion and Gaiatea" recalls the
thrills of adolescence and prompts a
suggestion. 1t is that a company for
the presentation of repertoire of the
old fayorites be at once recruited and
called for rehearsals. AS a tentative
repertory for the weeks engagement
we submit the following: On Monday
night. "Pygmalion and Galatea;"
rian;" Wednesday night. Leah the
Forsaken;" Thursday night, Damon
and Pythias:" Friday night. "Lucretia
Borgia;" Saturday night. THE Plant
er's Wife, We further suggest Hazel
Kirke" as the offering for the Wednes-
tentative choice for Saturday after
noon.
We are willing to leave the selection
of the cast to the producing manager;
but if Eunice Goodrich can be secured
for leading roles, she would be most
happy selection. More persons have
Isobbed in unison with Miss Goodrich
than with any other actress in the
world. Malcolm Williams, if he be
available, should be signed up as lead
ing juvenile, and Corse Payton should,
by all means, do the heavies; but
that is a detail. Doubtless there are
other actors equally capable, altho at
the moment We do not call them to
mind. The usual vaudeville turns
should be given between the acts and,
if one can be found. good skirt
dancer should be featured. If Cecil
Spooner is at liberty, she should be
signed for one of the specialties. The
set of parlor furniture to the holder
of the lucky number might be given
away on Friday night, the bestowal of
the diamond ring to be the feature of
the Saturday evening performances.
Attempts to dispose of the furniture
resulted in some confusion and more
or less dissatisfaction on the part of
the audience.
While we father the idea set forth
above, our interest in the matter is
| impersona1. Probably We should not
attend the performances; we've had
| our thrill. But it would be distinctly
worth while to disclose to the present
generation of motion-picture fans II
cross section of drama in which the
| hairy side continually is exposed.
| AS We have said, our interest in the
| matter is impersonal. Probably the
| old plays would not engross us now
Doubtless We should find them dull
artificial and lacking in ratiocination
1t is possible they intrigue the mem
DRY for the reason that the blood
always followed the knife and for the
additional reason that a lady was al
ways a lady. They had their 'hussies,
| to be sure, but the 'hussies'' were
branded with the insignia of theiI
shame. One did not discover later
on, that the woman who disrobed ir
the presence of the audience or who
entertained her gentlemen friends
within the sanctity of her boudoir was
a perfectly respectable member OF
society in good standing whose MOOD
had been misinterpreted. But we
wander from the main task. What
We set out to say was that while we
do not particularly lament the ole
plays, the heart bleeds for the ole
songs We long for the old melodic
sequences and the minor chords Only
the other night, lying at ease beneath
our rented roof-tree, we heard male
| quartet just across the street engaged
| in battle royal with the popular airs
of the day. 1t wasn't a bad quartet
at that. 1t was young and vigorous
and harmonious. 1t boosted a mellow
| tenor and basso whose voice Doomed
and rolled. But it retired from its
attack on the seasonal airs stra ggline
and in confusion. 1t was a repulst
compared to which the one suffered
by the Germans at Verdun was vic.
tory. We lay there glorying in the
disaster which had befallen it. And
yet, had it sung Garry Me Back t.
Old Virginny," "Massa's in the. Cold
Home" "O1d Black joe" or "In the
Cleaning our emotions would have
been as wax in it's hands.
! Speaking as one. we are gorged t.
lrepletion upon Jazz and unmelodi'
| blues" What we want to hear il
Soldiers Farewell" Robin Adair,
Annie Laurie" "Old Folks at Home
| "Juanita," Sweet Alice Ben Bolt
silver Threads Among the Cold
when You and / Were Young, Mag
gie." and Come Where My Love Lie,
Dreaming" Just before he wen
away" Evan Williams laid upon hi'
generation and it's posterity anothel
/ and, perhaps. it's greatest obligation t
him. Somewhere in the 'fcannery" o.
one of the producing studios there i!
record of his voice singing "Molli'
Darling" to the accompaniment of s
male chorus. And because Evan VIII
liams bequeathed this legacy to hi
81 &c., I'D "