The Washington herald., 1921-02-21
Caplte.-aBis se.sa.l.a., !,

sensatlons galore, ranging from
the appearance Of the theater TO
the name and quality Of the open
Ing attraction, were offered to those
who attended the grand opening
Of Washington.s newest burlesque
house. the, Capitol Theaser. Henry
DixonS big Sensation" featuring
Harry Levan and Jimmy Lake. the
best-attired straight man" in bur
lesque. proved TO be q mirth-pro-
voking musical affair. Lake and
Levan are an ideal burlesque COM
edy pair and their efforts were we'll
received by yesterdays auditors.
Lake defends his burlesque title
for to be called the best-dressed
"straight man" in burlesque il un-
usually making eight complete
suit changes during the perform
ance. His stage appearance In i'm
pressive and his ability to feed"
the comedians for laughs is above
par. Levan is an eccentric come
dian who gets all the laughs pos
sible from Lakes comedy food"
He is also a skilled piano player.
ana his efforts in the musical line
were enthusiastically received, he
responding TO two encores in his
speciality.
But Lake and Levan are not the
only features of the show, for 'Uku-
lele Hughes" nobby Juvenile, and
Ralnh Rogers, the second comedian
with a wop" dialect. also lend their
effort toward making the show a
success. Elsie Donnelly has the
prima donna's role, and with her
sweet soprano voice she warbled
her way into popular favor. The
life of the party" rests with Stella
Rose. Beulah Baker and Belle Cos
tello. a trio of maidens who sing
and dance their way into a good
round of applause and favor. Let
tie Bolles, pretty and petite-ss the
program says-is also an important
factor in making the production a
success
Neat-appearing scenery, and q
sood-looking chorus. attired in some
classy costumes. also added to the
pleasure OF the afternoon. There
10 a trio of young choristers in the
front line who work hard and un-
tiringly, and their work brought
favorable comment
Manager Garrison has one of the
best-equipped burlesque theaters on
the circuit, and IL all his attrac-
tions measure up to the Big SEN
sation,' he'll have no trouble flling
II TO capacity. H.K.
Loew's Paiaee-Ina Claire In @Polly
with q Past.-
II one had seen only the latter
mart nf the ninfnra at I D.lo
Theater yesterday. Polly With a
Past one might be impeIled to the
conclusion that il more of our young
girls went In for pasts, IL would
make them Infinitely more charm
ing. Ina Claire as Polly certainly
would have been classified by the
most conservative csrdindexer as
deserving Of the "bewitching'' divi-
sion. And she>had a past.
But unfortunately for this move
ment for fancy pasts for plain girls.
Miss Claire proved equally pleasing
in the earlier parts Of the story. and
so, somewhat sadly, we must admit
that II wasn't the past that did Il.
Polly came TO the big city to study
voice and found herself suddenly
forced to be a housemaid Then
10 save young man no one but
herself knew she wss interested in,
she assumed a personal history
which made no mention of a sue
cession OF Sunday school picnics
And then again, things began to
happen: and kept on happening.
The star was fortunate not only
in a delightful play but in having in
the infield and outfield of her cast
what the sporting writers call a
strong and capable aggregation Of
players, including Ralph Graves,
Marie Wainwright. Harry Benham.
Clifton Webb, Louiszita Valentine
and Myra Brooks.
Maxwell Karger. Metro director
general. directed and personally SUI
pervised the production, a photo
play adapted by June Mathis from
the Belasco stage hit by George Mid
dleton and Guy Bolton. Arthur Mar
tinelli supplied the Photographic
art and L. ]. Nermilyea the special
settings. II is supplemented by an
unsuually strong array OF odd screen
and musical numbers.