The Washington herald., 1921-03-20
HE LENTEN SEASON DRAWS TO CLOSE IN THE TEEATI
A Regular Hunch
By EARLE DORSEY

SYSTEMATICALLY fired. a month or so back BY On.
/ Doris Kesne revival Of Edward sheldon's -Ro-
nance" I succumbed the time to a speci.s 81
Pentecostal and begin to utter strange sounds
and to prophesy.
At the time It was stated with some riror. tia,
play-writing Of anything IKE acceptable order
was rapidly becoming a lost the republic; that
passing months gave little promise Of renais-
sance; that chiefly for this reason hrst-rsnk star,
were falling back last years trenches for pl.y,
and that Belssco. his discernment might
hnd IL necessary as we'll advantageous to bring
forth from the attic few Of the trumphs Of other
Mr.. Belascos reaction this suggestion was nst,r-
ing though probably unconscious on his part.
Within fortnight the rumors were floating thick
and fast that Frances Starr. who sank her knees
in Edward Knoblock's spirftualistie Hiram-heckl.r
One, shortly be re-starred Eugene walter,
The Easiest Way" There being good ground for most
Belasco rumors one was able to swallow idea
without the aid Of the saltceIlar. which seem
to be satisfaction enough for any prophet clerical
lay.
However, il wasn't
Some direct evidence was needed 20 prov. thar
Belasco's contemplated revival OF the Walters plsv
was due, either solely chief to the fact that
the current domestic manuscript crop is shockingy
below par and that nothing Beasco considered
trying has been evolved during interval OF the
season The important thing. then. wSs 40 dehniteIy
examine the facts and just definitely ascertain why
Belssco is going back TO the garret for a play
The answer, I firmly believe, was furnished at the
National last week where Belasco presented one Of
G. Martinez Serra's comedy mportations from spain
Considering this the fourth latest Belasco nro-
duction OF the with the quality Of the tbrc.
other presentments offered in his name since Angus,
one inevitably arrives the conclusion that David
is finding the manuscript going exceedingly rough in
this particular
IT HE SEASON Of is2o-2l will, a likelihood n.
viewed in seasons to come the worst season
Belssco has gone through in many a day. He
has produced pieces this year one OF which was
psssable, and others frankly unit To make m.
thing pronounced these nonessentisIs followed
in direct succession such unqualified Belssco trumphs
as Tiger Rose" with Lenore Uric: Tiger Tiger"
with Frances Starr; The Gold Diggers" with Ina
Claire and the latest Uric vehicle. The Son
Daughter"
considering the box -ofhce factor in sneak
ing Of the four successes mentioned. Box-orce sue
cess in the poorest possible ysrdstick Of dramatic
quality, attesteth The Blue Flame - whsta nes
contained definite elements of appeal unmarried by
technical offsets such Granville Barkers adaptation
of "Deburau." And that is precisely lacking
in each and every OF the four plays Belasco
given the stage this
1t began with Knoblocks one" last Labor Day
frankly gaudy ansir OF little appeal anyone
vilfy, perhaps in the inference that carried any
| definite appeal to them. II shockingly below
| the Knoblock standard. its really fetching
characterzstiOns and its unquestioned production
| beauty.
One" lasted barely long enough as I recall. for
Belasco to get Charlotte Walker launched in an i'm
possible role Of a comedy by Jean Archibald. Call the
Doctor 1t is difficult, difcut exactly arrive
at the trouble with Call the Doctor" theme
essentially satiric yet somewhere along there
| was bad development a lack proper emphasis Of
| the right proportions, lsmentabie confusion
what sort Of minor role Charlotte Walker was try
| ing to play.
| About this time-it may have been that Belasco
sensed trouble ahead-the producer departed for Eu-
to curry the foreign market for something
that would ft little Granville Barker must
have been a prominent member Of the reception COM
mittee, for the two imporatons Belasco
since his return betrsy, in rather compelling fashion
Mr.. Barkers apparent inability to properly adapt
play into English without materially msrring. IN
some important essential the vitality structure
O. o. Mcintyre in his sprightly Manhattan epstIes
| has assured that to admit that not seen
and apprecisted-"Debursu" is tsntamount TO a cor.
fession that is cultural hobo a generally
| a-round low fellow. That. course. is the idles
persnage, particularly coming from the
| Manhattan.
| "Debursu" may be. without affecting the issue ,
flaming fad. but il is by many. many rods
quarts and grams the "Debursu" of Sschy Gutry anC
social dctum that sends thousands Of sufferers yearly
| to grand opera, Dunssny lectures amateur the
atricsls by the Junior League is hardly sufficient
| make it so.
| an EBURAU." then, the first fruit OF Belssooi
| overseas journey. 1t blossomed here q cou
| pie of months and h possible 70 tn
tellgently the thing in dumb show dflet
| il the Granville Barker dialogue, Il would rerre
sent without doubt interesting probably hirhl,
accurate study OF French thester 3es
| Ciogged and hampered. however with the haltins
| faItering suffering Iibre Of Barker some o
| which rhymes and some of which don't 'Deburay n
| becomes a literary torment. As to the ia
| berent pictures the