The Washington herald., 1921-05-15

1 Stcppeu upon the stage IN Edna 81
Vincent Millay's ARIA da Capo,~ the
spectator seemed truly transported
to fairy land.
Pierrot> (Robert BelD and colum-
bine (Helen Robbins) were gay, friv-
olous creatures talking of the moon,
love, and good things to eat. Pier
rot was a little wistful and sad and
wanted to be something more than
he was-he didn't quite know what.
But Columbine was carefree with
mind like an escallop of oyster
nothing but crumbs" as Pierrot
told her.
4 Then there came upon the scene
that was the world of Pierrot and
columbine two shepherds (James
Reynolds and Ulysses Graham) who
were loving comrades. They in
vented a game and built a wall be-
tween them over which neither was
to venture upon the others terri
tory. Each found treasures upon his
side Of the wall. became covetous,
and planned and plotted to add to
his own riches those of his former
friend. In their plotting they killed
each other, moaning as they died
that 1t was but a game. Now came
Pierrot and Columbine again, still
absorbed in their frivolities. They
showed the bodies of the dead shep-
herds under their banquet table and
went on with their persihsge.
Helen Robbins. leading lady with
Lionel Barrymore in Richard III"
brought a rare piquancy to the part
of Columbine and was charming in
bouffant tulle skirt and tight bodice
garlanded with bright French now
ers. Robert Bell was as delightful
and whimsical a Pierrot as could be
imagined.
The second play showed William
shakespeare, in the gardens of the
royal palace to meet his mistress,
The Dark Lady OF the Sonnets," :"
and encountering. instead, Queen
Elizabeth. Shakespeare as por-
trayed by Robert Bell. who had
stepped into the role but three days
before. was a very human play
wright. snatching his ideas from
the lips of the warder and the
Royal Queen in turn and winning
forgiveness with his impudent wit
Anne Ives was a regal queen and
Miss Robbins portrayed a IovabIe
Dark Lady"
For the EIizabethan play bril-
liant pennants waved from poles at
each side of the back screen and
flaming torches set eight feet hign
cast weird light as in Shakes
peare's own time
In the intermission between the
Two plays Mrs. Franklin Townsend,
IN quaint full skirted white gown
draped with red, green and black
ribbons, sang a group of early Eng
Ilsh songs to a flute accompaniment
and her clear voice rising up to the
slent trees will be long remembered
Much OF the credit for the artis-
Try OF the performances should go
10 Bertram Bloch, who directed both
plays No less should go to Robert
Bell who plans, you know, to join
Maurice Brown in Seattle, Wash, in
July. Maurice Brown. who was one
OF the originators of the little the
ater idea, you know. spends his
winters in New York ond his sum-
mers at the little theater of the
cornish School in Seattle, Mrs
Brown, who is quite as much an
artist as he Is, assisting him in tn.
production of delightful plays there
Tuesday afternoon the garden
party given by the American
Legion Post OF the National
Press Club at the Marine Bar
racks. in compliment to Vice
President and Mrs. Coolidge, was
pressed with beautiful weather and
was a complete success.
The guests assembled on the pa
rade grounds and there were
speeches and music and dancing
ana supdry stunts, The previous
evening Mrs. Thomas F. Walsh was
able to finally have a really success
full roof garden dance, after max
ing several attempts. She planned
two previous parties of the same
sort. but 1t always rained; but Mon
days party was really one of the
incest not to say smartest. parties
OF the season. The roof was a veri-
table garden, illuminated with elec-
trio lights amidst umbrellas Of
Mowers and banks Of rambler roses.
the next morning for New York and
rope, where she will spend several
months.
COULD NOT USE AZTEC
GARDENS FOR RECEPTION.
Tut Wednesday morning wash
* ington awoke to md II rain
- ing, and for several mornings
thereafter. And how 1t did rain! It
made it quite impossible to use
the Aztec gardens at the Pan Amer
lean Building Wednesday evening
during the big reception-THE big
reception. Nevertheless the gardens
were illuminated and looked par
ticularly beautiful from the Hall OF
the Americas. Quite hiding the sad
Indian who broods over the lily
pond was a large horseshoe of red,
white, and blue lights, a symbol or
good luck for the new administra-
tion. The pond was outlined with
lights which were reflected In its
waters and at each end of the ter
race a cedar tree was wonderfully
Illuminated with varicolored lights
which were also strung across the
terrace and among the shrubbery.
Inside the building was a veritable
garden, the doorways and pillars all
being covered with lattices of laurel
blooms as well as foliage, huckfe-
berry foliage brought up from Ala
bama especially for the occasion.
and roses. Cedar trees filled every
nook and corner. and hydrangeas of
many colors, roses and various
Southern vines, were banked In
every available place upstairs and
down. Even on top OF the big front
door was a huge basket OF American
Beauty roses. On each side Of the
main entrance were tall vases of i'm
mense proportions. filled with Amer