Evening star., 1921-01-17
"THE ED WYNN CARNIVAL" "

Ed Wynn has brought his Carnival
back to the National Capital after a
year of success in New York and else
where. and a Washington audience
at the National Theater last night
noisily expressed it's joy. 1t Is more
amusing, more smoothly running pro-
duction than it was when 1t played
here before, and Ed Wynn has held
helped to make the Carnival sue
cess from the start. The pruning hook
| has been used judiciously. and the re-
suit is a swiftly moving entertain
ment, without plot, to be sure, but
knit together by Mr.0Wynn's own fun
As SHimself," Ed Wynn rambles
| joyously through two acts and in
Vulnerable. scenes. He and his COM
pany appear to enjoy themselves as
Mr.. Wynn's humor and methods are
peculiar to himself, and. therefore, he
is well cast as Himself
| The diminutive actors from Japan
! last night, both in song and in aero
batic feats. Then there are Ray Mil
lers Black and White Melody Boys,
! jazz band par excellence, to set the
feet Of the audience moving whether
| or no, and who were encored many
times. Lillian Fitzgerald. with her
French and Irish Characterization
| and songs. and as a partner of Mr..
wynn himself in several of the scenes.
| made many new admirers last night.
Lillian Wagner, Charles Bennett.
Muriel Harrison and Earl Benham
are intrusted with the song hits of
| the carnival--outside Of those by Miss
Fitzgerald-and their rendition was
excellent; My Log-Fire Girl" sung
shine. Hello Moon" by Muriei Harri-
son and Earl Benham; II Love the
Land Of Old Black joe" by Muriel
Harrison, and THE Sphinx Of the
Desert" by Lillian Wagner. all were
enthusiastically received.
Wanda Hon. as queen Of the Nile.
in an Egyptian dance. is both beau
tiful and graceful, and Beth Stone,
in an eccentric toe dance. shared with
her tho dancing honors of the even
ing.
acrobats. perform a number Of un-
usual. not to say dangerous. feats.
The scenic effects are wonderfully
beautiful. especially the Japanese
scenes. also that revealing the sphinx
in the desert. 1t would be distinct
oversight not to mention the exceed
ingly pretty girls who mako up the
well drilled chorus. All in all. the
Ed Wynn Carnival is long way In
advance Of many of the musical re-
vues and musical comedies that have
been produced here. 1t Is an enter
plauee It received last night
BLUE EYES"
In presenting "Blue Eyes" Lew
Fields and Morris Rose. the producers.
have revived an almost obsolete de-
scriptive title-"musfcal comedy. Al
though tho opening scene Is iaio IN
Greenwich village. Blue Eyes 10 nos
a "follies," nor Is tho village referred
to by its modern name. The offering.
greeted for the first time In Washtng.
ton by an appreciative audience last
evening at Polls Theater. is strictly
what its title implies musical COM
edy Of the substantial type. II "a 1as s.
suspicion Of being a revue or q fol,
throughout, and the fact that the story
il thoroughly up to date 10 evidenced
BY the fact that it Introduces an an
DO with 4 trio consisting OF an i'm
pecunious artist. an equally money
less poet and q playwrfter. likewise
unhampered by assets Tho artist IL
knocked down by an automoniis n, dr,v- nnv
posedly wealthy parents. with an es-
tate on Long Island. By mistake.
when his name is demanded. the artist
produces from pocket OF his coat
smnecunious friends insist that he go
through with it" and the trio proceed
to the Long Island estate as week end
guests Of tho parents Of Blue Eyes"
It develops that the latter are moi
their wits and hope to borrow money
from tho "count" on the theory that
| the latter Win fan in love With The th
daughtef. who is not . party to the
deception. The real count Is In truth
an Anarchist and in capturing the
rinEleader Of the gang the pseudo
oaunt earns q large reward. He and
the Eirl exchange condolences and all
ends happily after many complica-
:Biue Eyes" is bubblihg over with
music and dance numbers. ana has 1t
least one popular hit. Tho cast was
evidently selected with care. for It
measures up to all requirements. Don.
aid Macdonald. singer. dAncer and
| thoroughly At homo in any part as
| signed him. Hs leading role. as has