The Washington herald., 1922-01-16
By EARLE DORSEY.

The theater Is indebted to one
Russell Janney for the production
of a musical version of Louis N.
Parker's costume comedy, "Poman-
der Walk" which opened at Polls
last night under circumstances that
entitIe il to real consideration.
.cMarjolaine''z Is the title Mr.. jan
ney has selected and while the pro-
duction is yet immature, Il pos
sesses a score of Hugo Felix that
more than balances its dramatic
shortcomings.
'Pomander Walk" Parker's quaint
ed little London neighborhood be-
side the River Thames. The period
is that of the Third George and in
the main, 1t tells a story OF the love
of a young lord for a girl from
Pomander Walk, which righted, In
the course Of its development, the
unhappy love affair that had parted
the girls mother and the youths
father. i
In substance, the story is of "the
three decker kind of which Kip
ling sang and the last act finds all
sails set for the Islands of the
Blest. This, however, is merely the
background 'Marjolaine" is more
musical than dramatic and while
the delicate, humorous fancies Of
"Pomander Walk" shine through,
il is the music of "Marjolaine" thar
dominates the action and the floats
one smoothly over the reefs Of
cmic opera interpretations.
) r 1886 ).'k .. 1905. 1886
For purposes Of comparison. Mar
jolaine" is not so well acted as the
Gilbert Miller operatic production OF
Monsieur Beaucaire." nor does. the
Fallstaffian Lennox Pawls have as
much of a role as he did in the
Harrington opera, but 'Majorlaine'
is vastly superior in atmosphere. mu-
sic and fancy to the operate story
of Franz Schubert-"Blossom Time
and four times the entertainment
that Savage brought to his revival
of 1.-The Merry Widow"
Mr.. Felix's score is the outstand-
ing element in the piece. A selec-
tion called 'Marjolaine" is the theme
and it has properties that compare
favorably with the "Maytime Waltz" !"
The first and second acts. further
more. contain three numbers each
that are delightful and another in
the third act, Music Box" Is a
charming affair Of delicate orchestra
ton and plucked strings. Such first
act, selections as II Want You
Song of a Sailor and 'Marjolaine"
and such second-act pieces as 'Wom-
an-woman." old Brown Coat and
oh. DIR. Sternroyd," are wholly and
frankly charming.
The chief weakness of "Marjolaine"
is its cast. Miss Mary Hay, the
wife of Richard Barthelmess. the
screen actress, Is captivating in a
wholly minor role. II you've seen
Mary Hay ON celluloid. you have
an idea how thoroughly piquant she
can be. The result Is a bad. in
version of stage values in which Miss
Hay in a minor role dwarfs the IT,
tie roles held by Peggy Wood. Len
nox Pawle fully measures up to the
comedy standard one expects OF him.
particularly in the final act. but the
role opposite Miss Hay. occupied by
Maurice Holland, is not fully real
lied. Albert G. Andrew brings old
Sir Peter to full vitality. but Irving
Beebe as lo!er is more of a singer
than an actor.
These, however. are affairs for Mr..
Janney. the producer, to rectify as
soon as may be. They are not of
sufficient moment to be regarded as
vital and in the main one grows
accustomed to them. On the whole,
'Marjolaine" is an agreeable sur
prise and can be recommended.