The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1922-04-16

~
~ lures launched during the by
= actors out OF job De Wolf Hopper
braves the lightning, and in prospectus OF classic
optimism announces something new in the
type of merriment
A glimpse Of the Hopper prospectus warns
one with strange enthusiasm Hopper and his
associate "Funmakers' propose TO carry the
banner that was incontinenty dropped by T. ZieE-
field jr.. when girls and scenery found 20 MI
the bill. In short, they propose TO give New York
q revue that will strongly reflect Satire element
and which will include comedy. burlesque drama
and song all in a grand hurly-burly Of mirth and
merriment. recklessly and uncompromisingly titled
Some Party"
For instance. Mr.. Hopper sets forth the car
dinal principle OF his idea not only back
to-satire" movement In staging. but. addi-
tionally the elimination OF a long series 81
droleries that have tickled the sophisticated
Of the Lambs Club personnel at the periodical
Gambols OF that organization
Hopper is said to have nursed the idea Tor
long time and to have interested II. IL Burusid"
in the matter Together. they outlined pro-
gram obtained a theater and began rehcarssls
with cast that includes jefferson De Angels.
Lew Dockstader William Courtlegh. and govd
many others.
~ revue" says the founder Of the plan.
"shouid first Of all be sdtiricaI. .......Oy late
yeors, revHes hare emphasized the pictorial 10 N"
neglect Of comedy They hare gIoritied the
tune designer and the ScoHc artist. My associates
and I beliere that appeal 70 the car. rather
than to the eye in tht, kind Of eHtertaiu-
ment really lies, HOi0crer. the pictorial 1iH not
be overlooked"
-AIR words. indeed, and nobly spoken. but
Some Party" has yet TO achieve distinc-
uon. Its opening scheduled the
= Al Jolson Theater in New York last night
and the returns have yet arrived Its course.
however. will be interesting to watch-partcu-
larly interesting 10 the theatergoers Of city like
Washington. which, having Ziegfeld's rise
on the eirl-and-music horizon 10 a zenith not sp-
preached by other producer. now watches his
deterioration into mere gaseous nebula Of
scenery, costumes and chorus ladies.
Although II is possible TO generate great en-
thusiasm for Mr. Hopper's idea, one approaches
its material form with vast amount Of trepids-
ton Somehow its cast seems not overwhelming
potential amusement factor. No mention az
all is made Of its writers Of libretto. music
and incidental comedy. the masters OF
pictorial display. which Is not to be overlooked
particularly prominent in the brosdcssting
Such attitude may not be quite fair but
skepticIsm is in order when such movements
undertaken. George White, for one, was hot for
unmasking zegfeld the king. but White
promptly Topped the status OF a burlcsque
impresaro. All frequently It happens that a
poor Ziegfeld show far superior TO the best
products of HIS competitors. and in all the years
he has been producing revues and neElcctinE
satire, George NJ. Cohan was the only one who
went him one better in the field Of satire with
the now-ancent Cohan Revue.
There is possibility however. that Mr.
Hopper and his paymates may achieve success.
Even though a partial success it may prove
lever that should lift Mr.. Ziegfeld an inch
from his bogged-down condition in the girl-snd-
music swamp. AS the foremost producer OF
entertainment in America zieEfeld is greatly SUI
ferinG from an absence Of competition, from the
lack OF thorough going pacemaker. from the
that there exists America, save only
Conan. producer who seems able TO approx
mate ziegfelds skill. even at its worst
THIS, thew, may prove the real voIue o, Mr..
Hopper's effort. II may do soothing fkdn
serve a medium 10 shoI0 Ziepfeld the depths Of
his deterioration. For slu'nred he most certainly
has, tCitHess the "Folies," current here last
Geek, and unless something dtOdkens him 70 his
toork the sirteentL ''FoIIies" crew be tcorse
than the fifteenth
~ AssING to less speculative matters, one dis
Germs, in the production last week at the
Garrick-'"The Charlatan"-the hectic ef-
L forts Of theater producers TO isolate and
to their profit existing trends and fashions
in the drama.
The Charlatan" for instance. is nothing more
nor than Adolph Klauber's effort financially
capitalize the vogue for mystery melodrama that
is always less latent in the theater, but
which, at present, seems to enjoy a profound
recrudescence. There is nothing moral legally
wrong in Adolph Klauber or any other producer
producing a play TO Mt the fashion, but the in
, struments chosen attain this end frequently
subject to complaint.
Looking the high spots OF the current
mystery -melodrama fashion one recalls such plays
as Cohan's production Of Three Faces East" the
Staircase" C'The BATH, and the current New York
thrill-chaser, The Cat and the Canary" These
three plays while similar in theory. are also
plays of high mechanical skill and merit,
bning. in addition, a certain Tilt of dialogue and
al unquestioned smoothness OF thought
structon.
Each of the three not only entitled 20
the success II achieved, but each Of the three
doubtedly had hand in the creation OF the vogue
that Mn Klauber would turn to account with his
production of The Charlatan." The KIauber pro-
H,r1vr
enumerated forerunners. in that IL is highly iml-
tatiye, hszy in thought mechanically inaccurate
and blurred in Interpretation. AS 81 drama, il
is execrable, yet IT contains just enough incon-
sequent thrill and artificial tingIe to gloss
its inaccurate phrssing
1t is probable that Klauber's production will
be duplicated in other quarters, and before next
season is over the thester may be wrapped iu =
vcritable orgy OF mystery. Which will in all prob
ability, bring about a duplication Of tho prprosS
that put the bedroom farce in the discard rc-k-
less and indscrImnate parade of mystery. even