The Washington herald., 1922-03-26
Mines New Plays
Achieve a Vogue
In the Playhouse
Three Successes in the Same
Season Is London Authors
Theater Record
By EARLE DORSEY.

By EARLE DORSEY.
y Is one Of the mingled advantages and draw
Il backs of residence in the classic groves OF
Il Washington be able. frequently to dis
important trends in the drama without
being able. at and the same time, TO definitely
explain their why's and wherefores.
The of Milne is in point-Alsn
Alexander Milne-the London playwright whose
work has attained a popularity that amounts TO
nothing less than a vogue. The Milne vogue Is
one Of the few outstanding features Of the current
dramatic season, yet It is not possible after
inspection of lone sample of the Milne product,
to say definitely whether Mines popularity is
the result of genius a vogue thrust upon him
by the inordinate tendency Of the American
provincial worship anything that bears the
English imprint
Washington has but example OF the
Milne handiwork in "Mr. PIN Passes BY" the
play at the National last week. This was the
first OF the Milne comedies. succeeded later by
The Dover Road" THE Truth About Bayds,"
and. it is rumored, is to be followed by yet
another The Romantic Age"
The billows OF praise and panegyric that
rise from New York lead inevitably TO decide
that Mines work not fully HSst ad-
vantageously expressed in Mr.. PIN" Certainly
the praise that has risen from the delectabe
corpus dramatis of The Dover Road"
actuated. would think, by more worthy
approximation of the w Somerset Vaughan
manner than Mr. PIN" proved to be. and the
same would naturally be ones reaction the
panegyrcs raised over The Truth About
'Bayds."
Distance, hotoereT, Is deceivino. One must
take a secondhand vieU Of such matters aud
all this commentator Of the Milne manner
from the WoolIcotts aud the HdmmoAds Of
the Nev York press. may be mere empty
nouthfnos. IL must be remembered that WoOH-
colt praised Drinktodter and Hammond toeHt
fndudliu Glare RUNNERS "Thc MoUHfdiH
Man," tchich something TO forget.
TT is at all unlikely that one Of the rea-
L sons why the photoplay productions of u. W.
Il Griffith taken so seriously by the public
i is because Griffith himself takes his produc-
tions seriously, not only during preparation
and development but after they are ready to
present.
in times past IT has been the Griffith custom
to obtain a legitimate theater wherein to present
his productions at 81 prices. The price adds
its distinction. quite regardless Of the pic
ture's intrinsic worth, and one would naturally
suppose that Grifith would be content to let
picture stand on its merits and win the public by
its inherent appeal
Such is not the Grifhth way He o
think that If picture is worth presenting at
all he it TO his audiences to carry out and
reflect, the last possible degree the serious
purpose and desire for achievement that went
into its production. And the usual method OF
rejecting this idea is for Griffith accompany
his productions to the hinterland cities, to per
sonally sponsor and superintend the details Of
presentation to s that the more representative
elements Of the local population have oppor-
tunity TO critcise his handiwOrk and finally, at
the end, to personally appear and share in the
praise blame naturally accruing to him as its
producer.
All Of this unquestionabIy lends a vast tone
and dignity to Griffith production which is
rarely. if ever, attained by the more Pretentious
offerings of other producers, who, for the most
part rarely willing to assume so openly the
praise blame that will naturally follow.
Griffin has made a number Of pretentioUs
presentations the past, but in the Of
outdoinp himself. Not only tcH he appear
person TO sponsor the opening Of the picture
today, but he has persuaded his tIoo stars.
LiIlion cnd Dorothy Gish, TO appear also.
Which is a Griffin inHoUatioH for Washington
~ NE of the spring fashions Journalism
is a series OF analyses of the outlook
for theatrical entertainment in Wash
~ ingtOn during the spring and summer
well as for the year ahead. Having embraced
the mode on least occasion / see no rea-
why the matter should be further dis
cussed, particularly with reference TO the spring
and summer.
The management Of Polps bsving discerned
with some alarm tendency to read that theater
of the list Of available payhouses has filed
a last-minute statement in which it is authorita-
lively and oficially announced that Polls. as a
playhouse, is by no means ready for the wreck
and the excavators.
AN announcement of real interest the
theatrical public" reads the Polls bulletin
should be the one coming from the manage
ment Of Polls Theater and which, contrary to
all previous reports and rumors, assures us that
the theatrical season in Washington from
early end. Though Polls is now closed
due to the scarcity of legitimate -attractions
the remainder of the season. with the one cxccp-
tbon of Holy Week, is entirely booked. Such
attractions The Last Waltz The Bird Of
Paradise East Is West and William Hodge
his latest play, are due make their appearance
ats Polls this season The production regular
shows will extend far into the month Of May
when, it is expected. definite arrangements will
have been completed for a theatrical diversion
of an interesting nature that will probably
throughout the summer. FurtheS details $
the time and character Of the summer season
will be made at q later date"
All of which, translated, means O) that
Polls regular season will last into May: C2l that
plans being made to convert PoIrs into
stock theater during the summer CS) that