The Washington herald., 1922-01-01
Revivals Appear
AS the Iheater
Starts New Year
Low Grade of Autumn Drama
Revives Idea of Resident
Stock Companies.
7 Ew YEAR DAY 10 generally regarded .s


the task of combing the current body OF the drama
for such trends and tendencies may have be-
come manifest In the stage showings Of the
preceding four months since Labor Day.
The season, then, literally reeks with a ten
dency to backward and resurrect, for 1874
consumption, number OF the stage hits of past
years This trend is obvious in the production
this year of such ancient successes The Merry
Widow" The Chocolate Soldier" Bought ana
Paid For" The Squaw Man" Alias Jimmy VAL
entine," and '"Trilby"
There certain individuals who even claim
to read in the signs Of the times a resurrection
Of the idea that motivated the metropolitan stock
companies of the DAILY, Palmer, Empire and Ly-
ceum vintage. The belief is founded the recent
formation in New York of the National Players
Wilton Lacksye. George Nash. Harry Mestayer,
Charlotte Walker. Edmond Lowe Ignacio Marti-
neIli al-who have already produced Mr..
Lackayes former success, "Trilby." after Mr..
Lackayes alleged agreement play a butler in
other revival. Additional force is given this
idea by the rumored plan Of E. H. Sothern and
Julia Marlowe establish a theater in New York
and to produce there seriatum, all the successful
plays in which they have appeared since 1885, In
cluding both their Shskespearean plays and their
romantic successes well
Quite regardless Of what may or may not
come Of the effort to revive the repertoire idea,
IL is merely one Of the signs that the national
drama is reactng sharply 10 the vacuum in
stage literature. which has flooded Washington
with more unworthy new productions this year
than have come 70 the Capital in time out OF
mind Two months ago all heard OF the
shocking industrial condition of the country
condition generally held responsible for the rapid
failure of many productions-but seemingly it
has dawned certain producers that stage stun
OF inherent value, like The First Year" Anna
Christie" "A Bill Of enforcement" "Dulcy." Sally
and Good Morning Dearie" frankly unable TO
provide adequate accommodations for all who wish
them
This has brought certain producers to the
idea that the drama itself and not popular
Monies is largely to blame for woeful conditions
and the net result has been rush 70 bring out
he Al NJ In
vacuum of cent-a-word fiction.
To some extent the public has not instatane-
ously and favorably reacted to these hits Of the
old regime as strikingly instanced in ''Floradors"
and The Merry Widow" but the dramatic
vivals seem stand up well under 1921 audience
conditions.
AZ Of tact the prod~ctson yacUrtSes Of
modern stage keeping step tcith the fkeates
progress Ten ago, the public rejecting
Tsben for his "synbGlism;" today. the public
aridy ssodlIolos 0,EeiH, MOIndr GEitTy and
for Is it TO be wondered thar America
tod1ed critical, proceeds reject
that IS far beotO the technical Of Alias jimmy
short, thot hos steadily passed
ToentiHe" AND Bought aud Paid For."-the drama
Septemberr
TX the face OF its general crudity and crsssnes,
as material for the theater Green Jade" the
Broughton Tall production that passed from
the Garrick last night served good purpose in
the Suggestion II gave OF q refreshing ana prOh-
ably novel stage picture that might easily be
built around the central role OF this drama.
This is the role Of a growing. surly Russian
musician, graduate of the Paris Conservatoire
thoroughly immoral individuslist with q half-Mon-
golian contempt for and a wholly Mon
Eolisn lust for power success. outwardly re-
pulsive. the character has . queer. ingratiating
quality that fascinates the sex he scorns a char
acter, the whole strangely compounded Of
Atta, Ghengis Khan and Don Juan.
By some mystifying process Of tempersmentsl
aloofness, Arthur Hohl the villain OF Green
Jade" has managed to develop a sembsnce OF this
Characterization and. more remarkable still he has
managed 10 preserve the picture long enough TO
get IL before audience.
1t IL picture but hslf-developed-in il.
Green Jade" incsrnation-a picture constantly
blurred BY the faulty Interpretation that sur
rounds IL but II was nevertheless q hint and
decided hint Of the possibilities of the role which
Hohl brought to the Garrick footlights last week
Under far more propitious circumstances, a
much less powerful though similar pictur. wa,
offered BY Arnold Bennett is his 'carIotta OF tn.
Five Towns" that Elsie Ferguson brought out as
Sacred and Profsns Love- Jose Rubens think
IT was. brought some nne acting to the role OF .
wandering pianist whose carries him up and
then down, but It only an incompIet. ana
incidental picture that Arnold wrote into hi.
story. for all its charm Of Characterization.
The picture that Hohl has developed-it would
never do I'd credit it to the director who 50 mar
nincenuy botched the general acting Of "Creen
Jade"-s q major AFFAIR by comparison with
Rubenr. Broughton Tall, the author OF .yyreen
Iade% originated the characterization without
apparently being aware Of its full Significance
Hohl the actor. in at least has discerned the
qualities that underlie the idea and though beset
with great odds he makes the role stand head ana
shoulders above the characterization of the mu,i-
clans wife which for audience purposes has been
made the pivotal role OF Green Jade"
IL must always be remembered that Leo
pitrcnstein has made highly popular in America
une role or the oonsummste male flIrt the seduc-
ZIONIST par excellence the decadent who hs, mad.
sne oonouerns Of women his nte-work. his career