The Washington times., 1922-08-27
Sees Square Deal
For Ydnk Writers
Continued from Page 81

AioHB anu, W PufaPh'ooS
Fellies song, it's getting darker
daily on Broadway. Another
imports a troupe of Russians.
If immigration regulations don't
interfere, the resultant Russian
invasion will look like another
evacuation Of Petrograd, abetted
by Tomsk, omsk and Tjomsk.
Thus is goes.
Ten years ago If producer
went to Europe the papers
chronicled it in the column Of
Unusual Events" But Broad
way now is listed in the
Baedecker guide. Prosperous
producers are perturbed as to
whether they should weekend
in Berlin or on Long Island.
Someone Is Just dashing over or
just dashing back; always with
the inevitable armful of manu-
scripts I picked up after a care
full survey Of the leading Euro
pean capitals"
MEANWHILE an o'Neill was
housed In a stable by thos2
passionate Utopians forming the
theater guild: Frank Bacon. after
forty years of endeavor. finally
markets a piece Of American scrib-
bling which has been running three
years and we've had revivals ga.
lore, mostly of European tone, be.
cause the overseas market was
played out and few cared to take
a chance on American authors
though the Trunk Editor who's n
bear on statistics informs US that
one-third Of the trunk output Of
the nation is used for parking un-
sold manuscripts.
Perhaps a wish is father to Mr..
Thomas thought. He hopes. as
does everyone else. that the
o'Neill's. Rinehart's. Atkins'es and
Bacons will get equal footing with
foreigners Of equal merit. And we
will still relish with our character
istic verve the outputs Of Milne,
Molnar. Shaw and the rest Of the
good ones.
TONIGHT, at the Belasco,
Tallulah Bankhead and Allan
Dinehart will uncork whatever
effervescence there is In THE
Exciters," a new play written by
Martin Brown and sponsored by
the Selwyns.
The piece was given its premiere
in Atlantic City last week. We
reproduce part Of a review by e.
F. Smith in the Atlantic City
Press:
"If Tullulah Bankhead and Al.
Ian Dinehart do not arise today
with enlarged craniums. 1t will be
because of their self.control and
not for lack Of appreciation be-
slowed by the audience at Woods
Theater last night. There were
times when the curtain calls left II
doubtful II the show itself was
only a side issue.
"And It must be conceded these
two principals in a large cast de-
served popular favor. Miss Bank.
head in particular taking to her
role with such irresistible fervor
that she exerted a magnetic influ.
ence on the house, which swayed
with her moods in sympathetic re-
sponse. Attractive in face and
figure, Miss Bankhead added to
that asset a dramatic appreciation
Of her character part that enabled
her to give a delightful, well.round.
ed performance.
"Mr. Dinehart was quite as
manly and determined as Miss
Bankhead was vivacious and fiery
tempered, and the combat of two
sharply contrasted natures was
admirably drawn. As the next
chief figure in what Martin
Brown, the author, calls a com.
edy, but which partakes of the
elements of comedy-drama. Enid
Markey, as the servant, stands
we'll to the fore. OF the others,
1t may be said that they were
fragmentary contributors. The
play practically pivots on the
trio"
TWO other road attractions,
"why Men Leave Home and
"Tangerine"' the latter a year
old favorite, will deck the
Belasco boards before the Shubert
vaudeville season opens.
Speaking of Shubert vaudeville,
advance bookings indicate q
rather solid menu for the season
round. 1t is officially announced
that enough unit vaudeville
shows have been booked to OBJ
viate the necessity Of one repeat
act.