The Washington herald., 1922-10-29

earliest date to expect addition to the list
of Washington theaters available for legitimate
attractions
The National Theater-s new National. in
fact, as well In name-already promises .
Thanksgiving Day opening. but the management
is promising nothing else. It expects to have
the stage equipped and seats installed by that
time. but that 10 about all. There Will stni
remain a great amount of interior decoration to
be done that may be held until spring
when construction forces will nnish the splendid
once building that 10 to form a part OF
the theater.
AS to Polls. construction work there is still,
in full blast. though some quarters hold that
New Years Day may come and 20 before the
theater is ready for n audience. Steel work
has been delayed and construction refuse
to make any predictions to when one may
expect performances. In the meantime work
goes steadily forward s fast conditions will
permit.
All this is a little disheartsnins to the con-
nrmed theatergoer who prefers legitimate drama
above all other and who chsfes under the fact
that Washington. with some 100000 population.
is forced to depend Garrick bookings of
none-too-promisins variety far. The delay.
however. will have its compensstions
It will give Washington not only two
practically thestsrs. in the National and
Polls. but Il has been the means OF forcing
into the ranks of legitimate playhousss the
long-neglected theater at Eleventh street and
Pennsylvania that has been rechristened
the President and which is now weIl-stsrted on
one Of the most successful repertoire seasons
the town has known
There is every reason to b.iiev. that the
President may easily become the home Of .
winter repertoire company Offering legitimate
drama in repertoire form for those who IND
50 and So theater prices q trfne high on
sion. The President management has wisely
made attempt to take advantage OF it's
success by raising prices and its management
declares that the popular sl-a-seat figure will
be retained regardless of the prosperity that has
beamed the Players.
All this. however. has bearing the
fact that the President seems definitely estab-s
ushed a legitimate playhouse that the public.
will patronize. while a glance recent events
will instantly show that the present thester
shortage may prove in the long a blessing
in disguise.
IN the meanwhile. perforce. the city takes It's
legitimate drama in homeopathic doses.
The Garrick has brought FIVE six
plays to town in ae many weeks though
not more than OF these have shown much
promise. The photoplay thesters. on the other
dition Of affairs by Offering since September l.
a bewilderng and pretentious array OF pictures
at least opus for every week OF the
intervening period
The first of thes. big pictures. Of course.
was Rodolph Valentines Blood and Sand" that
opened on September and easily held the
ter of the stage until the appearance Of The
Prisoner of Zenda," Rex Ingram's production.
its run he NJ nd
joyed it's share Of popularity only to be crowded
by Monte cristo" and The Storm"
Then came Cecil B. DeAIiIIe's attraction.
"Manslaushter" and this enjoyed a protracted
popularity that eventually gave way produc-
tions like Under Two Flags" John Barrymore
in Sherlock Holmes" and Mae Murray in
broadway Rose" After these knight
hood" the long-heralded picture starring Marion
Davies that goes into a second week at the CO.
-lumbia today, while the newest picture bid
for screen honors is The Masquerader." the pic
turization OF Guy Bates Posts stage play in
which he makes his cinema debut at the Metro
politan today.
There is no denying that the Washington
screen has thoroughly ecipsed all past efforts
during the eight weeks that have gone by since
Blood and Sand" first flashed the horizon.
Some Of these productions have been those that
enthroned magnitude and beauty rather than
dramatic merit. but in the main they have man
aged in way another to challenge pub
lie attention in way that camera entertain
ment has probably never before challenged at
tention here.
All this tends toward optimism The exhibit
tors apparently sparing trouble
pense obtain the best product obtainsbIe. while
the record they have already established indi-
Gates that the winter may prove a memorable
in local screen circles
Turning back to the matter of legitimate
drama at the Garrick. there have already been
issued bulletins from that playhouse that prom
Use better things ahead. For instance in addi-
tion to the Emil Nyitray play, The Man on the
Balcony" that comes to the Garrick tonight.
the same theater also announces the appearance
next week of Otis Skinner in a revival OF Mis-
ter Antonio" And after that come other pro-
ductions OF equally promising nature.
viewing matters from all angles. there 4
room for a generous Pollysnnaism In a theats
a. AErnA