The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-12-18
MISS BANKHEAD
PRAISED IN
LONDON
One Of Five Americans Listed
Among Best by Noted
English Critic.
By DAVID M. CHURCH.
International News Service. '

international News Service.
LONDON, Dec. 18.-Americans
have won their way into the Eng
lish theatrical hall of fame.
Sir John Ervine has included ten
Americans in his list of actors who
have given the. best performances
in London in 1923.
In America st. John IRVINE is
known as a playwright. In England
he Is known as a playwright, but
principally as a critic. IRVINE has
been for several years regarded as
the best Of the English dramatic
critics. Now he has given up dra-
matte criticism, but as a swan song
he has written for Eve" a London
periodical, a review Of the year 1923
in the London theaters and has
chosen thirty-three actresses and
thirty mine actors who, he believes,
have given the most noteworthy per-
formances during the past year.
Five Americans in List.
In Ervine's list of London's best
thifty-three actresses appear the
names of five American actresses,
while in his list of the thirty nine
best actors five more Americans
are included.
1t is noteworthy that among these
actresses and actors ErVine, who
hates revues and dislikes musical
comedies, has named Adele Astaire,
RENE Riano, Florence Mills, Melville
Gideon and Solly Ward, whose eff
forts are entirely in revue or in
musical comedy.
London in stop Flirting" an An
rrl;n ~
piece, For Goodness Sake" Renie
Riano appeared here in the Music
Box Revue" Tallulah Bankhead
is playing in 1.-THE Dancers" in sup
port of Sir Gerald Du Maurier. Flor
ence Mills appeared here in a revue,
and Pauline Lord stormed the town
in Anna Christie"
Unknown Made Hit.
Tom Douglas, an American youth
almost unknown to the American
stage, made a tremendous hit in
| Merton of the Movies" in London,
although the piece failed to score
prolonged success. Melville Gideon
has been writing and singing songs
with the "Co-Optimists" for several
years. George Marion scored here
in Anna Christie Edwin Robins
is starring in $50 This Is London"
Solly Ward appeared in the Music
Box Revue"
IRVINE also named Geroge Arliss
in his all-star theatrical team, but
claims him as an Englishman, al
though he has scored his principal
successes in America.
Lauds Adele Astaire.
Miss Adele Astaire is the jolli-
est, happiest, clever dancer
have ever SEEM" IRVINE wrote in
his swan song in Eve" Her
nimble feet and long, thin legs
Heavens, how thin that girl isD
| seem able to do absolutely anything
that she wishes them to do.
But she is not only brilliant dancer
her brother, Fred, is equally bril-
liant-she also is an irresistible
Coincidence. When she first appears
, on the stage and talks in her funny
, thin squeak of a voice one is not SO
greatly impressed; but suddenly this
young person begins to dance, and
. Immediately we perceive that mar
! velous person is before US.
Hardly have we become accus-
toned to the wonder of her dane
ing than we are struck all Of a heap
by her infectious fun. The girl is
| full of laughter; she is actually en-
! joying this performance as much as
we are; and because she Is enjoying
it so heartily we enjoy it still more
heartily. And her quaint and low
able little face-but you perceive,
ladies and gentlemen, that am be-
! coming hysterical about this young
| woman"
Miss Bankhead Praised.
! That is a tribute par excellence
| coming from st. John IRVINE, the
author Of Jane Clegg" and the most
feared critic in England, and all for
an American dancing girl!
Ervine pays tribute to Renie
Riano and Florence Mills for their
dancing and to Tallulah 'Bankhead
I for her acting.
Writing of Pauline Lord, IRVINE
said, Here, for the first time in
many years, we saw an actress who
acted with her entire body-head,
hands, legs and feet; and the spec
tacle was so inspiring that even
now, when Miss Lord has gone back
to New York, L find myself think
| ing of it,"
FAMOUS ROCKS ARE GIVEN
INTO CARE OF HISTORIAN