The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-01-14
RAMS HEAD FIRST
NIGHT GALA EVENT;
TO GIVE NEW PLAYS
Little Theater Move
! Ment" Now Estab-
lisl1ed i'm Capital.


sIating- comedy. 1.-THE Importance
sof Being Earnest" Opening on
Wednesday night, there VIII pc
ten performances within a fort
night, and after that the bill wiz
abe changed again. The company
proposes to keep Monday and
Tuesday evenings free for re-
'hearsals, giving performances on
"wednesday, Thursday, Friday
and saturday nights, and Sat
urday matinee. They were thrown
off this, their original schedule.
dhy the postponement Of their
sopening. but are now function
ing on schedule again.
$ Among those who viii have
important roles in the new pro-
tduetion. directed by Robert Bell
and James Reynolds. is Maude
aHowell Smith. an actress of
1marked talent, a member Of the
Arts Club of washington and
q woman who has been associated
with most Of Washington's sue
cessful dramatic ventures. Anne
ives. also q member Of the Arts
Club. who appeared very success
fully in James Reynolds Three
Nuns and q Lady, win have the
role made famous by Irene Van
sbrugh in the London production.
It is with regret that one learns
that Mason Wright is shortly
TO leave the company-he did
splendid work last week-but the
1everse Of the medal il that he
q to have an irnportant part
this week. sharing with Maurice
-McRae the Importance Of being
earnest
THE opening of the Rams
Head Playhouse was one Of
the most significant events OF
The last week. since It marked a
anilestone in the development Of
washington along artistic lines.
Before this we have had to de-
PEND upon New York for our
dramatic provender, but If the
Fans Head Players accomplish
what they have set out to do,
i've WIN achieve at least a small
Measure Of Independence.
TO be sure. the type Of produc-
stion which they have in mind
II acaviare- TO the general" but
they can certainly command an
enthusiastic IL small audience for
the poetic and stimulating plays
which they propose to produce.
As Q matter Of fact, the bijou
.theater in the auditorium Of the
alexander Graham Bell house is
- little theater" in the letter
las wei as the spirit. 1t seats
Infnety-three persons by actual
icount and is. of course, suitable
ssonly for the production Of the
intimate type of drama
X TN view Of the smallness Of the
stage it is amazing what strik.
ing effects in settings and cos.
tuning were achieved by James
Z Reynolds, art director of the or.
i ganization, in the three one-act
!, plays, varied in interest and in
their appeal, which made up the
initial bill. In his own "Three
Nuns and q Lady" poetic and
pictorial episode, Mr.. Reynolds
cid wonders with bright blues
and reds against the dead white
9f convent wall and sent. his
audience home thinking not sc
Anuch Of what had happened dur
ing the course OF the play but
what might happen after its
dose.
The Jewel Merchant" by
James Branch Cabell, was also
e the pictorial type of playlet
Hfth the work of Miss Josephine
Hutchinson shining out like Z
Star. Bobby Bell, too, did al
Excellent piece of work as the
Aissolute Duke. However, to my
Anind. the more realistic Sing,
Hlaylet, 1.-THE Shadow of tn,
sIo,, ..xoo @I,a x,n4ek a~t;-t;1
1ormance of the evening. It's al
eerie bit Of a tale and it wa
tauItlessly acted. No one coul,
lave done better with the roll
sf mora Burke" than Icons
Roberts and she was ably sur
ported by Walter Beck as tn
ramp and Mason Wright as ''Da
Burke" Moreover, Mr.. Bell, VIII
directed the production, deserve
ii manner of credit for the wa
p which he put across tn
trange and tragic atmosphere.
NIE Rams Head Players, q
you know, consists of a nj
eleus OF professional players an
supporting membership Of 8,
iety folk. And while the pr,
essional members of the ca.
displayed talent of a high orde
perhaps the greatest interest Gel
tered in the debut OF an amateu
Nancy Lane. She gave genuir
distinction to a mere "bit" I
d"Three Nuns and a Lady" an
made a beautiful picture In he