The Washington times., 1923-02-04
6ARRI(k THEATER
LEASED FOR STOCK
TO GARRY NcGARRY
By HAROLD PHILLIPS.

day signed contract with the Shuberts to take
over the Garrick Theater here, beginning February
Is, for lengthy season Of repertoire. A per-
manent resident company has already been en-
gaged, and arrangements have been made, we are
told, to introduce such visiting stars as Julian
Eltinge. Violet Heming, James Rennie, Wilton
Lackaye. Jack Norworth, Madge Kennedy, De
Wolf Hopper and Tom Wise. The opening at
traction has not been decided upon, but it is said
the cast for the initial week viii be headed by q
metropolitan star.
The leasing Of the Garrick is McGarry's first
step toward establishing theater for resident
repertoire here, idea he has advanced and
doggedly adhered to even prior to his manage
ment Of the Garrick Players. Thus Washington
win have, temporarily, two resident stock COM
panies operating at the height of the road season;
possibly three, for are persistent that
George Marshall is angling for the Belasco, where
III Is said not to be serene for the unit and vaude
vile shows
Washington supported two repertoire companies
during the dog days, has more than adequately
supported the enc company operating during the
winter, and, as McGarry views it, can be counted
On to make success OF one permanent company,
operating the year around If the best in talent and
production Is given at popular prices, as he pro-
poses TO give.
He and his players are thrice welcome, for
Garrick Theater devoted TO repertoire il better
theater than the Garrick devoted to promiscuous
and infrequent road attractions.
N endowed theater to foster American art
q In opera, drama and music viii shortly
rear its towering spire in the Times Square
district Of New York. Otto ii. Kahn, banker and
art patron, is said to have committed his financial
sponsorship of the project by issuing the official
announcement. Morris Gest, importer Of
Bailieffs "Chauve Souris" troupe and the Moscow
Art Theater Company, will be in charge Of the
new enterprise. which is scheduled to open next
November.
Gest is at once the most spectacular and
courageous Snowman, many believe in the business
today. Producer OF "Chu Chin Chow" "Aphro-
dite,n aAfgar," and other cloth-of-gold extrava-
eanzas which nearly wiped him out, Gest, who
thirty years ago was penniless, runaway lad
from Odessa, kept two jumps ahead Of his credi-
tors, and this side Of the outer edge Of sofvency.
Finally, Fate, winded and weary from the chase,
sat down and smiled, and success took up the
relay. Wherefore Mr. Gest recouped handsomely
by bringing Bailieff's comedians from the Paris
Easements to New York It was the first smash
ing success Of his Natives, Western buyers,
and show-going commuters called him Deliverer, q
"3-in-1" Barnum, and other laudatory epithets for
his fawless judgment, unawed courage, and
superlative taste in satiating the jaded. But,
where oae applauded his showmanship for this
venture, one hundred have tossed verbal kisses
at the hem of his cutaway since viewing the non
domestic artistries of the Moscow repertoire COM
pany; company which knows no word Of the
English tongue, but is playing to nightly audi
ences tired from the mad scramble at reaching
the box-office.
They do say over the tea-cups at the Ritz and
= 4
red ink entries on the Gest ledger.
r TITLE more than short year has seen
Morris Gest enthroned as the dean of in
door showmen.
His participation in this revival for domestic
theater is almost guaranty of its success. There
Is the memory Of the collapse Of the New Theater
mSvement few short years back, when group
Of sincere elegants monied and brainy, built their
temple shifting rock, masquerading then as
antipathy to the ragtime wave This project
collapsed in 1911, but the world has continued
apace since then, and further. there was no
Norris Gest digging into the brine barrel of
public taste and advising the course of pursuit
This newest movement starts auspiciously, with
money, brains, and experience behind it. Gest's
phenomenal success with the Moscow players is
said to have convinced an influential group that
an American art theater, playing repertoire, can
endure
Wise Snowman that he is, Mr.. Gest says at the
outset that he will spend pennies decoration,
dollars in the quest for worthy vehicles.
tNThere will not be streak of gilt or a bit of
plush in the whole playhouse" he announc IS. 1--WE
need money to try out and develop talent We
need money to produce failures, of which there
will be a lot, and We can't afford to waste
money on decorations The theater will be as
close to a barn make it."
VN HAT the time for revival in America of the
resident and travelling repertoire company
has never been so propitious since the days
Of Augustin DAILY, Booth, Forrest, and Wallack is
evidenced in the fact that other minds are think
ing in like channels. Walter Hampden has signed
a years lease New York theater for repertoire
purposes. Grace George, who once had a resident
company at the Playhouse in New York, will try
nio