The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-02-18
array
on Legit Boards

HOL1 . - Beginning tonight
Washington viii play host to a
searching and richly entertaining
comedy called 1.-THE Circle" the
work Of that facile Englishman,
w. Somerset Vaughan. In sum-
moning John Drew and Mrs. Les
lie Carter to the roles of Lord
Porteous and Lady Kitty, respec-
lively, the Selwyns have had the
good fortune to find an actor and
actress who are both not only
famous but fit. It was a thun-
derous reception that these two
stars received when the Broad
way premiere was made.
Many of the points in the story
Of "The Circle" will be kept
secret until the playgoers here
! are afforded chance to enjoy
the sudden and unexpected twists.
1t can be stated that the story
gives no idea Of the charm Of
the writing and the acting. Mrs.
Carter, with her glorious Zaza
hair, Is wonderfully fine as Lady
Kitty, and Mr.. Drew is a lovable
old bear as Lord Porteous. Their
little, n1iddle-aged love scene in
the third act win be appreciated
In support will be Ernest. Law
ford, Jerome Patrick, Clara Moores
and Leionel Glenister.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Taylor,
one Of. the bright lights in the
gallery of the stage luminaries,
win step forward at the National
Theater tomorrow night as Sarah
Kantor. in Fannie Hurst's play,
'tHumoresque." In this announce
ment there is SO much promise Of
good that the event is awaited
with impotence.
Miss Hurst's stories Of New
York Ghetto life have been widely
read and have had the. merit Of
sympathetic Interpretation. On
these stories was based the Cosmo-
pelitan play Of 'sHumoresque,'
which had an unusually successful
career. The play to which Miss
Taylor. now gives her art is based
on the same stories.
The curtain ascending on Thu
moresque" discloses the squalid
tenement living room Of the
Kantors in. the New York Ghetto.
At the table preparing dinner is
Mama Kantor, the ''mother-in-
Israel" who rears her children in
love. and keeps her husband in
bounds by a. combination Of love
and fear. This scene is described
as all warmth and sensibility with
an undercurrent Of emotion that
10 constantly relieved with humor.
Mama Kaptor's one great hope in
life ig that q genius might be given
her in one of her children and
when the curtain falls on this
scene, there is every promise that
her longing will be gratified.
acknowledgements the sue
cessful comedy, featuring Grant
Mitchell and the Nugents. will be
seen at the Shubert-Garrick to-
morrow, evening for the week.
]. G. Nugent,, who is we'll re-
membered and beloved by vaude-
vile audiences, wrote this play in
collaboration with his son, Elliott,
also an actor in the play, together
with Ruth Nugent, his sister.
Grant Mitchell, featured
player, will be remembered for his
successful impersonation Of the
gentleman pugilist in 1.-THE Cham
pion," and the ambitious clothes
presser in 1.-THE Tailor Made Man"
Other members Of this company
which comes intact to this city
are, Miss Isabelle Withers, Miss
Jessie Crommette, Miss Frederick
Going and Robert Lee Allen.
PRESIDENT The President
Players will offer tonight at $3.50
their latest production, "Buddies."
the lyric comedy, with music by
George V. Hobart, a play of after
the-war France, which has
achieved a brilliant Broadway en-
gagement.
Theatergoers will recall the re-
cent presentation by the President
Players, for a single benefit per.
Torrance for disabled soldiers, Of
scenes from this same musical
play, in which Miss Elsie Janis ap-
peared at the head of a specially
selected cast Of the Players.
The presentation of "Buddies"
will bring to the cast a new mem
Der OF the President Players in
George Sweet. a player Of national
reputation. Henry Duffy will as
| sumo the chief comedy role, while
Eileen Wilson is another who will
! have prominent part. The Bud
Dies double quartet will be IL
| feature Of the performance, while
! an augmented orchestra will sup
| ply the score under the direction
of Meyer Goldman.