Evening star., 1924-03-16

luC lultiOll Va Ill 1 Gilt SNShiSi
i refuge from the dramatic
climaxes and emotionalistic
dialogue of investigation, the thrill
ing pictures of heroism that hesi-
tates at nothing in order to save a
friend, the bitter denunciation OF
confidence betrayed, there is no
place like the theater. weaving along
as it did last week through the lanes
and highways of ancient convention
slity. There was time when the
telephone was wonderful The thrills
of surprise attempted in the theater
relate to that bygone epoch in the
swift development of inventive in
genuity.
That the stage supplied distinct
social need is undeniable. When
facts are being hurled through the
air till economic systems are threat
ened with explosive devastation,
there is nothing like an hour or two
of quiet, oldtimey gossip to ease
the mind and soothe the nervous
system. There is always some use
full and important function to be
ascribed to the playhouse. It's en-
p1oyment as sort of safety valve
for scandal is deserving OF certain
amount of respectful consideration.
+ x x +
Sedate groups OF decorous people
sssemb. ed to listen to the discussion
.rtx 20 oh
nestic infelicity, ambling along
through the familiar story from the
prologue of reckless courtship to the
epilogue of divorce. All this, while
It has become little stale to the
jazz-stimulated appetite, is still
sought with palpitating pu.ses by
worthy people who are still suscep-
tible to shock by contradiction of
ancestral proprieties. Since there
must be gossip. it is to the theater
hat we turn to find it presented in
it's most pungent and at the same
time its most harmless form. There
IS no limitation to the heartrending
pathos or the contemplate pathos
tilat footlight gossip may attain, save
the imaginative resourcefulnesS OF
those engaged in its manufacture for
4 trade that becomes annually more
select.
The assumption that by instinct
men are brutes and women CO.
auettes is so time-honored that
more and more expertneSs, even
talent, is required to make it serve.
The author of "Kelfy's Vacation" is
not an Avery Hopwood. The story
is tod without hnesse and appeals
to a viewpoint on a level with that
of the household domestic who OBJ
tains her ideas of going-ons by peep
ing through keyholes. 1t is the sort
Of story that might be told between
clothcspins, over backyard fence
on a Monday afternoon-only il
lacks the realism and vitality OF SC
honest a narrative. Mr.. and Mrs
, Kelly got married under a mutua,
rnisapprehension as to financial posi-.
ton, and Kelly came pretty neal
having to beat her up on her wed.
ding night to make her know hel
place.
"Chains" is drama of highe,
grade, which labors under the disad
vantage of not having had its dia-
'ogue written by G. Bernard Shaw
'Efic defiant woman who denounce:
marriage takes a bold step very
worse than motherhood without
marriage takes bold step very
much in advance of the witty lady
in Man and Superman." 1t sets {
swift stride i'll story, but the conven
tionaf pace is not rapid. Its though
is one that must have hoveree
through many a rebellious mind. ant
the theme is old by SO many cen
turies that it is not likely to be vivi
fed into real breathing interest ex
cept al the touch OF genius.
FL y
1 Still another lady whose various
3elations became precarious wa!
presented in THE Lullaby" Alas
the cruelty of woman! 1t is still dis
cussed, but, to find her portrait il
artistic perfection it is necessary te
appeal to the musicians who hay,
loaded Carmen and Manon Les
caut with golden chains of melod,
and locked them in the castle o
grand opera.
There is no dearth of good acting
II acting alone could make a pla,
acceptable, each of the theater
would have been crowded to thu
doors. The actor, who with th'
serene confidence of art asserted
claim to full personal credit for an!