Putnam patriot., 1924-12-19
Special Correspondence to The Putnam Patriot

Barrymore in any play that she has produced on the theory that t is the hounden duty of anyone who was college boy in the early part of this century Co pay tribute Co a lovely and to that purple velvet voice trimmed in brass. So we did our annual pilgrimage the other night Co The Cort Theatre where the distaiF star of the Barrymore family is playing in Pinero's The Second Mrs Tanquerey. Perhaps, some where in Windham County, there are those who remember Miss Barry. rsore in that momentous season when she became full fiedged star al the aee ol nineteen. She was, they say. a lovely lissome creature in hoop skirts whose dark chestnut hair was bound with a tiny wreath of pink roses and whose voice had an ach- ing sob and heart-cutting quality. The years passed the veiee changed bit and the figure a great deal and there came a terrible night when an ovef-enthusiastie manager presented Miss Barrymore in all her maturity as Juliet l. was q hapless occasion. And so t was that duty alone took us Co the Cort the other night
 We bore the shock of what hap pened rather well. When the un- happy Paula made her irst entrance We were almost inclined Go believe Chat Miss Barrymore had followed She recipe set forth by Mrs Ather- ton in Black Oxen. for there was almost the Ethel Barrymore of yore, and a lovely vision she was, too Thera was the slim figure and the lovely hair. grown marNelouHiy hsht= CT aHd there was the velvet and brass voice. as huskily delightful as ever, though q bit mere baritone now and chen in moments of tragic stress Also. Miss Barrymore plays a most excellent Paula little assisted by one of the worst companies that Broad- way has seen ia years with the eX= ceptiOn of an ingenue who plays with remarkable skill the difficult role of Ealleen.
 The Plays to Sec
 The visitor to New York Is always asking what are the plays Co see. The man and woman with limited time does not want Co waste an eve ming as well as hard cash on the plays that are not worth while. Hap pilv. this season has produced most excellent number of theatrical at fractions.
 At the very top of the list go the two productions of the Theatre Guild. "The Guardsmen. now playing at the Booth Theatre is one of the most delightful, sophisticated and beau tifully acted comedies which New York has seen in many years It Is one Of those productions which has a satisfying perfection To Lynne fon. tanne and Alfred Iunt, are entrusted the two leading roles. Ii should be listed among the things that must be seen"
 The other Theatre Guild produe- ton in it's way is also q bit Of per lection. II is called They Knew What They Wanted" and Is the work of Sidney Howard, an American. Pauline Lord and Richard Bennett plav the leads to q theatre that is filled and delighted nightly.
 A rather risky and uproarious affair is "The Firebrand" in which Joseph schildkraut of .Liliom fame is starring. an entirely unauthentic but amusing version of the life of Benvenuto Cellinl
 And so. if you ask our list or the plays we would list them somewhat in this fashion:
 "The Guardsmen" -a must=be-seen play .,., TT, u-....a,, a must -be-seen play.
 "The Second Mrs, TanquereS' if you like Ethel Barrymore.
 hPeterpan." very much second hest after the memory Of Maude A6ams as compared with Marilyn
 aMiniek.' mighty good play by Edna Fefber who wrote that excel ient book, "So Big !"
 Then on the musical side there are riches galore. We have already pinned the blue ribbon of the season on Lady, Be Good, but there is the Music Box Revue, more anus There rs e is real old fashioned opeI- etta in "The Student Prince" which Dorothy Donneily and Sismund Rom berg have made out of "Old Heidel- herg E8 Wynn Is funnier thaH over in "The Grab Bag" Rose Marie" continues delight.
 yea. theatre wise New York has never been more delightful
 E. V. B.