Evening star., 1924-03-30

he 1ldn, haunted by his con-
science and the Canadian
l. police, thought he had killed
his fathers prosecutor but
he had only stunned him, and
another man whose confession
straightens out the painful episode
came in later on a dark stage and
killed him.
And the hero returned after many
years, so changed that his identity
was concealed by the fact that he
had put on the clothes of the dead
policeman.
II was all good, honest playmaking
material that has provided many a
gripping drama. 1t harks back to
the time when the dollar me1odrama
had niche in the theater all to
itself and was not expected to COM
pete with the epigrammatist, the
melodist, the premiers danseuse and
the scenic artist. Daniel Kuselps
drsmatization OF James Oliver Cur
woods The Rivers End seemed
just trif1e overburdened with au-
thorshlp, considering the actual lit
erary results in evidence.
x X x x
A company keyed up to click
along with swift melodramatic pre-
ciSion might have made it a thriller,
for in expert melodrama a very lit
tie new material can be made to go
a long way.
Waited from Broadway OCCASION
ally a plant is that Washington is
not as consistently liberal in patron
age to the theater as it ought to
be, considering its size and leisure.
AS a matter of fact, Washington is
not leisurely; the opportunities for
interest of all kinds easily crowd
a weeks program. It's response to
genuine quality is likely to be most
generous. But the fact may as we'll
be faced that no city in the country
has such opportunities for study
ing at close range intricacies of plot
and counterplot and the arts of
speIbinding. 1t is competent to ap-
preciate novelty and deftness in
matters of emotional illusion, but
the nature of its habitual observa-
ton involves many a sacrifice of the
sweet credulities on which innocent
delight depends and makes the town
hard hurdle for "hokum"
x = X <
1t was the standardized theater
that came consistently into evidence
last week; the theater which fash
ions its product on fixed lines and
merchandise them on conventional
terms of craftsmanship. Not even the
trouble was taken to fortify any of
the productions with a list of pa
irons. The methods of a presenta-
tion have become almost ritualistic
in their Journalism. The audiences
are supposed to assemble at the call
of reputation and hear substantially
the same discourSes from week to
week, sitting in subdued decorum
and delivering responses in the form
of applause at well recognized mo-
ments of suggestion. Effort to in
troduce variety usually consists only
in emphasizing recklessness of taste.
x X X X
When forceful idea sincerely ex-
pressed is offered, Washington re-
spends with becoming enthusiasm.
But ''The Rivers End" was not it..
Neither was the queer tumble of
Arabian Nights" and "Abie's
Rose," "The Magic Ring" in which
Mitzi appeared. This sturdy little
comedienne came to this country as
Mitzi Hajos, but the name was con-
sidered too hard and it was short
ened to Mitzi. The deep perspicaci-
ty displayed in managing the names
of imported stars has not extended
itself to the matter of finding suit
able vehicles for them. Lou-Telle-
gen, hailed as a wonderful actor, was
bereft of his hyphen as a stroke of
managerial sagacity, and as plain Lou
was left with name which harmon
: lied duly with the dramatic COM
monplaces with which he was sub
sequenty to struggle.
X r. x,x
; Nor was Irene" sustained in
fluenee of glorious gladsomeness.
Once Irene" was it; but it is no
longer. Upon what subtle quality
its extraordinary popularity for so
many seasons was founded is to be
explained by the phrase "undefinable
charm" 1t had no novel appeal, but
It found public attention precisely
adjusted to its wave length and held