Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-12-21
The Theater' S Candor of
Egoism.
By Ph,1ander Johnson.

again and again in their utterances
as they busy themselves with the
morbid PHILOSOPHERS of Nietsche and
pause now and then to gaze at them
selves mirrored in each others adj
miring eyes and say, Amt we aw-
ful!' Worse than our jazz banjo
of Uncle Tomtommers and Nietsche
Dudelsachers.
- x x
To hear the truth boldly uttered
in uncompromising terms, even
terms of the most primitive Anglo
Saxon vulgate, brings shock and a
thrill. 1t does not asphyxiate and
leave you in a narcotic doze where
i'll dreams hover. 1t is disappointing
to expect INT and find only the
feeble. malodorous smoldering OF a
belated firecracker. The truth may
be unpleasant There should not
be the misguided assumption that
everything unpleasant is the truth.
There is nothing whatever to COM
plain of, in the lines above referred
to. in the offering which again
brings Blanche Bates to the glow Of
the footlights. 1t is a very idealistic
picture of matronly solicitude for
the happiness of some young people.
Miss Bates is the wife of George
Creel of wartime celebrity, and,
therefore, enjoyed every facility for
having her play we'll censored in ad-
vance. Miss Bates is, perhaps. a
victim of the standardized methods
by which theatrical authorities pro-
coed in casting their productions.
No matter how vivacious of tenn
permanent an actress may be, after
she passes the age of 50 or so she
is accounted ready for nice-old-l lady
roles on the same theory that man
is selected for butler off hand if
he has a bald head and natural side
whiskers. There are types on the
stage which represent permanently
one phase of humanity no less as to
age than as to temperament. Joseph
Jefferson was a Rip Van Wrinkle
and a Bob Acres until the last of
his days, and many others of the
old-timers left grandchildren in the
wings while they went forth to re-
ceive plaudits for their juvenile
spontaneities. So it is not surpris-
ing to regard Miss Bates motherly,
but nervous, demonstrations merely
as an effort to disguise the fact that
she is still playing, in her heart,
Cigarette and The Girl of the
Golden West" There is a personal
sense of general authoritative re-
sponsibility in her work which pre-
| vents it from being smooth, serene
X **
She had, at least, the satisfaction
of chaperoning into immediate fame
one of the most remarkable figures
which of late has stepped upon the
stage. A droll, dry, little personal
| ity, with no particular pretentions
to beauty, yet sedately fascinating
as brownie or a gnome. There
was no trickery of gait, costuming
or grimace. 1t was sonality alone
| that enabled Ruth Gordon to receive
| applause at every exit, and finally
to claim it as soon as she appeared
/ upon the scene.
High Tide" at the Belasco, adj
| VertlScd "A cast you Will never Tor
get" If this advertisement is true
the cast is the only thing about the
play that is not likely to be forgot
ten inside of two weeks at the latest
The first part of the coming week
will, in spite of brilliant offering
be THEORETICALLY subnormal; after
which there will be a rush. The
| prudent will include theater tickets
in their Shop early, programs
THE dawning" of happy New
Year will find authors and show
manufacturer in general with more
urgent reasons than ever before for
turning over new leaves.