Evening star., 1924-11-30
Md this is turkey time"

he phrase falls without signif-
cance SO far as the current thester
is concerned Yet il revives itself
IN view OF the offerings that have
been available. The opulence OF the
hlstrlonic treasury has made the
good old transformer recognizable
only i'll the pages OF some such work
as Dickens novel. wherein he de-
scrlbed Vincent Crumm!eS. or in the
Victor Hugo story OF Crsus and
Homo in The Man Who Laughs" :"
or, il you wish to go still further
back, in the misty tradition OF RoS-
cius and his cart The generous
season OF holiday cheer, when cold
fowl used to await the stranger in
almost every larder. no longer tempts
the player to become a wayfarer
and organize a turkey show.
= * x x
The actor now has his railway
transportation guaranteed both ways,
and as he moves from the metropoli-
tan show factory, does SO in luxury.
The artist has become more remote
from his public Whether the quail
ity of his performance is improved
by his more substantial situation
may be doubted. He has middle
man and is removed from face-to-
face criticism. His personal taste
does not dominate his enterprise
and he is more frequently than not
a cog in the standardized machinery
for the distribution of European
products.
Badges" one of the most promis-
ing little crook plays offered for
some time, is referred to in the New
York announcements as having been
favorably received 'out of town."
AS dogtown Washington gave it
the welcoming wool" but family.
For all practical purposes, it was
a turkey show" incompletely or
ganized and cropping its way. It's
engagement here was little better
than series of dress rehearsals,
with new people being fitted into
place and new business being de-
veloped under the accomplished
stage direction of Edgar McGregor
1t asserted itself, however, as re-
markable material of it's particular
kind, and with a glimpse of Frank
Cravenesque comedy in the role of
the young correspondent that lends
most alluring touch to somewhat
grim underworldly theme. The eff
fort to introduce love interest was
not managed quite as convincingly
as the presentation OF comedy, but
the entire work was in shape to
smooth out rapidly and should be a
delight to every playgoer who still
retains trace of affection for his
Sherlock Holmes or even for his
Nick Carter.
One of the prettiest shows of the
season was "The Belle of Quaker
town." which pleased the eye with
pictorial grouping and dancing and
the ear with expert entr'-act synco-
pations, but did not create any en-
thusiastic interest in what it was
all about or in what anybody hap
pened to be saying or singing. A
Jazz musical education, while it en-
hances immeasurably the JOY Of nat
ural rhythmic expression, does not
encourage composition either metri-
cal or melodious. 1t would not be
surprising if some producer were to
throw up his hands in the present
struggle and decide to go away back
and dramatize the poems of Felicia
Hemans or the Cary Sisters. They
would be quite as humorous as the
current average of rhythmicity, and
less depressing in their air of labo-
rious determination.
&x X
The Lass O'Laughter" presented
a new and noteworthy star in Flora
lie Breton, a player of striking per-
sonality and interesting method.
Her work at present suggests con-
straint, which may be accounted for
by the fact that she has accustomed
herself to the technique of the films
and has not attained the dashing
sense of security essential to the line
of parts congenial to her type. A
rather pallid play afforded her little
support in the way of lines or sit
uations. Were this a sure enough
turkey show, a voice. from the gal
lery would have been pardoned for
tossing over the admonition, go to
it, Flossiel You're among friends !"
In spite of the obvious lack of
immediate apr : the custom OF