Evening star., 1926-04-04

the stage hands. 1t is Just as well.
perhaps, that Belasco's production of
the much discussed Miss Lulu
Belle" the immediate object of stam-
pede patronage, did not take place
here. He might at last have sue
ceeded in delivering a shock that
would swerve the loyalty that has
been SO strangely unwavering. That
he knew his public has been again
demonstrated through the box office.
The effort to idealize him because
OF the superb artistry he has held
i'll facile command regardless of his
theme has caused the public here to
idealize him and it Would relinquish
that idealism with great reluctance.
If anything could slacken the devo-
ton it would be a play like Lulu
Belle" With producers vying with
one another to utilize the wastage
of the world and to insult any tradi-
tional respect for the playhouse, it
is to Belasco that the auditorium
still turns for some positive demon
stration of artistry that will at least
palliate the impression of ruthless
disregard of ordinary self-respecting
instinct
To paraphrase the immortal Floro-
dora Sextet, we really must love
some one, and it might as we'll be
Dave!"
AS the speaking drama became
more unsavory, the musical theater
displayed.a disposition to clean UP.
The best the song composer could do
in initiating the reversion to early
Saxon vocabulary was to. exhibit
grammar and pronunciation which
dehed every slight suggestion of
taste in matters of human speech.
The pace was too strong for him.
There are words which can be
thrown Aectingly into the air in a
moment of emotional impetuosity
which could not be by any. posi-
bility introduced into even the
crudest of lyricism. The musical
stage, therefore, was forced not
through any impetus of reform, but
by sheer force of circumstances to
expurgate itself
The greatest revelation OF the
season was the presentation by the
Moscow Art Studio of "Carmencita
and the Soldier" Its coming was
not heralded in the concise intelli-
gible terms that would separate it in
impression from the performance of
pure drama by the Moscow Art
Theater. The result was that only
the venturesome conhded a precious
evening to the custody of those bril-
liant artists whose names, for the
most of us, still remain unpro-
nounceable. There was not a trick
of American advertising employed.
The selection of a favorite star on
whom to concentrate the spotlight
would have contradicted the essen
tial scheme of the institution. Yet
the work is far more satisfactory
than the production of opera in ac-
cordance with our custom with one
or two singers celebrated by every
device known to large type, from
massage cream to shaving soap, and
leaving the remainder of the cast
pretty much to take care of itself
Opera has threatened to become lit
tie more than a solo concert, with
vocal accompaniment figuring in CO.
operation with the orchestra. 1t was
hard even to find a name for the
work. Its promoters objected to the
term opera" saying that opera is
usually a performance by singers
who cannot act, but the expression
OF the Moscow Studio is by actors
who can sing. The idea of eleysting
the art of acting above the ability
for agreeable vocalization is intel
lectually stimulating. But an effort
to impress it practically in this coun-
try would involve the American i'm
presario in war to determination
with many a plump prima donna.
X X
What the Moscow Art Studio,
with all its opulent resources, appar-
entity still needs is prep school for
press agents.
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