Evening star., 1926-11-07

hour. The longer the dear people
had TO wait the more intense became
the impression of his struggle and
The terrible thought that this was
going to be the one time when
great man would have to be dragged
out and released. compelled to con-
fess before the sneering public that
his boasted accomplishment at last
had failed. 1t is rare psychology,
this gift of allowing the public in its
imagination to write a large portion
f the show. Houdini is said to have
oeen, many times. comfortably smok
ng cigarette off stage while wait
ng for the solicitude concerning his
'1ardships to accumulate.
n ch Summer convinces manyathat
permanent stock company is a
possibility in this city No such
company survives the Winter. The
mood for stock performances is
gone: Loyalty to favorites is disap-
pearing. and even as good an Or
ganization as the President Theater'
Players scatters in quest of new en-
gagements. before the snow flies. In
the Summer time serenity the lighter
comedies apparently are more har-
monious with blossoming landscape
than the heavy and more spectacular
productions prepared for the regular
season at higher prices Attention is
diverted by novel magniflcence and
the stock company goes gimmerlng.
along with the straw hat.
High prices are curious factor
in entertainment. The more ticket
costs the more convinced many peo-
pie are that something wonderful is
being offered. The box Office may,
with expert discretion, utilize money
in impressing the mental faculties in
the same way that Houdini utilized
time. Many a night the host of a
theater party has bravely insisted
that he thoroughly enjoyed the en-
teftainment rather than confess to
himself that he had wasted his hon
est wealth.
The presence of two Belasco plays
the same week is nothing remarkable
| for so prolific a producer, although
it seems strange that Ladies of the
Evening" should be released for
stock so early Its success in New
York looked as if it would be due for
a long season on the road. The play
was expurgated to a great extent in
New York. and those who saw it
here may have the immoral dissatis-
faction Of knowing that they saw it
at its very worst.
Lilly Sue" is a far cry from the
Ladies" So far as manners and
dress are concerned. Lily makes
no pretense whatever of being a lady.
AS for morals she is unsurpassed,
even by BARLEY Campbelfs heroine,
who thrilled the world with the i'm
mortal declaration, Rags are royal
raiment when worn for virtues
sake!"
MIR. Belasco is again the wizard
bewildering and numbing the senses.
including the critical sense. One Of
the chief merits of the play is the
conspicuous success of the author,
Willard Mack. in providing a de-
lightful role for a charming actress,
Beth Merrill.
The lighting effects for which Mr..
Belasco is famous were revealed
with more than usual skill and pro-
fusion. Beth Merrill has need of all
her talents to ho'd the Interpretation
to proper key. Like "M'Liss," this
heroine is child of the Sierras. but
she does not have the opportunity to
come back in the last act from an
Eastern trip with highly polished
education and a wonderful wardrobe.
Miss Merrill could easily have re-
duced the comedy to the boisterous
level of ISIS Hopkins but she
holds the delineation. tense, appeal
ing. revelation of love unbounding
and sacrifice supreme.
X X X
A highly approving public "Yessed"
back with unrestrained hilarity when
Yes, Yes. Yvette" proffered a play
full plot ripping rhythms and trivial,
tantalizing tricks of tunefulness and
all sorts Of other artful alterations.
including "a gorgeous garden of
| girls which is something of a relief
from the persistent "glorihcation'
adv. habitually employed in con-
nection with a girl show. Some
musical performers are good others
are bad; just what makes them so
different in appeal is difficult to the
most discerning analysis. SO far as
the general plan is concerned they
are pretty much alike; yet some
are beautiful and others are not.
Yes. Yes, Yvette" proved one of the
| beauties.