Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-09-12
BY PH11ANDER JOHNSON

BY PH1LANDER JOHNSON.
The distinction of opening the reg
ular theatrical season with fireworks
of laughter and detonations of ap-
plause belongs unreservedly to Fam
ME Brice. The difference between the
regular season and the Summer stock
season is revealed largely in the scale
of prices. The great American Gus
tom of assuming that the more a
thing costs the better it must be has
been skillfullv handled by theater
promoters. who. after all. have little
that is tangible to vend and must APP
peal to psychologist susceptibilities.
Many play in the list of produc-
tions by Our stock company has
been quite as we'll cast. with the ex-
ception OF The title role. as Fanny"
The art of making merchandise of
human personality is one of the most
extraordinary commercial develop
ments OF civilization. 1t was Brice,
and Brice alone. who constituted the
value for money received SO literally
at the box Office.
x x
II was once considered splendid
triumph of ambition for stage en-
tertainer TO work his way from the
burnt cork of negro minstre1sy or
the putty nose of variety into the So
called legitimate drama. A number
of eminent old PAYERS would, in the
relaxation of intimate surroundings.
toss a tambourine or pick banjo in
jovial assurance that earlier talents
which opened the way through the
stage door to the star dressing room
al least had not been forgotten. But
what tragediau is there today who,
after comparing bank books and
ledgers, would not be tempted to
wish for the opportunity to change
places with Al Jolson?
Y x
Miss Brice is not the first to pro-
gress from the musical extravaganza
10 a place that claims the popular
confidence and ability that Be'asco $
sponsorship always inspires. David
Warfe1d did the same. his perform
ance being on the same lines IN many
respects as those of Miss Brice. It
was in The Merry World" that
Warheld travestied the role of Sven
gall and in the midst Of a tornado OF
9rotesque fun slipped in a serious
moment that meant the big oppor-
tunitv His Svengali melted grad
uallv from broad fun into few mo-
ments of intense acting. which came
to be an imitation of Lackaye and be
came so genuine that no student OF
the theater could mistake its quality.
He quickly recovered his comic style.
and the merriment went on as IT
nothing had happened. But those
few moments struck the spark that
lit the blaze for future fame.
Miss Brice also is an echo OF the
East Side. worthy, Judged from her
present performance. TO rank with
some Of the artists who have been
graduated from the ranks of those
who interpreted Jacob Gordin's plays
in the Yiddish theaters OF the Bow
erv. That she has shown SO much
dramatic strength is the more re-
markable because she had not at any
time the technical training OF those
remarkable and sem-eXotlc institu-
tons.
The play, as it introduces young
woman from the East into camp
Of rough Westerners, goes back to
the pen Of Joaquin Miller, which
blended romance with strong
rugged beauty breathing the spirit
Of the Sierras. Mr.. Mack is meio-
drsmatist, but he has succeeded IN
devising good comedy. SO tar as
the lines are concerned. the oppor-
tunities for laughter or applause are
rretty well distributed There has
been no effort to pick the plums out
~ the pastry and hand them over to
Niss Rrice. The difference is that
Mis-, Rr;ce, with the facial expires
s;veness OF an Eddie Foy or a Fred
Stone. throws the searchlght OF tenn,
,.r.m.nt into every speech and
brings the humor out sparkling ana
distinct.
Fannie is very nice girl. indeed
but she is no prude. She does not
hesitate TO undress to the limit. even
~ modern stage dishabille. SADIE
Martinez got arrested for doing less
hack in nineteen hundred and some.
thing or. other. There is no HINT OF
physical suggestion i'll the scene with +,
the money belt She seems to be all
arm. and legs and, while mlrth-proo-
voking to the utmost, is as gymna>tic
and free from sef-conscious guile as
a bunch of boys in a bathing toun-
tain on an August afternoon. Yet
when she turns to serious scene
with a true heart cry in it. all the
srotesque lines into which she falls
with facile unrestraint disappear. and
she claims Difference. not merely as
a character personality. but as one
who can act convincing.y. What
studvinr she had done in private her
public announcements DO not make
known. If she has studied, the effect
is probably unrnportant. AS Marc
Klsw expressed himself to q stage