Evening star., 1926-11-28
A Playhouse Aristocrat
Proves Wicked, but Smart
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.

loom large in type. while those OF
authors are modestly reduced toward
lower case proportions.
X j, :: y
Several New York managers are
conducting a circularization cam-
paign requesting cooperation III
movement to secure better plays.
! Ideals Of this kind are constant in
/ the minds of all people who have re-
sponsible or casual contact with the
theater. The feeling that if the
theater will only be good it will be
happy has often been made basis
for practical experiment. The ex-
pertinent in cases where there must
be box Office to extend the appeal
i beyond a circle OF admiring friends
and relatives usually ends in capitu
lation to the demand for something
| that will accord the rough intellec-
tural treatment SO commonly re-
quired in order to induce any sort
of brain thrill. Projects designed to
set a diadem of unsullied pearls Of
thought upon the brow OF new dis \
covered genius result only in the
need OF overshoes as the enterprise
becomes mired in attempting unac-
customed paths. Old vox populi in
sists upon being heard from. In the
case of the theater he bellies his
motto and is almost invariably bad
backslider.
A well known cynlC among the
prominent producers recently COM
pared management OF the general
public so as to guide it past the box
office to mule driving. "A mule"
said he. soon gets used to profanity
and then feels lonely and neglected
if he fails to get it,
Ihe new Barrymore play adheres
with unremitting consistency to the
vocabulary of scholar and a gen
tleman. 1t is depressing to note.
however, that many rough-an
tumble line of stage talk has ex-
pounded vastly righteous precept.
1t is a prefunctory duty to de-
nounce this latest Barrymore crea-
ton as a specimen of downright
wickedness! It's a far cry from
Captain Jinks." 1t is. indeed. Our
Ethel, but alas. how changed! This
duty attended to, it must be admitted
that the subject is made TO scintillate
until we first endure. then pity, then
embrace in dazzled admiration.
:: X 4 Z
One difficulty about providing alb
solute1y Wholesome entertainment is
that 1t is far from easy to discover
or to produce. To accuse tolerant
and sophisticated public OF demand
ing the worst ideas in the worst
words overlooks the intense devotion
to the best lectures. the best music
and the best plays. Melodies that
have been heard through long an
cestral years, symphonies whose
composers were paid with poverty
centuries ago. the poetry of the old
dramatiSts, are still heard with rever-
ential pleasure by discriminating
and innumerable throngs.
x :; !; *
"Blossom Time" is an example OF
the appreciation in which work con-
forming 10 the highest standards in
every respect may be held. 1t has
long outlasted the usual type OF
musical attraction and, no doubt
Will be welcome tisitor for MANY
seasons yet to come.
+ y x
The advance in city's growth is
reheCted III some degree bv theatri-
cal policies. 4 two-week engage
ment was All extraordinary event for !
any presentation, no matter how big !
or elaborate. 1t has remained for I.
the motion picture to show that, in ;
spite or an immense field of com !
petition. an attraction OF exceptional
interest may easily play two weeks ,
ana even more. Michael Strogoff, /
that lusty old drama. as transferred
to pictures, finds a response that .
warrants the oi.-rcpeated assertion
that the films arc. after all, the most
feiiaDle means OF perpetuating the
old stories and the old plays that
hold unfading respect in literature. !
ne picture presentation OF |
Othello at the Wardman Park |
heater is another reminder Of the !
utility OF the screen for the presen- !
tation OF big ideas such as could be |
interpreted OIL the speaking stage |
only at long intervals bv few of !
the greatest playerS !