Evening star., 1926-11-14
Shares Supremacy
With Shakespeare
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.

" HE bright spot in a general
atmosphere OF theatrical dis
appointment, which culml-
mated i'll darkness for two OF
the National Capitals most promi-
nent thcaters. was the sparkling ami
nation OF No, No, Nanette." Per-
haps the circumstance which called
for no brand-new attraction to fill
this date was fortunate enough, for
"Nanette is one OF the musical plays
whose destinations do not fade with
time. Entirely unassuming, both in
words and music, it rippes naturally
through the hours and responds to
current taste without the exagCera-
tion which produces merely rhythmi-
cal noises, such as amuse for the
moment, but do not engage the
memory.
One OF the tests that used to be
applied TO a melody intended to be
popular was. Will it be whistlcd?"
'"Nanette' has strains to tempt the
whistler. But nobody whistles any
more. The messenger boy who used
TO trudge along shriily sounding the
poetry in his soul to the tune of
Annie Rooney" or Sweet Niolets"
has no present counterpart. A mes
Senger TO music inclined may stop
at almost any block on crowded
thorou9hfare and hear the very lat
est. melodies done with orchestral
completion. The whistlirg boy, like
some OF our native songbirds, has,
In the stress OF civilization, been
driven from his haunts.
X 4 \ x
They who would revive the past
in their entertainment are doomed
TO much disappointment. excepting
when the entertainment is based on
the classic drama, (Which is immutable
IN its appeal to interest because it
reflects the immutabi!ity of human
nature, as we'll as the recurrence of
those stresses to which great char
acters are submitted as history re-
peats itself.
y x k ;,
One of the most interesting expert
ments recently undertaken was the
presentation of the old-time dances,
with Vermont villagers. providing the
orchestra as we'll as the music 1t
was a serious affair, quaint, and Of
Tered in absolute good faith, perhaps
with some wonderment in mind why
III the world the public should take
an interest i'll SO simple matter. IL
IS no great encouragement to those
who enjoyed the poets who wrote
about when Grandma Danced the
Minuet.' and later felt the appeal OF
hght literature concerning the waltz
and quadrille. The dance as il was
performed in Mr.. LOew's Naudeflm
Palace brought no belated yearn for
the old-tlme dances supposed to be
SO Vivaeiously untrammcled as
youthful gayety Joined with carefree
maturity to express the JOY Of liv-
Ing.
= =; = !;
The Importance of stage training
was shown i'll this dancing. 1t was
matter OF fact, with neither the
grace OF spontaneity nor the eXag-
geration OF burleSque. 1t came more
nearly resembling the act produced
by the Cherry Sisters of Cedar
Rapids, Iowa, who decided, once
upon time, to pay the mortgage
Oft the old farm by going on the
stage. They arranged program of
songs and recitations, which they
had learned at the village school, i'm
provised a FIVE minute drama, betook
themselves TO Broadway and proved
so eNtravagantly different from any,
thing ever seen in the amusement
mart that they were engaged They
toured the country, secured enough
TO pay off the mortgage and more.
They never once seemed to realize
that they were laughable or interest
ing, excepting on their merits, and
went through every performance
with a stern sincerity that betokelled
determination to earn their sal
aries to the last penny. When they
retired they quit for good and did
not rcclte or sign magazine articles,
which proves that they were no
actors.
In the absence of other dramatic
material the public has been driven
10 Shakespeare. Two prosperous
weeks for a veteran actor like Rob
ert Mantell playing the great roles
represents the most remarkable Incl
dent OF the season thus far. Mantell
may be regarded as related to trag-
edv III the same way that De Wolf