Evening star., 1926-01-10

/ mas ever bCC0 the MISSION OF the
theater to sound a protest against
prudcry Of all kinds The first weeks
OF the year 1926 show this protest
Al its height, so emphatic and in
discriminate that a fear dawns into
'fair minded consciousness that the
protest itself becomes inSiuCere and
Is utilizing a pretense of artistic lib
erality Tor the purpose OF merchan-
dIsing wares whose allurements are
scarcely in accord with ancient, we'll
established and still respected pro-
prictieS.
Most OF the titles flashed from the
advertising OF tho speaking. singing
and dancing stage. the three lea
tureS OF entertainment which motion
pictures have not been able to alb
Sorh-indiCatc 4 spirit of defiance
to snlu" high-hatiSm which exists
largely III the bclated imagination
lrelatiug to times when blue laws
were invented and occasionally even
enforced.
George Whites Scandals" went
a step beyond "Follics title rather
innocent and di9nihcd. inaSmuch as
1T implied recognition OF the original
source OF this style OF entertainment.
the "Folies Bergere>' OF Paris. The
imported enterprise evidently con-
templated a group OF gay shepherds
and many more shephcrdeSSeS to
supervise with restraints OF wit and
song the nocturnal gambols OF
lambs from Wall street As it be-
E+1l>in ti,a
bilious and has lately adopted an
alleged "gloritication' plan which.
with the assistance OF imitatorS, has
pressed absurdity to the verge OF
. pathos.
Mitzi defes the overgood 0argely
"a mythical element OF Socicty) by
Introducing an ovcrworkcd adjcc-
give in Naughty Riquettc. The
Md Himself invites us again to
trtcognize the members OF the un-
tcrworld a fellow creatures entitled
TO a far chance. 1t may be noted
with some comfort that the under
world play very seldom makes
successful appeal because OF any
persuasive logic or emotional influ-
tcncc. Success must depend almost
entirely on mechanics OF plot and
eNpertncss OF stage trickery.
No play could have had a better
start il sentimental attraction than
"The Kid Himself. disclosing at the
opening a determined rosy-cheeked
waif. who, in order to secure funds
to pay the way OF Consumptive
bencfactor to Arizona had Just gone
out and stuck up delicatessen pro-
prietor for $50. 1t is situation
upon which to build The child is
good actor. Yet the story repre-
sented him as such prodigy OF
diminutive gunmanship that a la
borious plot could not possibly make
bim plausible subject for endeavors
OF welfare workmanship. The play
lacks the little Something OF Sin
cerity which, after all, in anything
(which invokes even family the name
of Art. makes all the difference.
Without going quite so far in an
effort to be either astounding in
revelation or soothing in publicity.
"Uncle Sans Follies' again puts
the Washington amateur into bold
competition with the professional
rcvue entertainment, making this
years production even more elabo
rate than its predecessors. 1t as
sumes to "glorify' nobody, unless If
be the Federal workers who. hav-
ing been assembled from all parts
OF the country through competition
Involving considerations of mental
ity. may be expected, as a matter
uf course. to possess incidentally
wide variety OF talents and accom-
pli>hmeutS the more eager for eN-
precision because implying relief
from departmental routine. And ii
the only folies Uncle Sam ever allies
himself VITA are those securely
labeled and discreetly revealed in
This entertainment. historians will
regard his lot as indeed blessed.
X
While doing as much as any other
producer to Strengthen the position
OF the stage hand as an autocrat.
George White, in the midst of a
phanta maeorical wilderness of
sparkling lights, costuming and
,nysteriously modulating colors, con-
,vcys hint OF what producer may
' Il it he chooses in the way OF SIM
plhed scenery. Some of the skits
ass dou- with d scrap Of settln.