Evening star., 1927-05-08

y 4
The central incident of the beneh.
program will be an act OF "Latt That
| Off" by the National Theaters play
ers.
1t is evident that no pains have
been spared to make the entertain
ment as worthy in merit as its pur-
pose is worthy in sentiment.
x X
A very successful benefit enter
prise was carried through at the
Earle Theater. which interested itself
in generous fashion in the fund for
the District War Memorial The
combination was happy one, good
program associated with a popular
and admirable cause During the
week the old-time minstrel custom
of giving an outdoor concert in front
of the theater before the rise of the
curtain was revived. Different bands
played on different evenings and
when the High School Brigade Band
appeared it found one OF the biggest
crowds of the week awaiting it, made
| up largely of schoolmates and rela-
tives. The Boys Band did not have
an opportunity TO stop the show, "
but it accomplished the feat of block
ing traffic without causing a murmur
OF complaint. The next move may
be to give street parade at II As.
In her Civic Repertory Theater,
| Eva La Gallienne may be said to
have perfected the type of theater
that has come to be but little known
since authorship was an influence
of dominant Importance in the
theater. The Cradle Song" is evi-
IDENTIFY a favorite of hers since she
| scheduled it for so many perform
ances during her Washington en-
| gagement. 1t is not a work Of vigor-
! oLs assertion III a dramatic way; it
is like an incident of rare beauty
taken from real lie. 1t is only a
love story with no great heartaches
or dlsappolntments save among the
| devoted Nuns when the years bring
the time for a husband to take the
founding away from those who have
so fondly loved her. SO delicate a
work requires the most delicate man
agement and only the keenest criti-
cal sense combined with rare techni-
cal acknowledgment could give it
such convincing appeal.
X X
The artist finds delight when show
ing how much his skill can effect
while employing the simplest posi-
bic theme. La Locandiera" is as
airy in comedy as THE Cradle Song"
is compelling in its great pathos. In
the case of 'Locandiera" there are
no "personages." There is little
emotionality. The mistress of the
inn is a very plain thinking, though
fascinating young woman, and ex-
ceedingly thrifty. Her attractions
commend her to the aristocratic
patrons, one of whom has wealth and
the other position. Her hirtations
are harmless enough and do not pre-
vent her finally from wedding the
servant of the inn who has long
been adoring and faithful There are
two pretty actresses, but they are
like additional figures in a little col
lection of exquisite art china. The
entire comedy reveals the method of
a poet who treats humanity as a
group of puppets. draws portraits
with accuracy and does not risk dis.
turbing their elegance or picturesque
ness by rushing them through too
much adventure. The idea is a de-
velopment in ancient style and on
limited scale of man and super
man." The lady marries whom she
chooses. >,
The Master Builder" provides in
"Hilda" what many consider Miss
lie Gallienne's greatest role. 1t is
deft study. Appreciation responds
without constraint to a work con-
veylng so strong a sugge estion of in
tellgent correctness.
X
No more remarkable week has
been played in Washington this sea-
son. The response was gratifying.
Tor playgoing in the early Maytime
ceases to be taken very seriously. 1t
was highbrow entertainment of the
most alttudinous character. AS an
appeal to classical sense, one of the
oid-time vociferous tragedies, or even
a comedy from the Greek, could not
compare with it. Miss lie Gallienne
takes to fame gracefully and unaf-
iectedly. She never shows a shadow
OF selt-consclousness. The precision
which every instant of the acting as
| serts IN every character on the stage
! shows clear vision as to artistic re-
| lationship and the ability not only
| TO do, but also TO tell how" When
the annals of this particular time
are written, LIE Gallienne" will be
one OF the names that stand forth
consplcuously. There may be Hall
lot Fame some day with the name
lie Gallienne" over the doorway.
II X **
Alter a man has spent goodly
! portion of his life as player his
inclination, for some reason peculiar
to his own cerebral makeup, turns
to writing. Memoirs and reminis-
censes flutter through the pages of
print, many of them giving enter
tanning reminders of old favorites
and Jew taking a sly slap at the
| unsuspecting object of some ancient
grudge. The announcement that Will
ham A. Brady will produce Secret
Service recalls a book by Charles
HaWtrey. whose name was asso-
Grated with that play SO prominently
/ IN London. 1t is given the startling
title OF The Truth at Last" Like
most books by players, it is rather
/ dlscurSive and does not hold any out
line OF story that permits the revela-
tlon OF this truth to arrive startinglv
as a plot climax. 1t does suggest
the axiom That many smile is
but mask to hide an aching heart" +"
and that Hawtrey. hailed as a fine
1 n -, / 1