Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-11

tn HE theater mas no longer 10
do with clouds and fairyland.
The graceful mythologies
which lowered over the holi-
day season have been abandoned.
Clown and Columbine romp no more
in graceful measures. Bismuth and
filmy petticoats are left far away to
he discussed only by the Rip Van
Wrinkles who return in memory to
the scenes of youth.
X X X
The nearest to the gauzy glories
of a Christmas pantomime this sea-
son is likely to bring is "Vanities,
which departed on its way last night.
1t found enormous patronage. There
was apparently readiness to assure
Earl Carroll, whose career has re-
sembied that of the Gilbertian hero
taken from a county Jail" that all
is forgiven and the past will soon
be forgotten Indeed, the forgive
ness went so far as to include Ill its
benign influence forbearance toward
an entertainment which did not sue
coed in arousing the usual approval
as to quality which a successful
revue usually claims.
* x
No producer has. in seeking pub
tic patronage, been more defiant OF
public opinion. and sometimes pubic
taste as usually measured and con-
servatively expressed. Carroll has
been habitually non-protesslonal IN
his methods of exploitation. His
publicity for Lady Cathcart's play
was an abrupt and entire departure
in lis request not for print publicity,
hut for no publicity at all, excepting
that which might relate to the career
OF the star quite apart from the
merits of the play.
X X * X
The imagination might depict him
as a brusque, aggressive man, bear
ing down obstacles in rugged disree-
card of everything excepting his
own will. He is nothing OF the
Lind. but. on the contrary. a deter
cntial shy, artistic man, with a par
ocular interest in harmonies OF color
and a bit proud, if the truth were
told. of the scope afforded by his
productions for his poetical talents
He has completely demonstrated one
thing concerning the theater. Play-
ooers select their entertainment en-
tirely by their estimate OF ITS pros
nects Of amusement, without refer
cnce to personal prejudices as to m
d;viduals prominently concerned III
he enterprise. In fact, the element
az prejudice based on grounds OF
moral protest sometimes appears TO
lave an element of drawing power
illustrative that the popular sense OF
curiosity largely outweighs any IN
ciination for artistic criticism.
Tn deserving the ethereal realms OF
holiday fancy, the characters beyond
The footlights take tumble COM
parable to that of Lucifer himself
and land not merely into the earth
earthly haunts. but 60 on INTO the
underworld itself.
It is not exactly fair TO classify
celebrity" as an underworld
drama, since pugilism, the subject
with which it deals, has become an
accepted form OF entertainment, not
only by the tired business man, but
Inv a very representative element OF
the fashionable world. Yet it has a
vocabulary Of its own which often
Guides the grammarian. 1t is a Sec
ton of society unto itself whose
yicissitudes are adventurous and
whose contrasts of fortune extreme
There is a caste in evidence which
has little patience with a pretense Of
superficial polish. The new play
tricks celebrity as an asset purely
and holds up to ridicule the fighter
who takes himself too seriously as q
prospective competitor not so much
IN the ring, but in the drawing
rooms or studios OF the "intelli
gentsia."
Playwright Willard Keefe evident
" knows his topic and his characteI
types by hrst-hand observations. HI
makes no effort to modify his dra
matte leonine roar so as to avoit
frightening the ladies. His play i
THAT is usually described, in NOR,
or less technical comment, as cpl
sodic. SO is prize fight.
The clash of combat between TIL
neryy and brainy promoter and tn
~outh whose breadth of shoulders i
lar out of proportion 10 his heigh
of brow IS repeated again and agar
mill the close of the curtain find
,the contcnders about where the
Started. though perhaps little tn
morse for wear. 1t is not exactly
happy ending such as might hav
hccn attempted by a gentle an
;dcalistic feminine author who woul
he irresistibly moved to show the in
.n;r;ng pugiiist independent at las
~ the risk OF black eye or bruise
secure in an honored niche ]