Evening star., 1927-11-30
ARTS CLUB PRIZE
PLAYS PRESENTED
-
Amateurs Display Talent at
Wardman Park
Theater.

The Arts Club Players last night
presented three excellent plays at the
Wardman Park Theater and will re-
peat them tonight.
The plays were as well done as
anything that has been seen in
Washington, in months. at least.
There was a finish to them that was
little short of marvellous. considering
that, with but one or two exceptions,
the roles were played by amateurs.
However, regardless Of their stage
standing, every member of the cast
was an artist, although one, in the
early part of the program. showed
some evidence of selfconsciousness
that was completely overcome through
the aid of other members of the cast.
Winning Plays.
The three plays were the three
which won the clubs annual drama
prizes this year. and We're presented
in their inverse order. After the
first was finished many in the audi
epce felt that some mistake must
have been made in the awarding Of
the PRICES for it seemed improbable
that an amateur production would be
better, but as the evening advanced
II. became evident that there was no
mistake.
The first on the program was over
coming Static" by Anna Cantrel
Laws. 1t was directed by Emma l..
Ostrander The text was fine and
seemed to carry the Shavian influence.
1t had a charming rhythm which alone
would have saved the day anywhere,
but there was no need for it to save
the day with the cast that put it
on. Belle Bohn. as the grandmother.
was outstanding. Her sense of deli.
cacy gave rare distinction to the en-
tire production. Kathryn McClosky,
as the flapper. seemed a little weak
in her acting, but certainly looked the
part. 1t seemed that the direction
could have been little more virile.
Princess of Dreams" by Ednah
Proctor Clarke tMrs. Henry Hayes,.
was next presented. 1t was poetic
piece. with hint of James Branch
Cabell The charm of the writing lent
more to it's success than any other |
element, but no play with Anne Ives |
playing as she played last night could !
be anything but success. She car |
ried everything. Orme Libbey. as |
the young lieutenant. was "a per- |
fectly wooden Adonis." as one young |
lady in the audience expressed it. He |
apparently caught the spirit of the |
intelligent fool he was portraying. |
The play was directed by the author, |
which probably had a great deal to |
do with putting it over for the di- |
rection was all that could be ex.
pected.
"Cattle" Last on List.
The last play on the program was |
the one which won the first prize.
"Cattle." by Edith Ogden Heidel, and
directed by Sibyl Baker AS bit of
beautiful writing it is one of the
most exceptional plays that has been
seen in the Capital in months. 1t
is finished and polished to the. last
degree and the whole spirit OF the |,
"middle border" is caught in the |
subtle little words and actions of the
players.
Grace Peters johnson was the star. T
but she was closely followed by Cara
Hefner and Maud Howell Smith. +
Whoever played the part of the bull 4
deserves a medal or something
Frederic j. Haskins portrayed
beautiful bit of acting in this pro-
duction and was unequaled.
The settings were unusually well
done They We're scenes. and not
negative backgrounds: but
these three plays. acted and directed
az they were, needed no settings.
However. it is pleasant to see an
artistic amateur production I'm which
enough interest is shown by the pro-
ducers to concern themselves with
settings.
The Arts Club Ensemble. consist
ing Of Lynch Luquer. Dore Walten.
Mrs. Duff Lewis and Miss Minna
Neimann, gave pleasant overture.