Evening star., 1927-04-24

scattering unsolicitated songs or SEN
timents without assurance of reward
yet often with strange influence. It
becomes wonderful when taken ir
hand and intclligently trained.
| X ~
Germany has inaugurated a move
O1ent behtting a period of recon
struction in preparing for a German
theater exhibition at Magdaburg,
which regards the stage as power
| ful social factor and will trace its
development from the very begin
ming.
The enterprise is based on a belief
shared by people the world over that
for the theater very important and
critical time has arrived and that IA
cilities for study should be offered
which will permit development, with
full knowledge of basic history. The
early literature, as we'll as the early
costumes and furnishings, together
with prints and models of stage set
tings. will be offered The chrono-
logical arrangement will bring the
show clear through to the present
day, with examples of the latest de-
vices for lighting and mechanical eff
fects. So far have the promoters
gone into detail that even the latest
designs in makeup boxes are in
cluded. This is one of the few--if
not the frst-serious efforts to con-
template the theater from view
point of genuinely scientific interest.
X x y y
The early Spring is the recognized
time for benefits. The theater, ap-
parently in response to the generous
mood iii which nature again finds
itself, reaches out with more neigh
borly interest than it displays when
entertainment is vended imperson-
ally with a view only to the results
at the box office
One of, the most remarkable bene
fits in the history of this city is now
in course of preparation under the
direction of Newbold Noyes. chair
man of the Memorial Commission, in
conjunction with the management of
the Earle. A special program has
been arranged, and the box Office will
turn over a generous share of its
receipts for the week of MAY ! for
the purposes of the marble memorial
in West Potomac Park.
There is great enthusiasm among
the entertainers who are to enjoy the
privileges of appearing during so i'm
portant and distinctive an engage
ment. Every preparation is being
made to render the program one of
Al -, r. 10
the very liberal resources available
to the Earle and its far-reaching con-
nections. In its mirth and also in its
commemoration of sorrows bravely
met it will represent "the smile that
miugies with the tear"
X X
1t has been a wonderful season,
despite many disappointments in the
bookings from the New York offices
for the legitimate theater. Never
before has any demand for Clean
ing. up the theater" been voiced with
so much emphasis. While there has
been much that was offensive, it is
doubtful whether the theater has in
many a season made longer strides
toward a cleanup" than it did by
such sincere and capable productions
as "Pickwick" and "Trelawny." An
other effort of honest betterment is
the Civic Repertoire Theater, estab-
lished with no encoura cement ex-
cept her faith in herself and in her
public by Eva lie Gallienne.
X Y +
Miss lie Gallienne compelled audi
tors to wend their way along un-
familiar paths, where the theater had
found itself deserted save by long
ago memories. Nothing could be too
Classical" to enlist her interest. Her
industry causes her to be the marvel
of all those about her, and her far
sightedness in mapping out a cam
paign to capture popular tastes has
caused her to be nicknamed THE
General" Determined, first of all. to
consult her own ideals and please her
own tastes, she found in very short
time that she was doing what so
many producers had conspicuous1y
failed to accomplish and giving the
public what it wants" Her present
tour is the beginning of an annual
program which will provide for visits
to number of the larger cities when
the New York season closes. 1t is
related that one of the producing
managers in New York made trip
to the lie Gallienne playhouse, not,
he explained, to see the performance,
but to get one more look at a sure@
enough Standing Room Only" sign.
One story told with unmistakable
plainness by the season of 1926-lo27
| is that the public desires entertain
ment which appeals to the brain as
we'll as to the eye. The success of
self-respecting theater enterprise has
meant sad awakening from slum-
brous ease on the part of producers
who had taught themselves to be-
lieve they need do no more than as
sumo that anything forbidden for
private discussion would be gener-
ously welcomed on the stage.
II X
It will probably be Miss lie Gall
lienne's privilege to bring the Big
Reminder Number Four TO this bios
soming Capital City that only ush-
ers, doorkeepers and other people
! compelled to be at theaters whether
! they wish to or not have gained the
| impression that the playhouse is in
an entirely deplorable state. The
public, permitted to select its enter
tainment on its own terms, is privi-
legged to look back on many luminous
I 4 :. E..f