The Washington times., 1927-11-09

cdf6SSIHgly uOHleSLIC. "A QcI
days of Eden.
A smile mixed to a glance whose
silken allure glows as nothing I
have encountered since the fragile
but haunting music of Claude De-
busy!
Billie Burke-glorlfied by God
and adored by Florenz Ziegfeld-
had cast a glamorous spell.
"It's good to be here''-her voice
is quaint and ripple.llke-an ex-
preston of many modulations.
For, after all, you know, Wash
ington is home" She was born
here. and lived in the shadow of
Capitol Hill long enough to acquire
a primary education at Franklin
School.
Three years have joined Times
aeons since Billie Burke has felt
the warmth of the footlights, and
she frankly confesses that "bore-
dom" did much to affect a return.
Patricia. now II, has Joined the
ranks of school misses. Mr.. Zieg-
field Is steering two new produc-
tons through rehearsal periods.
Billie Burke tired OF dinners, teas
and gloomy evenings before the
loud speaker.
Then the script Of Noel Coward's
play, 1.-THE Marquise," captured her
literary moments. Result: A
flutter of anticipation: sessions
with modistes: David Burton d.
recting rehearsals; a Washington
premiere.
Fascinating friendliness is the
first virtue one discerns in con.
verse with Billie Burke. A gen.
tie, genuine feminine quality:
casual, bus fetching; mellow, liquid.
alive and Of noble purity.
A great artistic, who is real.
without lugubrious gesture. minus
the pain Of pose.
Between rehearSals, the open.
ing performance the anxiouslv
awaited coming Of Patricia from
school and with Mr.. Ziegfeld
due on Saturday. I'm sort of
bubbling over emotionally. And it
is so good t., be back |
think you'll like the Coward play
I'm doing my first mother
role, YOU know "a thin
skein OF that enchanting laughter.)
About time. isn't it, with
Pat a fullgrown lady of II.
You ought TO see her.
Worth all my successes and Mr..
Ziegfelds "Follies" combined.
A rema rkable daughter, who
fishes, swinls and adores the open"
Her eyes played full sym.
phonv OF rivaling moods. and she
shifted her position in the stiff
backed dressing.room chair.
Billie Burke had grown CONVEX
sational. with almost a schoolgirl
ralpitancy. Her voice mounted in
richness; took on a merry vigor.
Questions-any sort-captured her
interest. No hesitancy; no reluc.
lance; 10 evasiveness.
She loves her husband and ad-
mits It. Never concerns herself
with his business of producing be-
cause. as she calmly says, he's busy
enough as it is. Leads a simple,
peaceful lie. and finds Patricia a
greater gift than her own great
art. Loves people but, greater
than all else. loves the art Of liv.
ing" and she tries to achieve it.
Billie Burke. the actress, the
star, the goddess of the stage
frocks, Is no greater than Billie
Burke, the wife. the mother, the
confidante of Pat.
And the feminine ideal Of Flor
ence Ziegfeld. ma ster Snowman;
king of glorifiers.
But never try to mana ge
Mr.. Ziegfeld." The Titian.haired
''marquise" turned serious.
'Florenz is of a peculiar temper.
ament. He loves beauty. living
and scenic, but can never be
bossed. Volcanic, yes, but
adorably so. When he's
that way, it's merely disgust with
what is not attractive and pic.
turesque. Oh, yes, 1t is
always steaming up like hot lava.
But I never try to man.
age him. No artist can
achieve greatness under rigid rule
Our domestic life is alive
with beauty Precious
tranquility. He has me.
have him. Love
has us both. We both have
PATRICIA
~
The opening of The Marquise"
has transplanted almost the en-
tire Ziegfeld menage to Washing
ton. Billie Burke and Patricia
have their own motors, and Mr..
Ziegfeld, due Saturday. has his
own observers watching the prog
ress and reception Of the Noel
Coward play.
He, by the way, Is rushing
through final rehearsals of THE
Show Boat" which debuts at the
National next week. and at the
same time Is starting first re-
hearsals Of Resale" the new
Marilyn Miller pretentious must.
cal piece.
But the big event in the Zieg-
field family is, after all, the &C.
complishment of Billie Burke
she's playing her first mother
role land perhaps the finest one
she has had since "Mind-the-