Evening star., 1928-02-19

After confident preparation for
o fortnight of Ziegfeldian magnif-
licences a turn in affairs left the
National Theater obliged to call
In its handsomely printed an
nouncements for the week of st.
Valentine and darken the theater
in melancholy respect for the ILL
ness Of Comedian Cantor, which
rendered him unable to appear.
1mpresario Ziegfeld has been
quoted as declaring with solemn
ity his conviction that Cantor
must be very i'll indeed. Only
desperate emergency persuades a
player Of prominent reputation
to leave theatrical performance
without its main reason OF exist
ence. When a comedian has
toiled from obScurity and gained
the proud position of being "the
life of the party" he finds him.
self with responsibility as well as
reward. Where in his early
career his presence on the stage
vas scarcely noted, in the climax
of his popularity he may be-
come conspicuous in the atten-
ton of the public through his
very absence.
It was the expectation of the Ma
tional Theater TO have two weeks
of Ziegfeld; Cantor followed
by Three Musketeers. When
the Cantor production Cancelled
there was slight hope of advanc-
ing the date OF the Dennis King
opening in Three Musketeers" in
order TO fill the vacancy. This
could not be done because the
new musical play needed the iull
week for preliminary work and
coulc take no chances on leopar-
oizing by an unfavorable intro
cuction its future. which is ex-
pected TO parallel that Of the
"show Boat" BY opening on
Tuesday Three Musketeers" viii
follow the precedent set by the
SHOW Boat" which will be re-
earded not only as an evidence OF
artistic discretion, but as a good
omen.
Manager Rapley philosophically
remarked that there comes a time
in the year when even theater
may be better for a little rest. He
would rather close the house than
run the risk Of trying TO enter
tain empty furniture and the
chandeliers with another Six
Feet Under" Or La Gringa."
Dennis King, whose brilliant at
! tainmentg are the wonder OF the
present time, represents the ease
with which even great National
CapitaI, accustomed 10 familiar
contact with the most cistin-
guished representatives Of rhetori-
cal and musical proficiency, can
overlook rare brilliancy on the
part Of an artist. Kings engage
ynent in this city recalls the Gar
rex Theater STOCK Company un-
Ger the management VI Garry
lacGarry some half oozen years
Ego. McGarrys death no, long
since brought sorrow 70 many
friends who had observed ms ar
tistic aucacity with sympathet!c
and hopeful interest. Dennis King
was q member Of this little troupe
which would sometimes be found
on Saturday night computing the
financial possibility of goin2 on
the following Monday A spirit oi
iDyalty was not infreguentlY the
cpmpany's chief asset. McCarry
went 10 Buffalo and established
himself In complete success.
The Disappearance o' the Oar
.1ck Tneater from the map at
EeVenti and T. leaves it " be rec
objected only by The personalities
with which IT. w2s associated
Among these it has become the
fortune of Dennis King 10 leap al
z pound to the top Of the ladder.
He is one of those players VIVA
become slightly exasperating be
rause they cannot be equipped
with astral bodies or some other
metaphysical device enabling 81
I1ultaneous appearances in cif-
ferent parts of the world. No
matter how well a duplicating
company might sing The Vaga-
bond King" the comment was al
most sure 10 be offered.
All, yes Very fine indeed, but
you Really Should hear Dennis
King sing IL in New York !"
Reference is often made, anf
hoo seldom taken seriously. 10 ths