Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-12

A S he seeks to establish
~ working relationships be-
~ tween a liberal church
spiri> and an idealistic at
titude toward the stand
ard and self-respecting modern
theater. George Tyler again as
serts himself as a leading reviV-
There is a difference between
a revival and a resuscitatloii.
Strictly speaking, a genuinely
good play has permanent ANNA
fion ready TO assert itself wnen-
ever occasion calls for 1t.
Take for example Sheridans
sachool for Scandal It has been
revived so regularly that the pub
lie has learned to expect u from
season. TO season and TO feel a
sense of disappointment should
the old play permit an entire year
10 elapse without a visit. A hnger-
ing sense Of reverence Tor the
ANTIQUE causes a play by some by
zone master of his art 20 be re-
earded. in the light Of traditional
comment. as something ike olt
of old lace carrying the scent OF
sweetly reminiscent lavender: IL
whispers into thought OF old-tlme
theater parties, when Delles ano
beaux donned formal attire AND
awaited the work OF a celebrated
author and a group OF favorite
PLAYERS with polite but intensely
sincere enthusiasm.
Any atmosphere of undue rev.
erence was dispelled before the
FIRST act of Diplomacy, wnich
swung into the stride OF straight,
forward interest. securely ana
without hesitation, TO tell the
story of the purloined diplomatic
document and the detective Skili
saved a young friend from as
grace, as well as from the heart
breaking result of false accuSa-
ton against his young wife. One
Of the pleasures incident TO the
revival LIS the manner In which
Il provides fitting exploitation Tor
a favorite like Faversham, en-
abllng him 70 slip gracefully int
the maturity which players OF un~
substantial quality often dread.
Our plays dealing With laWless
enterprises have become more
and more rough and emphatic in
themes and characters. "Dlpio-
Macy carries the auditor on a re-
fresfing Journey 10 the tneatcr
that regarded romance as some .
thing 70 be defended by sworo
play. RELOCATING the pistol largely
70 the satiricai cnellng OF Sir
Lucius OTrigger, A pistol shol
was rather a confession of weak =
ness in story telling and was re-
served for audiences whose nerves
were not SO celicateiy adjusted
tEst the loud report might nave
the effect on gentle senslblntieS
BY the players in midsummer
Nights Dream" should the non
be permitted ~ roar his utmost
The purElng SILVER Ut steel
saainst steel. Oh the contrary,
seemed " have q certain soothing
Uu6ULy aDUI WIN tIA' |Htph'
vas not ~ much. apparently, me
Dread Of hoHicidai encounter lhat
distressed the feminine sense ~
much IA the sudden explosion
which caused something of the
same physical shock as II some
one had suddenly oafted from
behind a door IN The DDudDlr and
shouted 'Eoo"l
Diplomacy" represents the
crime play IN It's highest refine
nlcnt. IL deals with enlargement
which, though III The most repre-
henslble nature, loses It's direct
Gffens& because III the extreme
polish vi manner and intellectual
briiIiancy VI those VINO reduce The
big drama III political plot 10 the
dimensions III an evenings the
stric entertainment,
Nevertheless, IL IL ID crime play
Gf ,tg own KIND, and H. VIII be-
hard even for very diiigent re-
search. ~ discover drama, out =
side 0f farce, which ID not.
The crime play ~ our own time
E. compared 10 that ~ q moi'