Evening star., 1928-05-01
ADJUSTMENTS
NArroNAL--summer Season Opening.

NATT0NAL--Summer Season Opening
II was reunion night" at the Ma.
tfonal Theater last night and the
alumni occupying all available seats
and overflowing in spots into the aiSleS
gave the National Theater Players
under the direction and management
respectively OF Clifford Brooke and S
f. Cochrane, what is sometimes termed
a great ovation" There were flowers
Of Spring banked high in the lobby and
the atmosphere Of Spring, released for
the special occasion, was available in
large quantities inside and outside the
theater. Amid such auSpicious sur
roundings the large. Spring-ilke audi
ence Showered its approval as the cur
tain rose on the flrSt act of The Baby
cyclone" and applauded enthusiastic
Cally as new and old faces were recog-
nized in cast selected to start the
National Theater Players on their
fourth consecutive season in Wash
ington.
Cohan's new farce, The Baby Cy-
clone" was chosen. so to speak, as an
eye opener 1t is light and Snappy and
fun Of fun. But If the first act was
threatened by the enthusiasm of the
audience, which applauded vociferouSiy
whenever character was recognized
as an old timer or a new conner, such
obstacles were overcome as the play
SO under way and the alumni gathering
settled down 10 enjoy itself,
The curtain rose to disclose an in
terror setting decorated. in addition to
the furniture, by Kari Nielsen, as but
lcr, and by Adelaide Hiboard. as a
houSekeeper The audience applauded
them because they were ola friends.
Il
&c in the rode OF Jessie Hurley, and
Stanley Ridges came on with her as
Joseph Meadows. The audience again
applsu6ed because il recognized III Miss
1lerney an old friend and discovered
IL Mr. Ridges the new leading man,
who is taking his place foy the first
time among the National Theater Play
eyS. A little while later the audience
vas appIauding Robert BriSter as DR..
kcarn, because il had never had the
pleasure q meeting Mr. BrlstcT before,
but s few minutes later the audience
was greeting with equal enthusiasm
William Phelps as Gene Hurley, be-
cause the audience is well acquainted
with Nj Phelps. And SO it went, until
sl the new friends were met and the
cid ones we're met again. Leneta Lane,
last years leading lady, was seen oc-
clpying that position Of distinction
again last night III the character of
lydia Webster, and old acCuaInt-
snces were met il the persons Of the
bun-toned Frank Prayer, as well as
Charles hampden, Edward Arnold. Rob-
ert Clear and Arthur Rhodes. Helen
\ allacs made her debut
The Baby Cyclone lends Itself Wei
L The abilities Of the National Theater
Flayers and they took advantage Of
each or its lines last night, rising TO
the occasion nobly II every instance.
The play concerns itself with the
cseEnal triangle that sometimes Is
found between = man. 2 woman and a
PcEingesc 60g, but il the plot now
be:ng 0lsSecred there are three women
ard three men and three dogs Joseph
Meadows one Of our rich ana attractive
bachelors IN New York. rescues. as he
fordly believes. the wife of another man
from what he as fonGly believes. is the
cruel bestiality of her husband. He
lives 70 learn that il is best not 70
interfere on such occasions and dis
covers just how inslolous an influence
On the peace and happiness Of a home
: sometimes represented in the SNUG
person Of a Pekingese. In addition 10
containing q stringent indictment OF
he Peklngese tribe the play furnishes
a1ne sound advice to puppy -pecked
husbands on how best 70 deal with
L--ing situations Al. men should see it.