Evening star., 1928-10-14

Unless the theater has departed
Entirely from customary walks,
substituting motion pictures for
the word of mouth entertainment
TO degree that will enable one
gentleman to deliver an entire
drama simply by turning crank
the present season must be re-
garded as limping a little before
getting into it's stride. 1t was not
until the presentation of "Olym-
pia," that it set a foot firmly on
artistic ground and seemed ready
for speed.
"Paris," Miss Bordoni'S new
show, made every possible prepara-
tion to be gay and jazzy, yet many
persons found it only jay and
gaSSy.
The Taylor Holmes. play found
less welcome in Washington than
had greeted the performance
earlier elsewhere. In it's effort to
be in close touch with the auda-
ciouS spirit of the hour, it may
have gone beyond the limits of
good taste in title selection. "The
Great Necker" must inevitably
Jack appeal for large mature
element of theater patronage, an
element not negligible. Maturity
after all produces the greatest
part of the funds which go across
Through the ticket window.
y x
A fixed idea that il is necessary
10 be Just a little rough, if not
very rough indeed, in order to
please a prAsent day audience
bervades producing Offices.
Taylor Holmes in few brief re-
marks after numerous curtain
calls jocosely referred to this at
kitude among producers and
haughingly related a little bit of
Inside information as to how far
he himself had gone in this line
nf public spirited endeavor. A
pistol shot conveys a startling
Shock as it brings a distinctly sem
Sational thrill just at the moment
when "The Great Necker" seemed
to be going its best with no need
of much excepting it's ideas and
dts repartee. The shot is not at
all in harmony with other ma
terial. The play, instead Of being
assisted by it has to occupy a half
minute or so in recovering from il.
Mr.. Holmes offered this eXplana-
lion. When it was learned in Cali
fornia that the play was booked
for date in Chicago reports of
the Lake City'S bootlegerdemain
and hijackSonian duplicitieS led
them to introduce the gun play in
an effort to give the public what
it liked on terms Of genial readl-
ness.
X X x
The Gilbert Miller production
POlympia" permits no doubts and
prompts no explanations as it is
revealed a delicate masterpiece
wrought with the deftnesS on
which artistry must depend. 1t
is characteristic of the poet in its
renewal of a favorite theme, the
contrast between the social classes,
with a reminder that after all the
rank may be but the "guinea's
stamp"
hUCCIilPOo W III dCc OIle pei SOIl-
ality of an author by study Of his
works are not always reliable. Yet
there are certain traits of indi-
vidual viewpoint which man is
1ikely to disclose as he writes in
the vein which brings him best on
terms of popular acquaintance.
Molnar likes to depict aristocracy
and has practically created one of
pnis own; something that might in
a spirit Of perilouS adventure be
called "a MolnariStocracy." He is
generous enough in according
rank every grace that might
charm the eye or dazzle the intel
ligence He INDUCES no buffoonery
in attacking fictionS of lofty as
Sumptions, but reserves his really
sympathetic admiration for one
who comes direct from the people
or who stands close to them in
candid sympathy It is the play
makers privilege to select the
character through which he
chooses to speak his own thoughts
and in this play the character
would appear to be the man of
Intense pride, whose wounded
esteem cannot be healed even by
dove ITSELF -..------.--..---------------