The Washington times., 1929-02-28
GLEANINGS
AND
SCREENINGS

The aftermath of the Com
munity Center's one-act play
contest, won by the Columbia
Players with "The Monkeys
Paw" is a friendly discussion
as to whether the winning ef-
fort is a one-act play.
"The Monkeys Paw" draws
the curtains twice to indicate
lapses of time and for slight
changes in stage properties.
Whether such brief intermis-
sions remove the drama from
the classification of one-act
plays is the question. Some
contend it does, basing their
argument upon the fact that
action should be continuous or
lapses of time indicated by stage
blackouts and without pulling
the curtains.
AS one of the judges at Nc
Kinley High School last night,
I may say that this point was
not taken into consideration in
the final selection. The fact
that the playlet was presented
in the finals was accepted as
prima-facie evidence that it con-
formed to the rules set Gown
by the committee for the con-
test. But it might be well to
have a ruling on this point
before the Columbia Players
enter their effort in the Little
Theater play tournament in
New York.
These play doctors and mu-
sical comedy first aid special
lists sometimes are able to turn
anaemic entertainment into a
first class hit. Not often, but
sometimes.
The latest instance of trans
formation from Indifferent
amusement to smashing box
office success is the erstwhile
"Well, Well, WE'LL" seen here a
few weeks ago, now the revue
sensation of Broadway. 1t col
lected $43,5O0 at the Majestic
Theater in New York last week
end scaled al $3.50 a seat, is
expected to run at least TX
months to capacity business.
Here it was poor musical
comedy, with Comedian Jack
Perl almost a flop. Then the
revamping began. 1t was de-
cided to change to the revue
type of entertainment. "'he
title of Pleasure Bound" was
tucked on to the revised version
and Phil Baker, Shaw and Lee
and Grace Brinkly were added
to the cast of principals. Pitts
hurgh gave tie new show turn
away busine. and the yer let
was ratified when the revue
opened on Broadway. 1t BE-
longs to Messrs. Shuberts
Dorothy Gish in Samuel Rap
hcelson's g gerry drama, Young
Love-" will follow Margaret
AngIin into Belasco Theater,
opening Sunday night, March
1C. The play ran for some four
months in New York and made
it evident to all that sister
Lillian's telegram on the open
ing night was unnecessary view
ing with alarm. 1t ,ad: "No
matter what happens tonight,
remember mother and l still
love you.
What happened was that Dor
: othy convinced one and all that
her talent for acting in the
films could be successfully
transferred to the stage. l had
a letter from Playwright Ra-
phaelson stating that he in
tended to take the play to
London and advising that all
comment on young Love" be
reserved until it had been per-
sonally viewed. 1t treats of
love in a very radical way. some
critics feel a bit too frankly.
But more about that at a later
date.
The decision to take it to
London is because Tom Douglas
plays a leading role Douglas,
though an American boy, has
q huge following with British
playgoers. He enacted Merton
of the Movies" young Wood
ley," and other of the Glenn
Hunter hits in a five-year So
journ along Picadilly. His pop
ularity is comparable with that
of Tallullah Bankhead, now the
highest paid actress in Europe,
and with little or no vogue in
her homeland, America. Doug
las will be seen with Miss Gish
when young Love" plays
Washington.
Not even the gallant crew of
the Presidents yacht, the May
flower, can encroach on the
prerogatives of the Stage Hands
Union. 1t was the desire of the
Inaugural ball committee that
the artistic tars from the Execu-
tive craft decorate stage of the
Auditorium for the March A
evening festivities. But the
stage hands said "No." And
that settled that.
When Clara Bow makes
personal appearance in her home
town tonight, she will be in
vited to come to Washington,