Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-14
PoLrs-aThe Command to Love-"

POLPS-"The Command to Love-"
Almost any one will admit offhand
that an embassy attache is theoretical.
o gay dog. In fact, it requires M
acquaintance with these personable ane
polished young men to obtain keer
insight into their habits. Merely the
casual perusal of a society novel
enough to convince us that these dap.
per gentry are the last word in male
butterflies. A visit to Polls this week
will impress upon any doubters the
fact that attache and technique are
SYNONYMOUS. For THE Command To
Love" exemplifies the last word IN the
Youthful encourage of an Ambassador
And that last word Is none other than
CASTOR, Marquis du Saint-Lac, captain
of dragons and erstwhile aide extraor-
binary to his eXcellency the French
envoy to Spain.
CASTOR is without question a 14-carat
ladv killer. His method is a comoina-
tion of cave man and Sheik. His aloof-
ness from the fair sex is a lure that
none can withstand and he meets the
supreme test of all professional lovers
bv carefully concealing the identity OF
his victims, How else could he perform
notable services for the republic and
win the reward of swift and substantial
promotion?
AS the play opens, Castor is bask-
ing quietly and comfortably in the loYe
of the ambassadors wife. His deVo-
ton to her is such that he has fore
sworn all other women. She has
packet of burning letters which ne mas
written to her and which she holds as
threat against any infidelity. If he
dareS to tlirt with another lady she
will show the letters to the ambassador.
The latter will forgive her, OF course,
and the attache will be done for.
But his excellency notices that Gas
ton is ignoring the ladies OF the dlplo-
matte set Then, too, there Is treaty
which France is anxious to negotiate
with Spain and the Spanish war minis
ter is hostile to this proposed agreement.
Like all ambassadors, or most OF them,
his excellency is an artist at killing
two birds with one stone. So ne tells
his attache very plainly that the time
has come for him to make love TO the
wife of the Spanish war minister. In
this way CASTOR will be rescued from
his queer lethargy and the lady, having
succumbed to the attaches wooing, will
then be the instrument for winning the
Spanish war minister over to support Of
the treaty. The Spanish official, by
the way, is known as man who always
does his wife's bidding.
The French Ambassadors plan
plunges CASTOR into a deep fit of
melancholy. He is torn between his
devotion to his Superior's wife and his
love of country. He is further agitated
by the possibility that the two ladies
in question may compare notes.
However, he yields to the call Of duty
and, with the clever assistance of his
chief, contrives to win the wife of the
recalcitrant Spaniard. That very night
she convinces her husband that the
French treaty is the very thing for
Spain, and this part of the plot is
happily consunmated. In the mean
time CASTOR has excited the suspicion
of his first lady love. She places the
discriminating packet of letters on her
husbands desk, but by clever ruse
the young attache succeeds in getting
those letters. The play ends with
CASTOR outwitting both ladies and OBJ
tanning the reward for his great services
In promotion to a distant post.
The play is described as an "auda-
cious" comedy. In spots it approaches
travesty, and some of the lines are
dangerously near the barriers of polite
edly go to Henry Stephenson in the
role Of the French Ambassador. Mr.
Stephenson has a liSping quality of
speech that fits in remarkably well with
his character and stage personality
that stamps him as an artist. His per-
Torrance is delightful throughout.
Melvyn Douglas, as Castor, has all the
attributes of his part. Violet Kemble
Cooper makes a charming and beauti-
full Marie-Anne, wife of the French
Ambassador, and Mary Nash is a
voluptuouS Spanish matron, wife Of the
war minister. In the latter character
Ferdinand GottSchalk leaving nothing
to be desired.
Anthony Kemble Cooper Is clever in
the role of Emile Ardillot, secretary to
CASTOR. Others who round out an ex-
cellent cast are Thomas Louden, Her.
bert Ashton and T. Wigney Percival.
SHUBERT-B ELASCO-'Hit the Deck"
tHit the Deck" began its second week
at the Shubert-Belasco Theater last
night and promises to record another
successful week, following capacity audi
eIlces throughout the initial week. This
IS the first hold-over production of the
savoy Musical Comedy Co., whose high
class presentation Of outstanding muSi-
chl comedy successes has proved i'm
portant in Washington'S theatrical en-
tertainment this season.
"A large audience was on hand to give
the play a hearty send-off for the cur
rknt week. Many were no doubt at
ttacted to the theater by the presence in
the cast of Kate Smith, local "blues'
singer. Always a popular entertainer,
Miss Smith has gained prestige in New
York productions which enables her to
cDntribute what amounts to a personal
snecialty, while fitting admirably into
her role. The song "Hallelujah" is
particularly adapted to her talent, and
she sings it with such zest and color as