Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-01
ADJUSTMENTS
RELASCo-"Her Friend the KING"

With an infectious air of geniality,
/ William Faversham chuckles his way
through his new vehicle. "Her Friend
the King" It is a charming bit OF
drama largely because OF the subtlety
of its satire and the broadness OF Its
humor There is only one factor of its
comedy that is neglected by the audi
ence, that is the pantomime OF Daisy
Anterior, playing the Victorian English
governesS, in the moments she is not
| directly involved in the action OF the
play. OF course, when her turn comes
she gets her due.
Mr.. Faversham, without doubt,
dominates the stage, but he has worthy
companion in Ara Gerald, who plays
the role of the widow Of an American
millionaire in love with the royal
einigre. Miss Gerald gives her audience
all it expects until the close Of the first
scene of the third act. Then, standing
so close to the footlights that the arch
above the stage casts a shadow behind
her, she opens her heart. Her line,
God save the king" gives the same
feeling that those of the audience who
were not too blase experienced when
they first heard Dennis King sing THE
Song of the Vagabonds."
Except for the little princess. who
won more hearts than Prince Otto's last
night, all the other characters are sub
merged, not through any imperfectionS
Of acting, but through their fitting In
with the lines of the book. OF course,
last night. there were rough spots here
and there which must be expected in
any premiere. But it is unfair to even
notice them, for great deal can be
done to perfecting play in its first few
days before an audience.
The story is very simple one: In
vent tiny nation with king in exile,
take all his fortunes from him, let him
find out simultaneously that he is in
love with the third richest woman in
America, give him a beautiful daugh-
ter whose hand is sought by neigh
boring prince she has never seen, let
them meet incognito through Irritation,
start a counter revolution and in no
time at all you have happy ending
with every one doing what even the
prim Miss Bridgerton would expect Of
them.
The story was written for salaried
people. Perhaps the authors, producers
and actors would deny 1t. but the open
ing scene Is genuflection to what we
so often enormously call the middle
class. Five or ten minutes is given over
to little scene designed to create at
mosphere and having no bearing on the
action of the play. 1t pictures the tri-
umph over a bill collector.
In all, "Her Friend the King" pro-
vides a delightful evenings entertain
ment. 1t is not one of those MASTER
pieces which carry one into the realms
Of philosophic speculation. But 1t slim
ulates the collective brain of the audi
ence by its sprinkling of reflections on
modern life and social condition. A
brutal person might say the story was
bit hackneyed, but it Is written in an
amusing style and is loaded down with
charming little bits Of epigram which
would be great to use in letter to your
brother.
"THE GHOST PARADE"-Poli's.
Blood curdling screams, revolvers
belching fire in the dark, eerie figures,
| and all the elements of the old-fash-
Toned mystery melodrama. with a few
modern embellishments, are cleverly
woven into THE Ghost Parade" a
product of the imaginative Hadley
Waters. which had its Washington pre-
miere last night at Polls Theater.
In other words, The Ghost Parade"
is one of those mystery plays which
stimulate heart action and keep one
in intense nervous suspense and trem-
bling fear. 1t is fast-moving piece.
as all good melodramas should be, and
as result it tenaciously holds the in
terest, though aWestricken 1t may be
at times.
Another thing which may be said of
1.-THE Ghost Parade" Is that it is APP
propriately named. There has been no
| melodrama in recent years. perhaps,
i that used as many white-sheeted fig
ures, and it seems that they are ever
present. These ghosts which are
haunting Polls this week. however. are
not the graceful, fantastic spirits that
the superstitious tell about. They have
a decided tendency to be clumsy, out
| their clumsiness is unintentional. A
| darkened stage and such distractions as
! chairs and stairways are dimcult Tor
even ghosts to avoid.
The entire action of 1.-THE Ghost
| Parade" takes place in an ancient,
spooky-looking castle in the mountains
of Northern India, which is surrounded
by a horde of rebellious natives, beat
ing monotonously on tomtoms. The
story it tells is an absorbing one OF m
trigues, plots and whatnot, involving
traitorous British officers engaged in
ammunition smuggling activities. "A
, detail of the plot would be almost futile,
and aside, it would detract materially
from the play If revealed in advance.
The hair-raising episodes, however.
begin at the very outset and continue
until the fatal death leap OF one OF the
British officers from the top balcony
of the old Hindu castle as the final cur
tain descends. In the interim there are
numerous ghost professions. screams,
shots, knife throwing and pursuits
through subterranean tunnels to main
tain a uuivering interest.
Charles K. Gordon, who in aSsocla-
ton with H. T. Curley presents The
Ghost Parade" has assembled COM
petent cast for this rather strange mel
odrama. Most amusing, however, Is
Catherine Proctor. who as Lizzie, an
English maid, provides the only comedy
lines with her easy flowing cockney &C
cent and characteristic mannerisms.
The heavy lines fall on Evan Thomas,
who as Capt. Bruce Grey takes a major
part in uncovering the ammunition
smuggling plot. Joan Blaine gives a
flawless portrayal Of Helen Ainslee, wife
of the commandant Of the Northern
Indian outpost of the British forces.
Others in the cast include Oswald Mar
shall, who is seen in the role Of Maj.
Albert Ainslee, the commandant; Cath
crime Derwent as Summa Singh. who
offers an excellent characterization Of
an insidiously sinister Hindu: Anna
johnson as Joan Beggs, Donald Black
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