Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-30
NATIONAL
The fantastic
and anachronous
"a Connecticut
adventurings OF a

~ ana anacnrOnOuS
"a Connecticut adventuringS of a
Yankee" d ! n err coated
gentleman from Connecticut in the
court of King Arthur, as first set forth
by Mark Twain, are being presented In
musical version at the National Theater
this week in the return engagement o.
"A Connecticut Yankee"
Lacking singing or dancing of any
great merit, the production has two
leading players in Richard Lane and
Mary Adams. who possess fresh and
which might easily, but in their hands
do not, become stereotyped and auto
matte. The wise-cracking Yankee and
his romantic little adorer are in
gratiating performers, carrying their
large share Of the action with fair and
enthusiasm.
The comely maidens and gallant
gentlemen of the ensemble are espe-
cially pleasing, both as to looks and the
execution of their routine, parts OF
which brought forth interruptive but
merited applause.
Relating how Martin, an effervescent
modern, on the eve of his marriage
spent an imaginary visit to the realm
of King Arthur of Britain in the year
528 AID. Martin having been the bene-
ficiary of 10 minutes of inconsistencies
induced by a blow from his irate
f1ancee), the story proceeds through
song and dance and comedy and TO
nance to illustrate the effects of an
introduction of twentieth century cul-
ture to the pristine unenlightenment of
Arthur'S chivalrouS period, The adapta-
ton of Mark TWainS tale to the muSi-
cal stage by MesSrs. Rodgers, Fields and
Hart, has been a moderately faithful
effort. There are stretches of extreme
thinneSs in the action, a few relic jokes,
some unamusingly exaggerated char
acteriZation (as in the roles Of Merlin
and Sir Kay the SeneSchaD, but the
greater part of the work as it stands
proved a mirthful proffer to Sunday
evenings opening audience.
Among those of the principals whose
contributions were important to the
presentation are Paul Everton, as King
Arthur: Helen Gates, as Mistress Eve
lyn; Gordon Burby, as the Seneschal;
Francelia Waterbury, as Queen Guine-
we're; Mana Bryant, as Queen Morgan
LIE Fay: George E. Mack, as Merlin;
Starke Patterson, as Sir Galahad, and
Bert Saunders, as Sir Launcelot.
EOV Monte Blue and May
TIA McEvoy carry the leading
mo roles in mo Defense"
Defense" Warner Brothers talking
picture current at IIle
Fox Theater. Monte is cast as a
huge herman of the West who turns
his millionaire boss grown-up daughter
across his knee, spanks her and gets
away with it. And when he visits the
HarperS. in Boston, and is asked If he
plays bridge. he replies, mo, I build
'em." Besides those and various other
original deeds, he risks his own life to
save few hundred persons from death
from a collapsing bridge and hazards
his reputation and chances for adj
vancement in an effort to clear his
employer from responsibility for the ac-
cident. In the end, he proves himself
a true disciple of Prof. Rogers by mar
rying the boss daughter.
Although 1t seems that several scenes
could have been made more effective
by different treatment. and the engi-
neer's gold-digging wife is thoroughly
unconvincing, the plot has more to
recommend it than many recent films,
and beautiful mountain scenery. thrills,
romance and humor combine to make
a thoroughly enjoyable picture. Miss
McEvoy Is very charming as the girl
who gets spanked.
Kathryn Carver, William Desmond,
Lee Moran, William H. Tooker and
Bud Marshall appear prominently in
the cast. Lloyd Bacon is the director.
IOOS Oh Joy, dIlotIleI rdICIlOh anu
Marco idea, wherein the stage repre-
sents the deck of battleship and the
actors are dressed as sailors, is one of
the best stage programs shown at the
Fox for some time. Arthur Pat Har-
riSon, rotund sailor, masters the cere-
monies in thoroughly capable manner
in the absence of John Irving Fisher.
A colored quartet, appearing as chefs,
almost stop the show. Dolly Cramer,
an intriguing bit of femininity; Scotty
Weston, hard-shoe dancer; the Paige
Sisters and the ballet contribute to the
funmaking.
The Fox Orchestra, under the lead
erslip of Leon Brusiloff, plays "Pagliac-
81 as the overture. Fox Moyietone
News completes the bill.