Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-18
poLrs-"A Connecticut Yankee"

LIE IuChy kIOWicQge tIldg IOta
eclipse of the sun took place in tn
days Of King Arthur saved william
Gaxton, burlesquing the original ide,
Of Mark Twain's Connecticut Yankee,
from burning at the stake as a scorcere
at Polls Theater last night. but appar
emily all of the stagehands weren't ii
on the plot for a slipping prop nearl!
knocked him cold in the opening per
Torrance of this enjoyable comedy.
To start the performance Gaxton hat
been the unwilling witness of some
myriads of stars when his bride be.
without-love had found the girl of hi,
heart across his knee and displayed hel
temperament by cracking a champagne
bottle over his head. A bachelors fare
well party. the gates of which the two
ladies had crashed. opened the way to
the fantastic musical show
Gaxton. as Martin the groom
Rwakens from the blow to find himself
transplanted to "Merrie England" and
Camelot, AID. 400 or Whereabouts and
the 2lst of June Under the insistent
prodding Of one of the knights of King
Arthur's Round Table he is dragged
before the King with his newly-found
love. Demoiselle AliSande lie CarteloiSe.
Sentenced to die for Sorcery, lucky
thought from the historical past that a
total eclipse occurred on that day gave
him an opportunity to display his occult
powers and he was saved TO be ''yclept"
the boss" sit at the right hand of
Arthur and transform his Kingdom
along the lines Of the modern era.
This he proceeds to do with American
slang, telephones. automobiles, radios
and the rest of our modern equipment.
All ends well with the end of the dream
and our Yankee awakens to find that
the girl of his heart has prompted him
to say Il DO" and that his terrible
dream probably was inspired by the
fact that he was wed while uncon-
scious.
Gaxton is the whole show, as it were,
but Mary Adams abets him to the
fullest Nina Bryant and Alice Cava-
naught also are outstanding members of
the cast.
The few musical numbers are familiar
as hits of the past year. My Heart
Stood Still is the theme around which
Isle With You and Il Feel at Home
With You" are two of the outstanding
songs.
A map Of Camelot by the versatile
Robert Benchley and several scenes
which suggest a mechanician gone stark
mad are features of the staging
PALACE-"Lady of the Pavements."
Although the directorial genius of
D. w. Griffith has consistently been
stamped upon his latest effort, Lady
of the PavementS," current at the
Palace, it is not SO much for that which
we recommend it as for the superb in
diyidual work of the youthful and
dynamic star. Lupe VeleZ, which We are
inclined, after all. to assume is worthy
Of any ones attention.
The amazing energy with which Miss
Velez endowS to her role enables the
slow-starting picture to pick up quickly
and move along briskly with remark
able freshness toward the expected
happy American ending. Indeed. not
until the last few scenes does the star
throttle down to anything resembling
restraint, but when she does so there
is more than hint that she is poten-
tally fine emotional artist.
William Boyd, placid in comparison,
is cast opposite Miss VeleZ In a role
which calls for dignity and stiff
uniforms, but what he needs seems to
be another "Volga Boatman." Jetta
Goudal as a revengeful countess and
George Fawcett as Prussian diplomat
IN Paris are both convincing, while the
rest of the cast lends more than
adequate support. Incidentally, the en-
tire film is synchronized with an excel
lent musical score and Miss Velez
seemingly sings several Irving Berlin
numbers. including the theme song,
where Is the Song of Songs for Me-
"Bubbling Over" the stage unit, offers
a real hit in Boyd Senter, who is posi-
lively the rarest saxaphone and clarinet
artist that one could wish to hear. His
''St. Louis Blues" is irresistible. Two
clever acrobatic tap dancers, Markell
and Faun, also score. Bill luke" Car
penter attempts to steal Cliff Edwards
thunder, Arthur Campbell and Ruth
Wilmer sing in the conventional fashion,
while the well trained Gamby-Hale
Girls execute an excellent ballet num-
Der. OF course, Wesley Eddy and his
Syncopators are very much in evidence,
and what is more. the master of cere-
monies sings little.
A news reel, featuring shots taken
by Capt wilkins in the Antarctic, and
prelude by the Palace Concert Or
chestra, under Harry Bories, complete
the bill.
EARL THE Cohens and the KelIys
in Atlantic City"
When the movies get hold of a sitll-