The Washington times., 1929-08-22
SCREENINGS.
=AND .
GLEANINGS.
By ANDREW r. KELLEY

HuG pIdyHOusO VI Sh0
Shubert. 1t is printed elsewhere
on these pages.
On Labor Day night the
chronic first nighter may take
the mothballs out of his eve-
ming clothes, find a place to
park the six-cylinder Mary Ann
around $50, bow in a dignified
manner to Mr.. Ennis on the
main door, hand his stubs to
the chief usher and be escorted
to his aisle reservations, hear
the seven-piece orchestra tune
up, and then-the curtain.
Grant Mitchell is a revival of
"A Tailor Made Man" will be
the attraction.
It's easy to welcome the new
season. BY late August the
editors task of filling a column
of theater chatter with newsy
stuff daily has become some
thing of a problem. OF course,
there's always the movies, God,
bless 'em. But the stars and the
big figures in the Hollywood
panorama are just celluloid
heroes and only by contact with
the flesh and blood business en-
voys of the F Street cathedrals
do we confront the personality
of the amusement industry in
the so-called off season.
After months of summer dull
ness we're like the wobbling
pitcher in the seventh inning.
Still serving them up but not
putting over many strikes. Look
ing for relief as September
comes.
"Don't you ever get tired Of
going to the theater?" is a
question popped at the editor
often. The answer is "No." /
like it just as much today as
when | was passing Is cents
through the ticket windows
regularly every week to see
John Craig and Lillian Law
renee from a second balcony
perch. A generation of theater-
going may make the chronic
patron a trifle bIase and a lit
tie harder to please, but the
thrill of having the curtain rise
on new play persists. All the
glamour and pomp that the
movies occasionally provide for
the premiere of some choice
Hollywood product seems to me
a little empty and artificial when
contrasted with the excitement
and electric suspense of a Barry
more opening or the first night
of a new Ziegfeld musical with
its generally overstuffed two
acts.
can always sense the drama
behind the scenes OF the opening
of a new play. In the first
place, there is the author. He
has spent months of patient
effort on his dramatic fiction,
and, frequently. months more
before he. was able to connect
with producer sufficiently i'm
pressed with it's value to risk
the expense Of production. His
big evening has arrived. All
his hopes and perhaps his money
is tied up in the enterprise. In
three hours he may get the
definite answer. Either a hit
or flop. Riches and fame or
the necessity of trying again.
The actors are another study,
They are all praying for the
success which means a long
Broadway run. 1t is possible
they were handed a role after
long months Of idleness. Every
body is eager to make good.
Some so eager, they overact.
Others may be miscast and ap-
pear to realize they are not
getting over. Again there may
be the tumultuous applause of
enthusiasm which means a sure
fire hit. Such as "Show Boat"
received.
Between acts in the lobby
you can hear the first night
appraisals retailed on every
side. what do you think of
it?" Sometimes the answer is
expressed in a cynical sneer, or
the harsher opinion is voiced
"lousv." Critics are button
holed by company managers and
agents and urged for an off
hand verdict on the possibilities.
at needs fixin' is too often the
answer. When a sure enough
smash hit bows in with all the
earmarks of success that means
dividends for the ticket specula-
tors, everybody seems to feel it.
Enthusiasm is contagious and
spectators file out for the inter-
mission smoke talking about the
play or humming the hit tune
of the musical.
Watching the passing parade
of incidents which surround the
opening night of play, the
enthusiasm or the depression
carries through until the notice
is written. Some rip and tear.
Some temper harshness with
a softening dignity. Some are
constructive commentators. Some
smash right and left. Glowing
words and new adjectives. The
discovery of genius and great
talent. Disappointment and dis
illusion. Smart aleck and
wisecrack Judgment. All trying
to guess right.
Next dav seeing what Philan-