The Washington times., 1929-11-12

Observation-Disclosures stars of
in Sil-vara's comedy of sopl
National Theater last night.
The hallmark. Of the Guild
Is generally placed upon dramas
of substantial quality and sc.
rious content. In this case the
adaptation from the Hungarian
has been made by Philip Noel
Ter, of the Guild directorate,
and neither the skill nor arti.
flee of master craftsmen IN
the theater can transform 1t
into a happy selection. Ca.
price" thrives because Of It's
players and not because of
any recognizable value as q
play. It is burdened with dull
dialogue, with threats Of big
scenes that never quite arrive,
with loosely told lle of
looser morals that seldom grip
ped. The only fizz evident was
In the Lunt frequent potions
of bicarbonate. g
This seems to be Legitimate
week in the Washington thea
ter. Across the Avenue Thomas
Mitchell makes fun of loves
mistake in the farcical Little
Accident" There is q striking
similarity in the theme of the
rival attractions, for both
plays begin and end with the
complications arising from the
unexpected arrival of love
children on the eve Of the
fathers alliance in congenial
matrimony. Caprice" treats
1t as an honest problem to be
handled in the lighter mood
and somewhat deity avoids
treading across the border line
into farce.
The single setting Is Counselor
Won Echardt's study In Vienna.
The distinguished Albert is not
only a great advocate, but a
great lover. His serious an1ourS
are for lisa Won IlSen an attrac-
tive widow. who shares his de-
ceitS, annoyS him excessively,
but understands him thoroughly.
He is about to marry her when
in walks Amalia. Amalia, it
seems, is the mother Of Albert'S
son, now Is years Of age. But
Amalia comes not to blackmail.
Instead she has decided her son
has reached the age where he
needs q fathers guidance and
protection. He Is, this Robert,
a incoming adolescent given to
flights of poetic fancy. Albert
decides to take his son into his
home much against IlSa'S wishes.
L. the son becomes acclimated
the mother will soon follow. is
IlSa's wise prediction. and then
where will her marriage be? It
is possible that the father in a
moment of weakness might de-
eide to give his son a name.
Amalia and her son take up
their residence with Albert. But
not for long. Amalia and Rob
ert depart and the curtain falls
on lisa deciding Albert is sick
enough of 1t all to need another
bicarbonate.
The metropolitan reputation
Of Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fon-
tame is founded upon not one.
but a series of established sue
cesses, which have kept them
close to Broadway, Whatever
they touched they have adorned
and the frailtieS Of Caprice"
as a play cannot submerge a
sterling talent. Mr.. Lunt'S Is
a truly Teutonic Albert in ap-
pearance. A Suave gallant in
his romantic deviltrieS even
without Molnar or LonSdale cpl
grams for his drawing-roorn
speeches. BY his acting graces.
tenderness and understanding
was bequeathed 70 the scenes
wherein he confronts his son
with a slyly hidden amazement
that he could produce such
calk-like offspring. Mr.. LunI
has manneriSms, plenty of
them, but he also has poiSe and
natural assurance which
makes his presence a constant
delight.
Lynn Fontanne boasts one OF
the finest voices to be heard in
our contemporary theater. A
forte for comedy was revealed
in her charming conversational
exchanges with the perturbed
Albert and happily enough the
few bright nuggets in Sil-Vara'S
lines are. entrusted to this role.
She can .glorify wardrobe and
does. Altogether the Lunt-