Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-09
NATIONAL.
Earl CARROTS
"Vanities."
w a S h ington's
S o m e W hat drab
and, to date, spotty
theatric season will

taulueS. Lneatrlc season VII
be enlivenet
nightly by the presence of Earl Car
rolls "Vanities" at the National Theatel
this week Those who look to the stage
for diversion and relaxation-and that
includes the vast majority Of theateI
patrons-will find in the current edition
of "Vanities" almost a plethora of en-
tertainment. It is apparent that Ear
Carroll has spared no efforts or expense
- the production.
All those attractions which bring the
populace to the theater in throngS-
beautiful girls, gorgeous costumes,
comedy, music and dancing-are there
in abundance, blended into a fast
moving performance In which pep and
vivacity-and, perhaps a bit of the
risque-sparkle at every turn. They
place before a delighted audience two
and a half hours of entertainment,
during which time Al scenes are pre-
scented and not moment OF ennui Is
suffered.
With w. c. Fields and Dorothy Brit
ton, the latter winner of the beauty
contest at Dallas, Tex, which earned
for her the title Miss Universe" head
lined, and with a galaxy of subStars,
including Ben Blue, the Bennett boys,
Joey Ray, Grace Wells, Dorothy Lull.
Paul Russell, Theodore Enrica and No
vello, Patrick Henry, Vivian Wilson and
Elsie Conner, the current edition OF
"Vanities" is so paced full of talented
performers that even Mr.. ziegfeld
might well envy such an array.
Earl Carroll had to subordinate a
proud claim to fame in billing w. G.
Fields above his "Vanities" trade mark.
However, the producer must feel well
I'D for lie eminent comedian
who has undoubtedly been an inspira-
ton for the show. Many of the sketches
are credited to his composition, and in
romping through numerous scenes
Fields droll personality never fails to
amuSe. A special treat is permitted in
the presentation of two of the out
standing laugh-producing hits of his
career, his golf and peanut vender
scenes. These are scintillating spots in
an abundance of sparkling mlrth.
Feminine beauty, that prime essen
sial of the revue, is to be found in
generous quantity, headed by Miss Uni
verse" Miss Britton Is the glittering
jewel in an assemblage of SIS pulchri-
tudinous girls, which, 1t is claimed
represent the most expensive chorus
array ever offered Viewing them
scantily or gorgeously costumed, they
infuse pep and grace into varied dance
and tableau numbers and one gets that
highly diverting enjoyment expected in
q girl show" to the fullest degree.
Grandeur of spectacle, ever a high
point in revue production, reaches a
pinnacle in the Temple of Mythology
scene. In this, a dazzling effect is
achieved, with the song blue Shadows
as the motif Staged on a classic
Grecian setting, and with costuming OF
various shades of blue, it presents a
gorgeous spectacle of muses. and god
desses, and ends in a blaze of real
fireworks. Hardly less noteworthy in
sumptuous inveStiture and colorful Ell
feet are the Raquel and tassel curtain
numbers. BY way Of contrast, an ultra
modern effect Is achieved by the
Mechanical Ballet" said to have been
inspired by a visit to big automobile
manufacturing plant. This number APP
proaches the robot" theme in providing
music and dance routine for mechanical
Supporting w. c. Fields throughout
the show in the riot of fun are Ben
Blue and the Bennett boys. When
Fields is not making the audience laugh
these three are on the scene doing so,
and any one wishing for many hearty
laughs may get the same out Of his
ing Swan" and minuet burlesques.
'Vanities" Is sure-fire hit as a
revue.
GAyFTY Except for the extra
NJ l. touches of the comedian
Harry given by Harry Steppe
Steppes himself, there is nothing
Show special in the way of ex-
cellence to commend His Own Show
at the Gayety Theater Steppe knows
and unloads all the tricks of his line
and contributes as a funmaker In an
outstanding way, and he has a good
company Of assistants, specially among
the singers and dancers, and a chorus
that adds much to the eye-pulling quail
tiles of the performance.
Bud and Betty Abbott stand out well
from the others with their lively chat
ter and special line of entertainment,
while Frances Knight is both a good
singer and a dancer of grace and charm
RUDE Walman and Lee Laird are others
who contribute to a good time for all
present, and the chorus easily does the
rest.
A special midnight performance BY
the big Black and White Revue" next
Thursday evening was announced by
the management. J. N. p.
PALACE A 4, suspicious I old gentle
"The kiss" expectedly TO catch hi.
pretty young wife kissing
callow adolescent, jumps to the nat
ural conclusion suggested by such ar
incident and proceeds to demolish the
youth with his burly fists. The wife
who, of course, Is faithful, long suffer
ing and misunderstood, shocked by heI
husbands brutality, proceeds to shoot
him to save her unwanted lover. She lies
clumsily to the gendarmerie, is lodged
in jail and finally saved by the elouuent
EFFORTS OF her real lover. who manage.
10 convince the court that the husband
took his own life. Then she tells the
ambitious adolescent to chase himself
and falls into the arms Of her ingenious
defender.
Such is the material of "The Kiss.
the picture at the Palace this week, fea.
turing Greta Carlo and Conrad Nagel
1t is a silent picture, which now i,
somewhat of a novelty. THE Kiss" Il
one Of those routine, standardized prod.
uctS of the motion picture factory, dis.
tinguished only by the personality Of
Greta Carlo. It Is regrettable that sh,
is not given situations more in keeping
with her talents. Greta Carlo car
rise to the heights, but her lot ha,
been cast in fiat country.
The scene of the story IS Lyons. Thi
lis of advantage in a court room cpl
sode, because the justices wear NOR
colorful robes. Otherwise the French
scene is not French at ALI There ar
only French names in an American
setting.
Besides the feature picture. there i
a comedy, The Perfect Day." portray
ing the preparations for a Sunda!
picnic. 1t has all the stock comic stu
atoms. The entertainment on the stag
is of-a much higher class. Helen York
and Virginia johnson have a delightful
act, singing THE Wedding of tn
Painted Doll" and "St. Louis Blues,