The Washington times., 1929-10-29

list Of 1920 PicadiIIy impor
You might call it a modern
fairy tale wherein tho playwri-hts
wand wafth The 1928 Peter Stand.
izh back TO the Queen Anne
mansion IN Berkeley Square OF
1854 and permits this romantic
admirer of the seeming peace,
charm and quiet of his ancestors
to mingIe and meddle in the at
fairs of his historic kin OF the
post-reVolutionary era. An ex.
change Of personalities between
the old and the new Peter stand.
ish.
Where George kaufman in
"RcgCar on horseback" by the
dream method was inspired to
satire. Playwright Bslderston
evolves dignified and subtle
humor through presenting the an
aChronism NJ 1928 New Yorker
In the be wigged and snuff box
atmosphere Of the 1884 drawing
room. Peter Standish knows the
personal history of his ancestry in
minute detail. Picture then their
dsmay when pressed for the rea.
sons which caused the immortal
1916 strife he recites it was all
inspired by a desire to make the
world safe for Democracy. The
sun never sets on the British Em.
pirC." quotes the 1928 retcr Stand.
ish and his 1884 hearers marvel at
the pretty patriotic speech. Imag.
inc retcr snUbbing n X. H., the
Prince NJ Wales, because Of dis
gust when the royal nose is
blown with the fingers. The in.
convenience and reSen: ment which
acCompa nies his demand for count
less buckets Of water daily that
he may wash himself all over. an
unheard of practice in a less sani.
tary genera tion. How the Duchess
OF DeVOnshire recOils when she
realizes the gracious compliments
to her beauty and grace take the
semblance OF epitaphs since they
are the pacns of praise lavishod
on the famous fairest as immortal
lied In the GainsborouEh painting.
Is this man a fortune teller or
devil? He sees the future
before it happens.
In his phantom journey to he
past Peter encounters his pretty
cousin. Helen Pettigrew. Now
history has told him that Helen
died a SDinSter and that the 1854
Foter Standsh married her cousin
Kate. What has happened can.
not. OF course. he changed. But
Peter falls deeply in love with
Helen whom he can never marry
and their wraith-like romance
flourishes though it can never be-
come real. The curtain falls on
the 1928 Peter. hack in his Berke-
ley Square mansion, reCiting the
opitaph copied from the tomb.
stone Of his ancestral sweetheart.
Leslie Howard manages TO make
these dramatic flights Of fancy in
Taria bl" of absorbing interest
through ma agnifi"ont perform-
ance. sweeping in delicate scnsi-
tVonoss. aided imrressively by
the sharp wit and clever dialOcna
provided by the playwright. Thcre
Is love scene nj towering beauty
wherein Margaln GiImore.-
whose yoarninS for a glimpse at
he future is as intense a Peters
desire 10 live in the past-gazes
enthra|led into his eyes to ca .ch
a hurried panorama Of the 1928
New York and come to fun reaiiz-
alton he is a dream lover. 1T was
exquiSitely acted for one Of the
finest moments Of the play.
The supporting cast is one Of
general excellence with Valerie
Taylor, Alice Johns. Tarver
Fcnna. Fritz Williams. Iucv
Beaumont. Henry Warwick and
Phyllis Jovcc contributing sterling
work. Berkeley square" has
hecn richly and imnosingIv
mounted. single high reiIiuccd
setting designed hy Sir Edward
Lutyens furnishing scene NJ
architectural beauty. The period
costuming is ricturcsqu and
COlorful.
Put "Rerkeley Square" on yoiIr
must list. 1t seems almost GER
tain to duplicate in New York
the unusual success the piav
enjoys in London.