Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-05

Too Much Johnson" Secret Service"
"Clarice." THE Dream Maker" and
Sherlock Holmes" Among the excep-
tons may be listed Barrie's Dear
Brutus" and 1.-THE Admirable Crich-
ton" and Glare RUNNERS "A Success
full Calamity"
Since the dissolution of the old WAL
nut Street Theater stock company,
Philadelphia; marking the end of an
era in 1879, the versatile Skinner has
applied his talents to almost every
conceivable form Of stage entertain
ment except musical comedy and grand
opera. Associated with Days superb
company in its palmieSt days, devoted
to old and new comedies, classics Of
Shakespeare and the restoration dram
atistS, Mr.. Skinner, as the star system
took form, embarked q career which
led him to Browning in the unforget-
/ able In Balcony" to George Boxer
in the equally glamoreus Francesca
da Rimini," to Jean Riehepin in the
finely sensitive and atmospheric THE
Harvester. to Edward ;Knobleck in the
arabesque Of "Kismet," to Balzac in
the "Maison de Garcon" brilliantly
vitalized in the comedy 1.-THE Honor Of
the Family" to Booth Harrington in
mister. Antonio" to Henri Lavedan in
the neatly fabricated, wistful "Sire"
and the dialectic Duel; to the Lost
Dauphin legend in "Lazarre," to Robert
Louis Stevenson in the slightly sardonic
romanticism Of the dramatized- Prince
Otto" to Cervantes via the echoes in
the play of "Sancho Panza," to Ibanez
through the footlighted Blood and
Sand"
AS a star. as leading man." when
the appelation meant something, and
in the prologue to his career in Sec
ord leads" Mr.. Skinner has also evoked
numerous portraits. in the Shake
spsarean gallery; He played with Ada Al
umphs at Days and in the course Of
her last tour. when he enacted. after
an interval of MANY years, Petrucchio.
Shylock and Charles Surface. His
Falstaff In 1.-THE Merry Wives Of Wind
sor". was revealed in association as
guest star" with two other stage
luminarieS, Henrietta Crosman and
Mrs Fiske.
This survey, which is only partial
and refrains from emphasizing failures,
may. nevertheless, be deemed sum
GENTLY impressive to warrant respect for
the old scheme of things in stageland.
The stars which used to twinkle in so
many playhouSes naturally sought to
shine in congenial environment, which
meant that vehicles were fitted to per-
sonal endowments.
But If the artistic equipment was
diversified, as in the case of Mr.. Skin
ner, no monotony of dramatic fare was
engendered. In the instance Of Mr..
Gillette, it is significant that specially
individualized methods and technique
artfully held within certain boundaries
did not initiate against subtle distinc-
lions in DOrtraitlIre
The characteristic Gillette manner
proved unmistakable in the Derth of
Dear Brutus" as in the title role of
Sherlock Holmes" Yet by some pro-
cess Of alchemy known to this star
these creations accorded admirably with
totally unrelated materials derived from
Barrie and Doyle.
Much credltable. conventionally EN-
cient acting-routine and "type"-in-
forms the stage in this epoch, which
the alarmistS are characterizing as
bleak. Yet, in spite Of the sincere effort
of the player, interest in him as a
rounded artist has undoubtedly deterio-
rated.
In its claims to popular interest the
theater exerts today q many-sIded
charm. But 1t Is beginning to look as
II personality were the lifeblood Of the
institution.