The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1930-02-15
GLEANlNC.S
SCREENINGS.
BY ANDREW r. KELLEY

courier for Ethel Barrymore,
enters mild dissent to some
Of the findings Of observers
who report, from time to time,
that the so-called road" is
dead-or, at least, languishing--
when it comes to supporting
touring attractions.
The Barrymore dividends
this season have been consistent
and highly satisfactory, and
Mr.. Henderson's particular COM
nunique to this column insists
it is not due to an exceptional
condition. Mr.. Henderson Is
recognized:
Honored and Admired Sir:
Perhaps it is because, like
young Lochinvar, I come out
Of the West, that I see the
speaking stage with q rosy.hued
present and a glamorous future,
for since last June IN advance
Of Miss Barrymore have been
travelling through the Far West,
the Mid West and the Near
West and thus I may have
escaped the blight Of Broadway
pessimiSm.
I cannot and will not argue
that you are incorrect when
you place Miss Barrymore in a
class by herself; that is exactly
right! Manager Ira LaMotte
was speaking several years ago
when he quoted the actress
drawing power. Is there not
something in the fact that her
drawing power is even greater
today in this era sdespaired Of
by my colleagues? 1 think,
aside from the impressive fig
ures that weekly have graced
her box office statements this
season and told OF records
broken in more than one city,
there are incidents connected
with her tour which may bear
out my feeling. let us not say
of optimism, but Of gertrude
that the legitimate theater is
far from becoming a dead issue.
In my number Of years Of
crosS-country touring I recall
but one season-that imme-
diately following the war
when somebody wasn't at the
wailing wall emitting tears of
misery over the state Of the
theater. That these weepers
have within this and the past
season made a flood out Of
these drops Of sorrow would
indicate conditions to be more
serious than usual-and they
are. I do not deny that, but
the fault is not so much a
falling public as q failing the
ater.
Any close observer Of the
stage today must admit that
1t has made tremendous ad-
vances in the last two decades.
The general average of acting
IS higher: the plays are more
intelligent; stage directing is
more sensitive and productions
are in better taste. The silent
picture not only took patrons
away from the playhouse. but
1t eliminated a false and in
artistic form Of entertainment,
the more flambcuyant. unreal
type of melodran1a. Comparing
the output Of authors Of the
present decade and a half with
those of the previous genera
ton, I think it must be ad-
naitted that the quality of play
writing today is of decidedly
finer type, whereas stage dlrec.
ton has become a factor in
the theater little dreamed of
when you and I we're paying
our so cents in the gallery to
see the famous stars of yester.
day.
The chief trouble with the
Sheater today is the dearth of
first-rate travelling companies.
One of the reasons for this is
that the younger actors of
ability refuse to undergo the
rigors of the road and prefer
to rem ain on Broadway.
Whereas the Barrymores, the
SINNERS, the Arlisses, the
Fishes, the Sotherns and Mar.
loves through economic condi-
tons Of the time when they
began their careers were forced
to consider touring as the back
bone Of their calling and conse-
quently they developed ma
tional reputation and a ma.
tional audience, these young
people, finding it possible to
go from one play to another
on Broadway. are securing only
a local fame and public and
are denying the theater at large
the necessary replenishment of
new material. Yet there are
a dozen players now adhering
closely to the great white way
who could establish themselves
from coast to coast as securely
as did any star Of a past gen.
Grafton and thus supply the
road with attractions to fill the
theaters.
The road has put UP with so
many inferior companies and
subStitutions that it has be.
come too canny to make sec
ond-rate entertainments profit
able. A generation ago, with.
out the radio, the picture and
the automobile, the public had
little choice Of entertainment
II it neglected the theater; now
the public has a variety of pos
gibilities and can afford to be