Evening star., 1930-03-30
PoLTs--"JournerS End. !,

Journeys End" r. G. &herTiff's SEN
sational drama Of the great war "ovel
there" comes to Polls Theater tonight
Originally written and produced fol
the reminiscent entertainment of q
London club composed mostly of his
comrades in the fields of France
Journeys End" violated one of the
most stringent rules of the !eglllar stage
IN that 1t had no sex interest whatso-
ever. The fact that there were nc
women members of his club, which did
not even contain a female imperSonator
was probably the reason why Mr.. Sher-
riff sighted the fair sex in his cast OF
characters, coupled with the fact, well
known to soldiers, if not 70 professional
playwrights and producers, that women
are scarce as the traditional hens teeth
in front-line trenches.
Anyway, Mr.. Sheriff play was en-
acted by an amateur male cast, and
much to the surprise of author and
actors alike, achieved a big success
West End managers went to see it, and
took chance with it before London's
most critical audiences, who were
equally enthusiastic over this unstere-
otyped tale of 10 men in a British dug
out before st. Quentin. Paris welcomed
this war play as Seritable, and Berlin
surrendered to it New York welcomed
1t last season, and still cherishes its
unhackneyed Charm. Chicago fell 1t
the first assault and still enjoys the
siege. Canadian cities are being con-
quered one by one.
The company presenting Journeys
End" was organized especially to play
only Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore
and Washington. It was to have been
presented here for at least two weeks
but the theater strikes in PHILADELPHIA
earN in the season threw all theatrical
bookings out of gear, and the Eastern S
Journeys End" company was obliged
TO open In Boston, where it had a run
OF eight weeks-a long time nowadays
in the Hub City" The famous play,
therefore, comes to Washington for one
week only.
The cast is. of course, an "aIl-Eng-
Ish' one. Richard Bird, who plays
Stanhope; Henry Stephenson, who PLAYS
Lieut. Osborne, and G. P. Huntley, jr.,
the son of the famous English come
dian, have all been seen heretofore in
NyariSuS Broadway productions. But
AreSerick Catling, Thomas Pierce, Dan
Boo3er, Charles EsdaIe, Robert Nobel
anc Arthur Stenning of the remaining
important roles were all brought over
by Gilbert Miller especially for the
Eastern company.
OAAE4 L. PeSt SuOW IN IOWn.
1t appears from the advance notices
that BEST Show in Town is one of
burlesque's best bets of the season, and
it is to be the attraction at the Gayety
Theater this week. coming flushed with
an unbroken series Of emphatic sue
cesseS."
Those responsible for the "Best Show
in Town" give assurance of many sur
prtSes crowded into the general char
acter of their offering Besides the fun
interest and unique features for laugh
ing purposes, songs and dances of the
modern school are promised in the col
orful production.
Reggie White, clever Shimmy dancer.
is the bright particular star, and Evelyn
Dubois, Boots Rush and Marie Miller,
q trio OF beautiful singing and dancing
artists. Some of the male performers
are Bob Startzman, eccentric comedian;
Lou Costello, singing and dancing come
dian; Ed Lalor, song and dance man;
Sammy Rice and Jack Stab, juveniles.
There is also chorus of snappy sing
ers and dancers.