Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-27

in every way seemed this production,
which last year was evoked by q
Ziegfeldian wand, that one wonders
how possibly the audience could have
been so meaesr, and why the thun-
behring's of those. present couldn't
have prologued Mr.. Wynne's with
cisms for the rest of the night. This
begoggled gentleman. whose first
syllable was the signal for an eve
ning's laugh fest. although present
In the flesh for a good three-quar-
tiers of the play, never once in
dulged in tiresome remark. or did
he other than surpaSs himself in his
ludicrous standings. What was
even more wonderful to contemplate
with the midnight bell was the fact
that Mr.. Wynne's humor was kept
strictly within the limits of decency,
never-except for one or two mild
notwithstanding upon the COM
monplace verbal heshpots of Broad
way.
Foremost in q repertoire that he
has built up to the boiling point
was, of course, the tireless exhibit
tons of Wynnian inventions that he
produced with rapid-flre insistency.
The more glorious of these included
q doorleSS mouSetrap, q creaseleSS
nightgown and q piano that per-
formed literally on wheels. The lat
ter, upon which at one point was
perched Wini Shaw In splendid
imitation of Helen Morgan. seemed
easily the most satisfying "gadget"
produced since the typewriting-
corn-cob invention O few seasons
ago.
Helping this royal clown through
an evening in which he needed no
help was a cast Of more than ade-
quate performers-including Harriet
Hector and a chorus OF ladies whose
comelineSS was something really
breathless. Miss Hector did some
incredibly difficult steps with an
apparent ease that raises her to the
sjafnmit Of all ballerinas. She was
assisted by group of rhythmic ladies
whose grace was well nigh as magic
as her own.
There were other things and peo-
pie of note in this Wynne extrava-
ganza The aforementioned Wini
Shaw sang I'm Yours" and Ten
Cents O Dance" In the approved
Broadway manner; Marjorie and
Carter De Haven, IT,. did some light
frolicking. and pleasing collection
of legendary animals pop In and
out of woods and houses. The music.
too. came soothingly TO the ear; the
I. lovers made not too much love. and
, the titian-haired lady, dressed as
little boy blue, outshone any fenai-
nine apparition since Billy Burkes
youth.
And-in case you've forgotten
there was Ed Wynne, the .be-an and
ktaA AnA-an ~ the hriOhtAak AVanisa0
Of nonsense since Ed Wynne was
hare last. =. de s. M.
Zen Ausiis Readings
In English and Yiddish.
JACOB BEN AMI, leading figure
Of the dramatic stage, visited
washington Last night. to the salts
faction of large gathering ut the
Jewish Art Center. His appearance
was preceded by q short introduc-
ton by Mark Playnick. An atmos-
phere Of ease and friendlifaess was
apparent from the moment Mr.. Ben
, Ami stepped on the platform.
He outlined briefly his intended
program, announcing that it would
be divided into two sections, the first
: In English and the second in Yid-
0ASu. k1lo kGhuiAAB III EAAiSAlch Woc
that Of the second act of q new play
by Sven LANCE. tragi-comedy based
on the philosophical symbolism Of
the great opera and biblical drama
Samson and Delilah."
Through no fault Of the reader.
the opening lines were trifie long
drawn out, 80 that his histrionic
powers did not begin to manifest
themselves until he had reached the
middle Of the act. Then 1t was that
one began to be thankful for the
opportunity 70 hear such an artist.
The cast calls entirely for mems
voices with the exception of one
Delilah's. Ben Ami's portrayal Of
each was vivid and well drawn. At no
time was there confusion as 10 whose
lines were being spoken. His voice
Is easy, natural and resonant, and q