Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-11
NlDEAIN BLUE" Gu-ls Fox (67aqe)
Drama of the Day
By w. H. Landvoigt.

week hopeful, If not brave. And
why? Well, for one reason, there
is a disquieting suspicion that
Storm Song" is going to find its
melodies in the diapason of the
big organ and not in the sounds
that reflect the warbling Of the
birds or the dangerous ditties Of
the lackadaiSical loves. A rough
night at sea, mates, and a lone
lass with a Surly crew Saps the
courage at the outset. The fact
that "Storm Song" had the late
Jeanne Eagels in mind for its star,
the Jeanne who broke loose when
it rained and rained and rained,
is also Just a bit disquieting to
the soul that lacks in daring, and
which, without the least reflection
upon the memory Of the gifted
Miss Eagels, might have chosen
something that claimed the at
tention of a milder star to Soothe
it's idle moments. However, 1t
takes all kinds of people to make
a world, and, after all, drama Is
but the reflex Of the worlds life,
even though idealized a bit for
the sake Of art. Those who like
strong meat and strong drama
may find their craving for
strength soothed by the strains
of Storm Song" Besides, 1t Is
always best to see morsel before
consuming or rejecting 1t. "The
Blue Ghost" has an uncomfortable
sound and the mere thought Of 1t
is apt to sap the courage Of the
tinid. But is it not the timid
really who have made the mys-
terry play popular? The chap that
knows it all and isn't afraid of
the devil himself has no time for
mystery plays. They belong to
the weak and trembling, the aspen
leaf and the Shivering bowl OF
jelly. At least, they offer an al
tentative, although 1t doesn't
matter much whether you trem-
BILE at a blue ghost or have the
shivers shaken out Of you on a
stormy sea with a burly, rough
necked crew ready and willing to
do almost anything. They are
both drama Of a sort, If it's drama
you are in search Of.
7 IKE friendly beacon on a
frightful night looms the
Theater Guild on the horizon.
Green Grow the Lilacs" sounds
poetic and even smacks Of Spring
to the Winter-tired soul. Even
though its inspiration sprung
from the turbulent soil OF far
of Oklahoma, Lynn Riggs, who
gave it expression, isn't trying an
unbroken colt on his public. Lynn
has fathomed the depths and
scared to the heights from the
humble station of a farmland to
that of Guggenheim Fellow In
Europe. He is poet as well as
a playwright, and there is no
mention whatever by the biog-
rapher Of our subject to indicate
that he ever took to bootlegging
or to flying reckleSsly in the air.
And then there Is always the con-
ISOLATION that he comes under the
sponsorship Of the Theater Guild,
and the Theater Guild stands for
drama at its best. Countering the
green growing lilacs Of the guild
will be something new with the
label I'm the Best Of Families"
which Is not burdened with ped
igree Of theatrical fame or impos-
ing authorship. The winds Of
announcement that brought it in
brought with them but little Of
what it may be save its sponsor
chip by the Messrs. Shubert. The
theatergoer must take his risk,
even as he Is required to do al
most every day and evening with
the dramatic fare, real and shad-
owy, that comes rolling In from
the great eenters Of production.