Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-06

~ Theatre journalism reserves
the right and frequently
exercises the privilege of
landing a wallop on the tenderest
spot in the anatomy of the the
alter when the spirit moves him.
Indeed, one of the most penslve
of it's observers took an elegant
crack at the institution in Gotham
within the week. His solemn de-
duction, perforce, happens to be
the movies fondest cry, that the
theater has little use for nature"
where the pavement ends" he
continues. there the drama draws
the boundary" One naturally eX-
poets, at this point, to be greeted
with a fervent outburst on the
possibilities of the far-reaching
eye of the camera and the Won
derS of the Wide-open spaces. In
stead, however, the writer wan
dered aimleSsly on and ultimately
perforated with the deduction that
nature is really a very essential
thing after all.
But there is, nevertheless,
abundant and joyous evidence
that the theater is not without
its friends. Yet heaven help the
luckless wight who passes ret1ec-
tionS" upon it's counterfeit. Cow
cred with the leproSy of commits
sion and omission though the
movie may be, you've got to take
it or leave it without comment,
and smile when you do it. The
adoring nymphs that blow their
bubbles at its footstool in rides
cent tribute have way of inject
ing venom of a kind that may
inconvenience, if it doesn't hurt,
when the bubbles burst.
It should be apparent to the
weakest intellect, especially at this
time, that the wild endeavorS to
Save Our Stage" are nothing
more nor less than meek and
humble request to the august
cinema merely to move up and
make room for a fellow passenger.
Apparently that isn't being done
now. And so the supreme endeavor
of the moment, locally at least,
has been to stir up interest in
Mayor Jimmy Walkers SpotlesS
city and to keep the candle burn
ing brightly in good OF Nu YaWk,
whether it's beams reach the be-
nighted hinterland or not.
OUR world of the legitimate
theater in Washington, I'M
fortunately or otherwise, is divided
between two establishments. which
singularly enough represent the
two great fountain heads of the
theater of the present day. They
are the Erlanger interests, on the
one hand, and those Of Messrs.
Lee and J. j., etc, on the other.
And each is reported to be waglng
war upon the other. The barker
of the Erlanger army, Just now,
appears to be Soft-pedaling, after
the positive and definite an
nouncement of the good things
ahead. The barker of the Shubert
forces is blowing Justify on his
bugle and announcing with an
equal semblance of certainty what
is planned" for Washington in
the months before us. There
seems, however, to be an evaSive
tone in the otherwise harmonious
blasts foretelling the attractions
for the Belasco Theater. Wash
angton'S proper attitude, perhaps
should be to sit still and keep tab
on the promises of both hostile
armies, neither respondent nor
yet too confident, but quietly tab
bling off the promises as they are
realized. 1t may be interesting.
at the close Of the new season, to
note which did and which didn't
Illusion has ever been the aim
of the theater. But since first
the stage and then the movie
began to invite the general public
30 a close inspection of its in
sides-what goes on behind the
Scenes-illuSion'S only roost has
been in the managerial offices and
its chief employment a doubtful
one when plans of forthcoming
productions are to be announced.
So that nature in the theater
might be likened to the lure OF
the loving man who whispers
sweet nothingS in the willing ears
of his Dulcinea until his fell pur-
pose be accomplished and then,
majestic-l like, hurlS his victim into
the trash heap and noncha lantly
inquiries, What are you going tc
do about it?"
A proper respect for the dignity
Of the National Capital at this
period, when the eyes of the world
are focused upon it's decisions in
matters of supreme Importance
would seem to suggest the relega-
ton of Manhattan small talk to
the side lines. especially in affairs
affecting amusement. II one must