Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-22
IKE the sanity Joan of Arc
CT the French long ago.


CT the French long ago
Ethel Barrymore is going to
sally forth and restore some
thing to the American theater. In
this instance, perhaps, it is the
outlying province professionally
designated as "the road" If sue
ceSsful, it promises to be a won
derful achievement for the mod
ern jean, who, unlike her illus
triouS predecessor, springs from "a
royal family of Broadway" The
famous John of the. same lineage
might be expected to take part in
the expedition, but, alas for the
ways of mice and men, John seems
to be enamoured of the cinema
life, and it is likely he will lag
sulking in his tent, like Achilles
of old. The immediate occasion
for this outburSt is the announce
ment that Miss Barrymore, famous
among the famous of the acting
profession, and, as has been well
said, lone of the finest, fullest and
most glamorouS trouperS of the
theater," will lay aside the color
full drama, Scarlet Sister Mary"
postpone her proposed second
production planned for Broadway
in March, and, within three short
months, set forth upon tour of
SO cities Of the old South and the
yearning Midwest, with THE Love
Duel" the Hatvany Hungarian
drama, which was adapted by Zoe
Atkins, and which was played
from coast to coast during the
1929-30 season. She will do this
because she has not been able to
visit the South since her tour in
''Mid-Channel," and she really
wants a public that has been all
but abandoned to see her again.
So sincere is she in her undertake
ing that she will not Snirk even
the rigors of one-night stands.
+
SINCE her debut in her grand
- mothers MRS. John Drew's)
company at the age of Is the now
famous Ethel Barrymore says she
has ever regarded the entire
United States as her field of
action and equally deserving Of
her best endeavorS in everything
worthwhile in the theater. The
timid, doubling ThomaseS in New
York, who have the faltering in
StitutiCn now in their grasp, may
sit idly by, If they like, waiting
with MicaWber for something to
turn up, but a fearless, intelligent
woman is now prepared to lead
the way and show them the error
of inaction. In this instance it
happens to be woman with faith
in her art and faith in her audi
ences which supplies the courage
to do battle in the four corners of
the land, even against the rivalry
OF a cheaper, Shadowy counter
part and the high cost of trans
portation. There isn't lover of
the theater In all the length and
breadth of America who will not
wish her the fullest measure of
success in her undertaking and
the resultant glory that will be
hers if she succeeds. 1t is gener-
ally conceded that if the American
theater is TO regain its place in
the preference of the public that
now seems TO be secure in the
possession, with outlying fortifica-
tons, of a rival with interloping
propensity and gifted with eye
filling glory, rough and rugged
road lies ahead of the effort TO
put 1t there. However, it will be
remembered, the French Joan had
much the same sort of situations
to contend with. And who is there
to question the courage, the in
genuity, the art of Ethel Barry
more, our modern theatrical Joan,
to cope with her problem and to
master it with equal, if not
greater, success.
ZANE COWL gave an exquisite
perform a n ce as Viola in
twelfth Night" during the week
It amply atoned for art and Mrs.