Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-20

Grow the Lilacs," was warm and APP
preciative For it has been produced
within the lifetime of those who.
however dim has grown tie recol-
lection of such ancient times as 1900,
can still remember when such play
might have been accepted as first
rate melodramatic study in modern
manners. instead of as an assem-
blage Of folk lore and folk songs of
another people in another era.
Mr. Lynn'S work has been con-
cerned chiefly with the task of gath
eling together a large assortment Of
colloquialisms and songs Of the
frontier, by no means confined TO
this last of this continents frontiers,
and weaving them into a story that
enables him to develop the every
day cuStomT and life of the people,
while the Theater Guild, with int1-
mite skill. has by costume and setting
given the story a truly realistic
background. 1t is a background with
which most Americans are familiar,
one that is as family reminiscent OF
Virginia, or Vermont, AS of Indian
Territory. For those who came to
Indian Territory, of course, left YER
mont or Virginia with their parlor
organs and the other paraphernalia
CT home that was characteristic of a
period rather than of place.
The story, with its rather conven-
tional hero and heroine and most
despicable and villainous hired
man." is adequate enough, and there
are tense and dramatic moments
when the audience is really fearful
lest something most unfortunate is
going to happen to that curly haired
young man and his sweet young bride
at the hands of the fiend in human
guise The action is spread over six
scenes, with the intermission be-
tween the third and fourth. While
the scenes are shifted, group OF
cowboys and country lassies, who
really and truly come from Okla
homa, sing to the accompaniment
of the guitar some of the songs OF
the West, such as the classic
Diving Cowboy and other heroic
ballads of the days whcn men were
men.
Most Of the work develops on
Helen Wesley, whose delightful
Aunt Eller Murphy becomes one
Of the most pleasing of the eve
ning's highlights June Walker is
a sweetlv naive and prepossessing
Laurey williams. whose capricious
goings- on with Jeeter Fry, the
hired man, who is admirably and
realistically portrayed by Richard
Hale, comes very near TO spelling
ruin for herself, her aunt's haystacks
and Curly McClain, the singing
cowboy in the person of Franchot
Tone. But for all their fine work;
one must not forget the laurels due
for Ruth Chorpenning as the buxom
Ado Carnes, who brought the
house down with her sing-song re-
cital of that tragic affair which
reached its climax when
The night was dark and dreary,
With Just a hint of rain.
NV heart is sad and weary
For my lover has gone away on
the train.
Mr.. Riggs, who is also from Okla
homa, has discovered a rich new
field of folklore that has been lying
here just under our noses for many
years while playwrights have been
digging around as far as Russia for
good material. And the Theater
Guild has made the best of the OPP
portunity. which Washington has
been fortunate in receiving as the
third of the Guilds local seasons
presentations.
I'm the Best of Families
at the Shubert- BelaSco.
"DITY the poor family!" is the one
appropriate exclamation that
should issue from those who view the
farce, In the Best of Families" at
the Shubert-Belasco Theater. In
the ordinary humorous discussions of
a founding as a cause of suspicion
there is usually an attitude of de-
tachment among the various char
acters involved which conforms to
the laissez taire point of view. No
body is interested in the embarrass-
ments of anybody else, so long as his