davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1931-12-13
Picking the Ten Best
OF New York's Past Year
Cream of the Lot However, Are Called Split
Milk Two Selected Plays That Might
Easily Be Erased From the List.
By Percy Hammond.

~ URNS MANTLE is a refutation of
l. the belief that habitual play
going warps the soul, weakens
IL the character, destroys the mind
and cutters the standards of
those who practice it.
AS q daily newspaper reviewer he has
been an associate of the theater for
more years than I care to enumerate,
since I am closest to him in the list of
veterans. Despite Mr.. Nantes long
and continuous contacts with the perils
of the stage he remains as created
a bright, serene and knowing dramatic
critic, as well as bright, serene and
knowing man of the world All of which
is a fraternal introduction to his latest
Yearbook of the drama, entitled THE
Best Plays of 1930-'31." 1t is one Of the
best sellers.
MIR, Mantle's aim in these annual vol
umes is to isolate ten of the better
plays, and to reward them with his
benediction. Thus he selects for anoint-
ment this year the following expositions
and displays, most of them split milk:
Elizabeth the Queen"
Tomorrow and Tomorrow"
"Once in Lifetime"
Green Grow the Lilacs."
"As Husbands Co."
"Alison's House"
Five Star Final"
"The Barretts of Wimpole Street."
Grand HOTEL
Overture"
Perhaps you as well as would make
changes in Mantle's catalogue. I am sure
you would erase from its items such a
stupid affectation as "Alisons House"
which, though 1t was awarded the mys-
kArt D,,lt AL hi kzrnH
an overprecious tableau. You will
cross out Five Star Final" as an
angry, exaggerated and delirious melo-
drama, violently expressing in no ar
tistic terms the brutal grudge Of an ex-
tabloid journalist gainst tabloid jour-
nalism I, as one of Mr. Nantes sub
scribers, put my blue pencil through
Green Grow the Lilacs," In the sus-
picion that it was just a moderately
uninteresting Theater Guild stunt.
MISS HOPE WILLIAMS, the star of
A'A '"The Passing Present" and Ar
thur Hopkins, its producer, are more
friendly to that drama than is Miss
Gretchen Damrosch, its author. Miss
Damrosch, although born and reared in
an atmosphere of art and its technique,
is still, in her proscenium efforts,
awkward and amateur. The play there
fore is rather an old-fashioned muddle,
saved by Mr.. Hopkins and his actors
from being too routine. The hitherto
orchid Miss Williams is now bouquet,
and fragrant one, as she represents
the four-square sister who rescues her
gambling brother from disaster by bor-
rowing money from her married sweet
heart. Mr.. Hopkins clairvoyant stage
direction is to be seen at its best at
the end of the second act. Upstairs
and beyond the view of the audience
crisis is occurring to this old and
theatrical Fifth avenue family. You
hear the groans and the muff1ed shrieks
of patricians in despair as it becomes
known that the son of the housesold
is an unsuccessful stock promoter, and
that the daughter has sold herself for
money and love to rich, sentimental
broker in Wall Street
Evening star., 1931-12-13

able career.
Mr.. Skinner brings to the stage the
Shylock which has won him applause
and critical praise many times In his
long and notable career For this cell
ebrated actor, honored as the dean of
the American stage, THE Merchant of
Venice" carries memories and intimate
associations with such monumental fig
ures OF the stage as Edwin Booth and
Lawrence Barrett, with the great Mod
jeska and the beautiful Ada Rehan.
The engagement of The Merchant
OF Venice" at the National is part of
an extensive tour which Miss Adams
and Mr.. Skinner are undertaking under
the management of Erlanger Produc-
tions, Inc, prior to the New York en-
gagement of the production. the date of
which has not yet been determined
Much interest is being evoked by the
new acting version of the play which
Miss Adams herself has prepared for
this production. 1t is notable in the
fact that it has been arranged with an
eye to the splendid comedy values of
Shakespeare's immortal play. Under
Miss Adams supervision, also, special
music has been arranged to fit the me-
dieyal Venetian setting Of the play
This task was placed in the gifted
hands of the Russian-American musi-
clan, Theodore Zarkevich in collabora-
ton with Harold Morris. Mr.. Zarkevich
has been musical director of Eva lie
Gallienne's Civic Repertory Theater
during the five years of its existence,
and for The Merchant of Venice" he
has made complete departure from
the usual score, avoiding the little
EliZabethan tunes that are commonly
used, turning instead to Italian sources,
consonant with the background OF the
comedy, even to Jewish folk songs for
certain of the Shylock scenes. Zarke-
vich is particularly at home with the
problem of fitting music 10 Shakespear-
can performances as a result of his ex-
perience with a number of such pro-
ductions at the Civic Repertory Theater
including Twelfth Night" and Romeo
and Juliet"
Miss Adams and Mr.. Skinner will
bring notable supporting company, in
eluding Jerome Lawler as Bassanio,
Charles Francis as Antonio, Barry
O'Neill as Gratiano, Martin Burton as
Evening star., 1931-12-13
Club Presents Plavs.

THE Wesley Heights Players will
present two plays at the Wesley
Heights Club, Wednesday, December
16-"His Come-Uppance, of the Tri-
umph of the Gertrude" by Marjorie
De Mott, and 1.-THE Mouse" by Louise
Van Voorhis Armstrong. The former
will be directed by Mrs. Wesley M.
Gewehr, with cast comprising Charles
H. Hillegeist, Mrs. Walter Gawler, j.
Austin Stone, Miss Gretchen Daniel,
Mrs Walter Davidson, Mrs Carl w.
Mitman and Mrs. Otto Englehart The
story concerns the experiences of
Joseph. the boss Of the household,
until the entrance Of his new infant
son. The Mouse" will be directed by
Mrs. Franklin D. Jones with cast
including ], Douglas Rollow Charles
B. 'Heinemann, jr.; Max J. Proffitt,
Royal r. Rommel and Mrs. Franklin
D. Jones. The scene is laid on the
outskirts of an English seafaring town
about 1850 The pirate captain don't
like mice and don't like women no
better" He is "afeared of EN-" and
with good reason, as the play discloseS
Evening star., 1931-12-13
Balieff's S "Chauve-Souris. q"

"REING the son of an important
manufacturer and man of af-
fairs" says Nikita Balieff, Il was des-
tined to enter my fathers business.
Deep-seated within me, however. was
an Unsuitable longing for a theatrical
career. Although my angry father shifted
me from school to school, l continued
to organize amateur theatrical perform
anceS. Even when I was graduated
from Moscow Academy and taken into
my fathers business I started a dra-
matte society in secret among the en-
ployes. For this was banished to the
Caucasus
For 10 years I performed the duties
of mime" in which ! never uttered
single word. Growing tired of this,
found small cellar by the Moscow
River, capable Of seating about 40 per-
sons. Here l held sort of midnight
cabaret, where current plays were bur-
leSqued. The artisteS merely enter
tanned one another. Only persons be-
longing to the theatrical profession were
admitted. Later the fame of the place
spread, and the general public demand
ed admission.
When choosing my first cellar, a Pc
culiar thing happened Out of the
darkness bat few into my face 1
took 1t TO be good omen and named
the place the Bat Theater, or La
Chauve-Souris." The first performance
was given on February 90, so we can only
celebrate our jubilee once in every four
years. That was % years ago now, and
for the last 10 years have wandered
in exile.
Evening star., 1931-12-13
Hollywood Sees Problems
In Cutting Big Expenses
High Cost of Many Pictures Is Blamed Upon
Waste-Stars Worth Their Salaries-Ceneral
Studio Cuts of Past Week.
By Mollie Merrick.

camera angles planned by experts be-
fore the shoot ng begins. These mat
tiers should be as vitality considered as
the moves of an army on the eve OF
battle. Then. when the actual making
of the picture begins, It may be done
with a crew that is mere fraction OF
the amount of people used at the
present time, and the results will be
little wasted footage, less time lost in
cutting (for it requires far less time to
choose between 3 significant takes and
dozen or more insignificant ones)
and a better picture in the long run.
There are two men in the industry
today who do not overShoot. Ernst
Lubitsch and Lewis Milestone shoot
the minimum, have less takes per scene
and better results than any other di-
rectors in Hollywood today. What they
do others can be taught to do. Pro-
ducers can insist on an end to wastage
and can have better pictures for less
money
The first important fact for pro-
ducerS to aSSimilate is that the public
has lost the habit of motion pictures.
The radio has provided people with
entertainment at home, the motion pic
ture must provide them with unusual
entertainment out Of the home and at
prices which they are able to meet un-
der present conditions.
The habit Of reaching out and sign
ing up wholesale is another practice
which must be abandoned in studios If
Hollywood is to find her feet on solid
ground A fine character actress-man
or woman-may make a picture and be
worth the salary paid If that salary is
paid for that picture only. But II the
character actor is signed by the year
and only is nr-aIa.aI for that one picture, 1t
becomes another mater entirely. A star
who pulls people into the box-office has
never yet been an extravaganza, regard
less of the amount of money paid.
when Clara Bow was at her height
in pictures we could make a story with
her in it and gross million and half,
where another actress would gross half
a million in the same picture and with
the same cast.
I'VE are, in the motion picture in
dustry no more able to get away from
the personality element in art than is
the theater A play with Ethel Barry
more Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne
and a number of others in the theater
would go better than the same play
with different personalities. Star sal
aries are generally worth what we pay
for the stars personality and drawing
power. And directors salaries are more
than worth their value when the di-
rector can cut mentally and save vast
age in time and strip"
(Copyright. 1881, by the North American
Newspaper Alliance, Inc.)
Evening star., 1931-12-13
Great Players, Both.

WASHINGTON should experience a
thrill Tuesday evening, when the
curtain Of the National Theater rises
for the presentation OF The Merchant
of Venice" with two of the American
theater's most notable players in roles
Of great distinction in the eyes of the
theatrical profession. They are the
roles of Shylock and Portia, and their
depth of plausible Interpretation has
challenged the dive Of the worlds great
est players in centuries.
The dash and coloring Of the per-
fected art of Otis Skinner, a veteran
in the world of artistic mimicry and
dean of our American theater, may
easily be anticipated, because Mr.. Skin
her has been seen more than once as
Shylock, and his skill in other fields of
the drama have provided his public
with imaginative ideals Of his creation
that will enable 1t to withstand the
shock Of any surprise he may now have
to offer, even after his well ripened eX-
perience has fitted him for a degree of
perfection in his art that is rarely wit
messed in our drama of today.
1t is TO Miss Maude Adams, therefore,
that the connoisseur and especially the
old-timer will turn for new delights and
surprises, because the talents of this
distinguished artist, who is returning
to the theater after an absence of IS
years, are best remembered in their
play with the fancies of the whimsical
Sir James M. Barrie, even though she,
too, acquired some familiarity with
Shakespearean heroines in days gone
by, and her versatile artistry in Ros-
tand's "L'Aiglon" and "Chanticleer" is
not entirely thing of tradition.
The enterprise, the creation of the
production and it's direction is all her
own. apparently. She has even pre-
pared "a wholly new prompt book" as
she describes it, and her new version of
the play, differing in many respects
from its predecessors, "accentuates the
comedy (rather than the turbulent and
even tragic elements of the famous
play" New music has been devised at
her command, the Shakespearean dit
ties being abandoned, and concession
Evening star., 1931-12-13
Dix Helps War Heroes.
HOLLYWOOD has heart. Richar

~ SlLA WooD IldS LltdIL. fJlCIldEu
l. Dix proved it recently.
The star learned that three wearers of
the Congressional Medal of Honor were
at their wits end to find work. Two of
them had been unemployed for months
The ironical side of this was that they
had only their medals TO remind them
of past glories-medals which lay in
drawers with the defiant eagle symbol
izing liberty and the pursuit of happi-
ness staring up at them.
One had family to support. His
medal hung upon the wall-a golden
symbol, too 1t had earned him moth
ing save bitter memories, although II
years before it had promised a different
harvest. He had no work and little
food and faced threatened eviction.
Dix heard Of their plight and placed
then as extras in Secret Service" his
latest RK-O-Radio pictures, now at
the R-K-O-Keith Theater.
The Congressional Medal Of Honor
men befriended by Dix are David E.
Hayden of the Marine Corps, who won
decoration on the bloodstained fields of
Belleau Woods; Robert Won Schlick of
the 9th Infantry, United States Army,
who, while severely wounded at Tien-
tsin during the Boxer rebellion, success
fully held the Chinese rabble at bay
for four hours, and Joseph Leonard of
the Marine Corps, who won his medal
at Vera Cruz.
Evening star., 1931-12-13

R-K-O Keith announces a new CO.
Mmbia Pictures production entitled
Men in Her Life" featuring Charles
Bickford and Lois Moran, with Victor
Varcont and Donald Dilloway in the
cast.
Gary Cooper, as two -hsted sea cap
tain, and Claudette Colbert, as a fall
len woman who is redeemed by her
love for the captain and his child, in a
picture called The Woman" is an
nounced for the Warner Earle Theater
starting Saturday Of this week. Trixie
FTiganza, grand duchess of comedy"
Will head the stage program, which
includes also Isabel Dwan, Marion Will
k1ns. the girl with the twinkling
toes" and four partners; Iona Worth,
the one-girl orchestra, and, of course,
Maxine Doyle.
Working Girls" a story of young
women who support themselves, is an
nounced for the Warner Metropolitan
starting Saturday. The cast includes
Buddy Rogers, Judith Wood, Dor
othy Hall, Stuart Erwin and Francis
Dee.
Evening star., 1931-12-13
Six to One Not Significant.

SIx blondes and one brunette are
seen in the principal feminine roles
in Good Sport" now at the Fox
Theater.
This preponderance of the "pre-
ferred' variety is not intentional how
ever, but is due simply to the fact that
Director Kenneth MacKenna chooses
his players for their particular Suita-
bility to their roles and regardless of
their hirsute coloring.
Thus it happens that Hedda Hopper,
the heroine's m3ther. is the sole rep
resentative of the brunette school. while
the leading lady, Linda Watkins, Greta
NiSsen, Minna Gombell, Claire May
nard, Betty Francisco and Eleanor
Hunt-au support the blonde faction.
Evening star., 1931-12-13

to the Italian locale and atmosphere of
the play has been infused.
The greatest interest, however, is
likely to develop in the qualities with
which Miss Adams, the Peter Pan and
spirit of eternal youth of other days,
clothes her sister Portia, a youthful de-
yelopment of wisdom, which is looked
for rather in the elder and, perhaps, mas
culine character, than in generally ire
sponsible maidenhood. Critics have felt at
times that Peter Pan is not so very far
away when Miss Adams Portia appears.
The engagement promises easily to be
the most important of the year.
Evening star., 1931-12-13

Mr.. VAN DRUTEN writes with a
sad detachment about us and our
elders in After ALL" pensive though
not respondent comedy treating of the
ever conflicting generations. The
youngsters in 1t desire to break home
ties and, throwing their fetterS off, to
seek the illusions, facts, dreams and
aspirations tempting to adolescence.
Their parents, staid and fiftyish, mildly
deplore the exodus, but suffer it. hurt
and puzzled. The boy in the play
wishes 20 have his own fiat SO that he
can associate with actors and artists.
The gifi announces that she admire3
a married srah:tect with a dying wife
Both youngsters appall their father,
who pines away and dies, leaving their
mother to wonder pathetically what 1t
is all about, until she, too, pines away
and dies. 1t Is not Mr.. Van Druten
at his best
Evening star., 1931-12-13

Merchant of Ven-
ice, at the NA-
tional Theater fDr
five days only. BE-
ginning Tuesday
evening.
Miss Adams has
signalized her re-
turn to the stage
by assuming for
the first time one
of the most ad-
mired of Shake
spearean r } ] E S,
though she has
played c number
Of other Shake
S are heroines,
Including Rosalind,
Juliet and Viola,
during her remark
Evening star., 1931-12-13
This Weeks Pictures

duction of Chester Morris, with Thelma
Todd In the leading feminine role. The
story concerns a young man who starts
in TO be a gentleman pirate with a
number of reported exciting escapades
as the result. Fred Kohler and Will
liam Austin are seen in the chief sup
porting roles.
RIALTO-"Nice Women"
CIDNEY FOX, Universal Pictures
~ new star to be seen at the Rialto
Theater this week in the screen version
of William A. Crews famed play, Nice
Women" adapted and directed by Ed
win H Knopf. The supporting cast in
cludes Frances Dee, Alan Mowbray and
Lucille and Russell Gleason.
The story concerns the matrimonial
difficulties of a young working girl. who,
to save her family from ruin, finds her.
self confronted with the problem of
marrying a millionaire. 1t is said to be
new presentation of a situation that
never loses its interest with audiences.
Miss Fox is afforded an excellent oppor-
tunity in Nice Women" which it is
confident. was made after her sensa-
tional work in the Preston Sturgis play,
Strictly Dishonorable."
Supplemental features of the program
Reporter in Universal News and selected
short subjects.
METRoPOLITAN-"The Age for Love-"
RILLIE DOVE, in her first screen role
in more than a year, Is featured at
Warner Bros. Metropolitan Theater this
week in The Age for Love-" United
Artists Picture.
The Age for Love" Is described as a
bold and sophisticated treatment of a
modern subject-love and marriage,
adapted from best seller" by Ernest
Pascal, with dialogue by Robert e. Sher-
wood, noted playwright.
Supporting Miss Dove are Lois VIII
son. Charles Starrett, Edward Everett,
Horton, Mary Duncan, Adrian Morr1a
and Betty Clarke
Selected short reel subjects including
new issue of the Paramount Sound
News and "Relattvity and Relatives, "
starring the sugar-coated philosopher,
DR.. Rockwell" complete the program.
COLUMBIA-"The Big Parade"
teT'HE BIG PARADE" that created
l. motion picture history as silent
production some years ago has been
brought back to the screen with sound
Joews Columbia Taeater Friday.
John Gilbert appears in the leading
role with Renee Adoree, Karl Dane, Ho-
bart Bosworth in the supporting cast.
1t was this production that established
Gilbert as a star, and many claim he
has not since equaled his performance
as the doughboy who joined the Army
for fun.
A selected group of short subjects will
complete the Columbia program.
Evening star., 1931-12-13

The role of Mrs.
Fred Minick will be
p ay e d by Miss
Ruth Martin Simp-
son, a graduate last
Spring Of Central
High School, where
she appeared in
leading parts in
two operettaS and
played the feminine
lead in "Anne'S
Little Affair"
Miss B ar b a r a
Pierce, a graduate
of Western High
School last Spring,
will appear ss
Annie; Ear1 Kerra-
han, a mira |
Htcf, Echoa7 graf,I-
Evening star., 1931-12-13

ron" who is we'll
established as a
leading portrayer of
virile roles. in
Secret Service" he
is seen as a mas
terly m an W h o
rules his own des-
tiny in the face Of
danger. About him
revolves the sharply
contrasting note Of
romance.
Secret Service"
broug HI t William
Gillette u n d y ing
fame on the speak
ing stage.
Supplementary
features will in
r4la1Sa EI0ur Var
Evening star., 1931-12-13
Washington's Players
What Various Dramatic Organizations Are Doing
and Propose to Do.
and Propose to DO.

of one-act plays, all Of which have been
written by members.
Friday evening Of this week they will
present three plays written by Dorothea
Lewis, Mrs. Armstrong and H. r.
Baukhage respectively. The first two
have been previously presented in Wash
ington, but the last named was written
especially for the occasion.
Meanwhile, the second production Of
the season, Lady Windemere's Fan" Is
In rehearsal. Casting for the old mels-
drama Lady Audley's Secret" will be-
gin after the holidays.
The three original one e-act plays an
nounced for this week will be given at
Wilson Normal College. No tickets will
be issued in advance. Admissions for
members may be secured at the
door.
Miss Lewis and Mrs Armstrong are
directing their own plays and Orris Hol-
land is directing Mr.. Baukhage's.
Evening star., 1931-12-13

announce a change
of bill for Christ
mas week.
Riders of the
Purple Sage" " fea-
turing eorg e
OBrien, M ar
guerite Churchill
and Noah Beery.
is announced for
the week starting
Friday at the Fox
Theater. On the
stage, Earle Sande,
king of jockeys,
with songs and
WlSeCrackS, Will
head an entirely
new program.
For the uyaak
Evening star., 1931-12-13
'MINICK"--American University.

'MINICK"-America University.
~ RADUATES of Washington high
4 schools will appear in the cast
7 of "Minick," modern comedy,
~ the first dramatic production
TO be presented this season at
American University, next Tuesday
night at the auditorium on the campus,
Massachusetts and Nebraska avenues.
The play is by Edna Ferber and George
S. kaufman.
Evening star., 1931-12-13
JANET RICHARDS, Tomorrow.

MISS JANET RICHARDS will give
4FA her usual review of Affairs
Political and International" at the
Willard Hotel tomorrow morning at IL
o'clock.
From the many dramatic events of
world interest that the past week has
brought forth, Miss Richards will speak
particularly of the political and par
tisan issues that confront the new Con-
gress; the high lights of the Presidents
message, and the scene on the Senate
floor, on Tuesday last, upon the seating
of Mr. Barbour and Mrs. Caraway.
Foreign affairs in relation to our coun-
try and the present situation in Man
churia will also be reviewed.
Evening star., 1931-12-13
Cromwell's S Mask of Cornell.

n ICHARD CROMWELL, motion pic
ture star, made a mask of Katha-
rine Cornell from life, which Joan
Crawford bought and now keeps on her
dressing room table.
When Miss Crawford and her hus-
band, Douglas Fairbanks, IT,, came to
New York for the premiere of Miss
Crawfords film, Possessed" the first
play she saw was THE Barretts Of
Wimpole street" in which Miss Cornell
now is appearing In the Empire
Theater
Evening star., 1931-12-13

WESTERN PLAYERS-"scoops."
THE Trilla B. Young Bible Glass of
the Western Presbyterian Church
will present a three-act comedy
Scoops under the direction of Mr..
James Shore, in the new church,
located at Nineteenth and H streets
northwest, Wednesday evening at 8
o'clock.
Evening star., 1931-12-13

ate, will be Dietenhoffer, and Miss
Eleanor Waite, Tech High School
graduate of 1880, will play the role of
Lii Corey.
The title role, which was originally
played by o. P. Heggie, will be pre-
sented by Carlton Skeggs of Mount Airy,
Md, who has made name for himself
in dramatics at American University
and Is president of the Dramatic Club.
The play is concerned with the stu
alton created by the arrival of the 72-
year-old Father Minick in the home of
his son and daughter-in-law. and is
under direction Of VIII Hutchins, pro-
lessor OF art at American University.
Evening star., 1931-12-13
Sidney a New Star.

CIDNEY FOX, starring in Mice
~ Wcmen," at the Rialto Theater,
is Universal Pictures new find" She
has played in Strictly Dishonorable"
and will play in The Murders of the
Rue Morgue"