Evening star., 1932-03-13

she came back to co-star with Noel
Coward in This Year of Grace" Last
year it was the Third Little Show" 8"
which never did get to Washington,
and now she comes with the Guild In
a show which has words by Bernard
Shaw, but music by no one. 1t repre-
sents, in word, a radical change for
the lady herself and an event which
will greet with interest, because of its
combination Of comedienne like Miss
Lille clowning through a Shaw COM
edy.
Her style of comedy developed by
her own persistence. London managers
refused to allow her to depart from
the straight singing which she first
did. But on the night Of shows clos
ing, when every one else was clownlng,
she did quite little on her own ac-
count, and attracted attention thereby.
Her style is to maintain a .mien that
is determinedly serious, and yet
not too dolorous solemnity. With her
straight face she will threaten to 'skuh-
ream," but with a hurt look she will
exclaim, "Pull-leeze" This Pull
leeze," with its connotation of a shocked
decorum Tending off something too in
delicate for mention, achieved and held
for her an enormous popularity after
Miss Lille had first made use of it..
In fact, its popularity has been vast
enough to make her avoid further ref
erence to the word. She refuses to
be known as a oneword girl.
Many have asked how the Guild
came to think of Beatrice Lille for
the Shaw play, since she had never
played in straight comedy before. The
answer is simple. The Guilds direc-
tors had read the play and were dis
cuSSing cast. Some one haZarded the
suggestion that Miss Lille would be
splendid in the srole Of Sweetie, the
errant lady of Mr.. Shaw's newest fable.
Every one present fell in with the idea,
and next day offers were sent the
lady, who was then headlining a bill
at the Palace Theater, New York. 1t
took her some days to reach a deci-
sion, but reach it she did, and she
began rehearsals while still playing
two performances daily at the Palace.
She discovered early in these rehearsals
that it was impossible to ad lib Shaw,
that he must be nlemorized well. since
the lapse of q line can throw another
player into the air" Thus have they
guided the Lille!
The company which appears with
Miss Lille in Too True to Be Good"
includes: Hope Williams, Hugh SIN
clair, Ernest Cossart, Pedro de Cordoba
Leo @. Carroll Mifna Phillips Alex
ander Clark, jr, and Julius Evans.
BELASCO-"Eyerybody's Welcome"
ONE Of the unusual highlights of
the theatrical season will be the
presentation by the Messrs Shubert of
the new musical comedy, "Everybodys
Welcome" at the Shubert-B -Belasco The
ater for two nights only Of this week,
Friday and Saturday, and with a
matinee Saturday afternoon, following
It's run OF many months on Broadway
1ts cast Is headed by number of re-
nowned musical favorites - Frances
Williams Oscar Shaw, Ann Peuning-
ton, Harriette Lake and Jack Sheehan,
and IL also brings the Tom Jones Or
chestra and the Albertina Rasch
Dancers.
In scenic construction, pictorial en-
bellishment, effective costuming and
cast selection, 1t Is announced, nothing
has been spared 70 make the presen-
tation q worthy one.
Love in Greenwich Village Is the
theme Of "Everybody's Welcome" cen
in q circle Of good times" artists and
writers In the sophisticated region OF
which MacDougall street Is the admit
ted main stem" Their apartment Is
in a continual uproar due to the never
ending visits Of their gaylife friends.
and all their extra money goes for gin
and din.
II is when they endeavOr to settle
down to a more serious mode Of living
that the many humorous and dramatic
episodes arise.
The large supporting cast includes
Eric Titus, Jean Newcombe, Lucille Os-
borne, Charles Garland, Thomas
Harty, Bernice Lee and Phoebe Wal
lace, not forgetting a fast-stepping
chorus Of pretty maidenS. The book Is