Evening star., 1932-01-10

n YEW YORK and its compel
N ling theater will have its
fling, regardless Of eco
nomic conditions, world
perils, even the towering clouds
of war which the timid and far
seeing may discern upon the dis
tant horizon. Let but the metro
politan box Office respond joyously
to suggestion, no matter what the
theme, who the writer, or when
the time, and the product is then
and there due for launching, with
out concern for the consequences
or after effects. The occasion that
calls forth this daring observation
in a column heretofore disposed
to devote itself primarily to the
fiuX of the drama as Washington
receives or is promised it, is what
has been proclaimed "the first
great hit of the current New York
season." known by the title "Ot
Thee 1 Sing" It's book is the in
spiration of George kaufman,
whom one of the critics calls "the
premier wag of librettos." 1t is
embalmed in the eccentric melo-
dies. or otherwise of the still
rising young composer George
Gershwin, and it is endowed with
a title borrowed from our well
beloved national hymn. America. "
This New York show, described
as "a seriously jocular burlesque
of American politics" apparently,
has met with such a rOuSlng pop
ular response that even the big
press associations have caught up
the echoes and are broadcastlng
them to the world at large. From
details gathered from the dis
patches, this latest emanation
from the two famous Georges looks
like nothing more than a
sly attempt to make fools
of our elders in the high places,
and perhaps of the inhabitants OF
our country as well. One OF the
Sanest reviewers closes his COM
ment with the suggestion that 1T
is funnier than government and
not nearly so dangerous" Do we
deserve it?
1T is, perhaps, meet with "the
eternal fitness of things" that
this padded brick of irresponsible
satire should find its place upon
the legitimate stage. Those who
know all about such matters have
long educated the students that
follow their wake with the notion
that the theater is the proper
forum for all themes, especially
the life and customs of the times.
But if "Of Thee I Sing" does pic
ture the life and manners of the
present day, it does it, apparently
with a deft regard for the proprie-
ties, and if our high and mightieS
should present an absurd front
in the face of difficulties de-
manding profound thought from
intelligent minds, why shouldn't
our satiriStS like Mr.. kaufman,
who is noted for a "trenchant
wit" prod them through the hide
and far into the quick? 1t may
serve to stimulate the ingenuity o1
their wisdom and produce good
results. This show not only bur
leSqueS our elders, from the pin
nacle of the State down, but II
rightly interpreted it seems to put
the fools cap on the people who
in the final analysis, are reSpon-
sible for it all. And right here
is where we votelesS citizens o1
the District have our innings
We are not to blame either way
and so, with perfect propriety, we
may indulge in the raucouS laugh
ter that rings throughout the
land, blamelesS even for our own
sad plight.
ONE has often heard that "a
good play is better far thar
good sermon" II there be
nothing else with which to arouse
the sleeping craftsmanship of this
"the greatest country on the face
of the earth" why isn't it permis-
sible to try a little of the gall
stepped satire of our youne
geniuses of the theater to awaken
1t to a realizing sense of its near.
ness to a pot that Is close Il
boiling over. Politics, the prime
motivation of our national activi.
ties, perhaps has had far too little