Evening star., 1932-03-08
From the Front Row
Reviews and News of Washington Theaters.

ample of the SNUG type of paternal
bully in the eXpository scenes, yet
wins for him the grudging pity OF
an audience in the big situation
that develops a realization of his
unnatural passion. Margalo Gill
more is entirely delightful as Eliza
beth's alluring young sister in the
lighter scenes of the play and rises
beautifully to the full acting require
ments of a most effective moment
when she struggles helplessly against
the grim will of the head of the
house. The less important roles are
exceedingly well played and Guthrie
McClintic's equipment of Elizabeths
bed-sitting room, in which all the
action occurs, is a model of accuracy.
The events Of the play are held
to a period of approximately six
months. The program gives May 10,
1845, as the date of the opening
scene, states that the second act
occurs three months later and, by
inference. sets the Autumn OF that
year as the time of the secret mar
riage. This, of course, clashes a bit
with history, which names Septem-
Der II, 1886, as the days of the we'd
ding.
Dates. however, are entirely un-
important. What really counts is
the fact that Washington is per-
mitted this week to see an admirable
example of the legitimate stage at
its best. FRANK P. MORSE.
Mrs. Jack Diamond
Entertains Gayety Fans.
CONTRARY to the usual run of
~ ''first-page" artists. Mrs. Jack
Legs" Diamond, with her colleagues,
presents but a short act that has,
however, all the required elements Of
a drama, at the Gayety burleSque
house this week.
Judging from her skit. Mrs. Dia-
mond doesn't believe that crime
pays. The presentation of her play
let. with good acting and a punch
nevertheless, was a pleasing surprise
to the burlesque fans.
Humor and plenty of it-of new
brand-gave the element of laughter
which always satisfies. Jack Hunt
and Clyde Bates proved to be gen.
erous spenders. Their trials and
tribulations in Two Room Apart
ments" and Family Troubles" are
food for ever-preSent merriment.
Other masculine talent smoothed
out the rough spots in the bill,
while Ann Mitchell, Helen Forrest
and Evelyn Burke contributed def
nitely to the performance. Ann and
Helen were entertaining and couldn't
come out" too often to please the
audience. F. L. c.
"The Hidden Guest"
Y. Nj. c. A. Triangle Players.
MYSTERIOUS doings in haunt
AA ed house, complicated with Sc
cret rites of a college initiation, fur
nished thrills and fun for an audi
ence which viewed last night THE
Hidden Guest" a three-act mystery
comedy presented by the Y. M. c. A.
Triangle Players in the "Y'' assem-
bly, hall.
The play was punctuated with
strange noises, slate writings, a hunt
for missing bonds, nefariou5 COM
ings and goings of an ex-convict
and many other developments to be-
cloud the issue and cause the spec
tators to hold onto their chairs The
acting of the players was graciously
received by an appreciative audience.
The romance interest was provided
by King Prender in the role of Bert,
a college boy, and Jean Bone, as
Ruby, the young lady he meets in
the haunted house Others in the
cast included Buela Howell, Lloyd
Tubbs. Marguerite Bone. Conrad
Helms, Lewis Tubbs, Mabel Planalp,
Albert Muehlhaus, Faith Howell and
Charles Bell.
The play was directed by Evelyn
Thomas. assisted by Fern Campbell.
Sam Eggert was stage director The
production was under auspices of
the Organized Bible Class Associa-
ton. R. C..