Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-03-19

Tn auClence
was thoroughly amused, and more
than willing to admit that 1t had
enjoyed itself pretty thoroughly
throughout. While this musicale
may not be one of the greater works
of art of its kind, it Is a cheerful
entertainment which carries on with
a gusto after its first somewhat
placid breezes, and builds into
greater and greater hilarity until
its final act has been shaken out as
q gay and burlesQue treatment OF
the man who became a writer by
Smelling peas in the kitchen.
A cast of such welcome celebrities
as Frances williams, oscar Shaw,
Ann Pennington, Harriette Lake,
Jack Sheehan, Victor Morley and
Mr.. Thomas Harry, who should be,
featured for his inebriate second
act dances, makes the most OF its
opportunities and COMFORTS itself in
dividually in that informal fashion
which suggests that they are enjoy
ing themselves as much as the audi
ence.
Miss williams after discarding
some kind Of q snow garment in the
FIRST act, energies as her true self in
the second, and kicks up her heels
and her blond, blond head, and
MARBLES such ditties as They're All
Falling in Love" with devastating
success. Miss Pennington, as Louella,
the way-down-South Southerner. is
the best part of the first act, while
Oscar Shaw, pouring tea, and Jack
Sheehan, doing almost anything, are
not without their comic crowns.
Miss Lake (once Americas Sweet
heart" at the NationaD is so good
to look upon that the fact that she
alternates British accent with her
native tongue may be easily put by
the board.
With such a song as "As Time
Goes By" and with such rollicking
entertainers, this offering may well
be enjoyed, In spite of the fact that
there are not hundreds of glorified
chorus ladies and yards and yards
Of costume changeS-also that the
jazzed-up "Bolero" does not sound
the way 1t did Thursday when the
National Symphony undertook 1t.
E. de s. MELCHER.
Sidney Shines
In High Pressure"
IF you have weakness for good
comedies you will enjoy High
Pressure" the new screen Offering
at the Warner Metropolitan Thea
Ter.
The picture, thanks to George
Sidney, cast as Col Ginsberg, Is well
above the average. It must con-
IaTr ,e l-4-
at least 298 are prompted by Sid
ney. Without him the show would
be total loss. All Of which makes
stresses the appearance Of William
Powell.
There is nothing wrong with Pow
ellis acting. In fact, it is f1awless.
Nevertheless, by no stretch of the
imagination can he be rated as
funny. After all, the true test of
comedian lies in his ability to
draw laughs. Powell barges through
reel after reel without inducing
even a grin. Sidney, on the other
hand, soon gets his audience in such
a mood that everything he does
seems amusing. He Is Old Man
Hilarity regardless Of whether he
talks, remains silent or turns hand
springs, if any. His facial express
sions alone are enough to make the
picture success.
Powell is cast as rapid-flre pro-
moter. He organizes company to
manufacture artificial rubber. His
statesmen dispose of enormous guam
titles of stock. The company puts
up a great front. Whereupon Sid
ney loses the man who invented the
process by which the firms product
was to be made. Jail sentences seem
In the offing for Powell and Sidney,
when the inventor puts in his ap-
pearance and saves the situation.
Meanwhile, Powell woos and wins
Evelyn Brent as Francine. D. B. w.