Evening star., 1933-04-17

stage "a q e 5
whose fame came potently once or
twice and then was tossed about by
Hollywood so that her art became
unrecogniZable.
Miss Harding is not alone in her
sorrow. Other players who have
slid down the banisters Of fame this
year include George Arliss, Tallulah
Bankhead con the screen only and
Gloria Swanson. Miss Swanson took
such a nose dive in last weeks
Perfect Understanding that she is
said to be ready. for any company
that will have her-and might even
don one of those Mack Sennett
jumpers which she wore in the
post gay COS, if only the great Mr..
Sennett would ask her.
Therefore-at least We presume
that 1t is therefore-MiSs Harding,
fresh from Bernard Shaw tears, will
flee Hollywood, and in September
will return to Broadway, where it is
said she will take up her stand as an
actress manager.
Mr.. Arliss, sly, smooth, the per-
feet screen diplomat and idol OF
n1iddle-aged ladies. will also give
UP his Hollywood carryings-on. Re-
aliIng, perhaps, that all has not
been well with him in his recent
Warner Brothers cinemas, he will
see what the great White Way has
in store for him after a Shambling
Summer of vacation in England
1t would not be fair to say that
the public has tired of Mr.. Arliss
One of the worlds most persuasive
actors. his admirers are legion and
hi hnlc HnnTr, n drama St1l-
dents to be beyond reproach. Never
theless. his gentle refined capabili-
ties have been tried to the utmost
during the past season. He has
played wisely and well. He has
done all those things which he
should have done-and-a good
many things which he shouldn't
have done-the latter however, not
being his fault.
Neither Miss Harding nor Mr.. Arliss
is the type who would weather we'll
Hollywood's blisterings. They are too
we'll hammered to stand the hurly-
burly of cinema gyrations Given
one or two good stories. they were
then left to browse around in rub
bish which didn't agree with their
silken antics-and they wilted and
wilted and were then furiously Tilted
by the fates who arrange such
things,
They are not, however, to be
er;eved over too much. They have
had their fling They have, as a
matter of. fact, given the screen some
Of its few real Neutrality-suspicious.
moments. They have been courteous
and deft. and sentimental and sad,
and they have done things magnif1-
Gently. which others couldn't have
done at all.
The announcement this morning
that they will return to the stage
should not, therefore. be the cause
for sorrow They are as splendid
in the hesh,' probably more so,
than they. ever were as their cellu-
loid doubles. And, too, as soon as
they have done their stage turn
Hollywood will probably have found
something suitable for them once
more.
At present, however. they do we'll
to eschew the camera. This ma
chine has not done well by our
Nell.
This morning the National Theater
was in a turmoil. Downstairs, the
pit" was preparing for the gala
opening tonight OF the Peggy Wood
Ernest Truck play, Best Sellers"
and upstairs. without the gates of
Manager Cochrans Office. the Ma
tional Players (Who arrived in town
yesterday we're rehearsing for next
weeks Riddle Me- This" A re-
porter who ran in on these proceed
ings and interviewed the players
was rewarded with the following
words: Leona Powers said. Il am .
delighted to be back in Washington
again; Ona Munson said, I'm glad
to be back in Washington; Kathryn
Givney said, Il am happy to be back
in Washington Donald Wood said,
Its grand to be back in Washing
ton; Ronaine Calender said,
Three cheers for Washington"
Forrest Orr said ditto. Freddie
Sherman said nothing. Others said
other complimentary things. Also
observed at the first rehearsal was
the fact that Miss Munson has scat
tered few pounds to the winds
since she was last here. A nice
troupe, gay, eager and full Of spirits,
they are preparing for a stiff sea-
son-and q bright one we hope-and
SO 90 LIley.
Presidents day will be celebrated
here by the Lambs Gambol'-that
annual theatric event, which Man
haitian eulogizes each season. This
is the first time that the Lambs have
travelled outside Of New York for 25
years. They have. however. decided
to throw tradition out of the win
dow, and will appear here on Sunday
evening, April 80, at the National
Theater. Two hundred Lambs will
be in the party. The show (to be
given at the New Amsterdam Thea
ter in New York next Sunday night
is being put together by Frank
Crumit. Clifford Brooke Academy