The Washington times., 1933-05-30
Leona Powers Is
Fine in Title
Role

This week the National Players
dig deep into the old hokum
bucket and come up with revival
of the famous rustic comedy, ISIS
Hopkins" which made fame and
fortune for Rose Melville genera
ton ago.
ISIS" happens to be one Of the
hardy dramatic venerableS which
mellows and ages gracefully. 1t
is redolent of the era when the
heroine was the symbol OF virtue,
when the villain Stroked his
mouStache and gave those dirty
laughs to emphasize his deviltries,
when sophistication travelled In
the garb Of city slickers and when
the railroad sharpers tried to
Swindle the honest farmer out Of
his valuable oil lands.
Yes, sir, isis Hopkins" has a
genuine ten, twenty and thirty
flavor but even in this depression
age it still retains, with all Of its
extravagances, a homely quaint
ness and charm, a delightful
sense of rugged humor that
makes it dandy entertainment.
It is just like opening an old
fashioned album and discovering
q group Of loveable characters
whose endearing qualities en-
dure.
A Worthy Revival
The National Players give it a
worthy revival. They enter with
spirit into the hard cider mood,
helped tremendously by the
friendly audience. reaction which
supplied Kisses aplenty for that
unscrupulous villain, Romaine Cal
lender, who was intent upon do
ing Sis Hopkins out of her valua.
BILE oil lands.
What helps isis" appeal like a
cherished daguerrotype are mu-
Sical interpretations which pro-
vided Leona Powers with the op-
portunity to dance the Taran-
tella and the sailors hornpipe and
offers Freddy Sherman chance
to warble a hoedown with tur-
key in the straw trimmings. A
double quartette from George
Washington University helps out
with barber shop chords in ven
cradle melodies such as Banks
Of the Wabash" Chris Arth's
worthy band supplies the strains
of Hearts and Flowers" and
"Auld Lang Syne" to keep the
actors at the proper emotional
pitch. It brought back tender
memories of the Academy of Mu-
sic days to the old timers. The
youngsters have a chance to see
what grandma liked.
Miss Powers Brilliant
For Leona Powers isis" is a
well-sustained and brilliant ex-
hibit of character work. AS the
girl with the crazy pigtails and
the pigeon toes, the Nationals
leading woman gave a brilliant
performance that tested her tai
ents as a comedienne and re-
vealed the versatility which must
be at the command of the mod
ern stock star. This is broad
comedy, almost burlesque, and
the lines must be finely drawn
to keep it from becomi11s COM
pletely grotesque. The shading
applied by Miss Powers kept the
character solidly within the play
.wright's bounds.
: Addie Hibbard was Ma Hop
7kins; Burke Clarke, Pa. and both
Of these sturdy veterans contrib
uted first class scores. Donald
Woods is the shy country bump
kin with a trick suit and a di-
minutiVe derby that inspires
laughs even as his courtship in
spires sympathy. Forrest Orr is
a wisecracking football player
and Kathryn Givney. in. the
closest to a straight role gave
fine support. Romaine Calender
was hisSed every time he twirled
mis- hirsute adornment, fine tes-
timony of his effective playing.
Little Romaine Stevens, a
bundle Of energy and vivacious-
ness, reflected credit on the
Brooke drama school in an in
genue role and Charlotte Mayo
and Maude Howell Smith were
other additions to the regular
roster who served acceptably.
isis" has been cleverly directed
by Clifford Brooke and the Play
erS kept in the 1900 mood at the
finale by parading individually
before the curtain for their salvos.
A fine evening with an old time
play. I recommend it heartily for
old and new students of the