Evening star., 1933-05-02

she rides magnificently over her verbal
hurdles, and engages in mental flSti-
cuffs with joy and abandon. Miss
Powers, incidentally, is one of the few
actresses who can keep going even
when the wordage has gone wrong.
When she is given a false cue, she
manipulates her speech about SO that
she has twisted the sense ultimately
into the right channel. She charges
ahead with a bravado that is little
short of magnificent. Although she had
a tendency last night to rush ahead
faster than any one outside of the
one-time talk marathon, she did this
possibly so as to sail past some of the
1ong- -Winded foolshneSS which, alas, is
part of the play
Observe Miss Powers, however when
she comes on the stage. You will find
that she gives in Immediately to the
little tricks for which she is famed.
SFirst she seems to have a cold. Then
YOU know that she has a cold only
so that she can whip out that little
handkerchief and use it in the manner
of all first actresses. Then she coughs.
Then she gurgles. Then you will see
touch of Beatrice Lille. as she turns
sarcastic. Then she will fling out her
hands at whomever she is addressing
Then she will sigh and roll her eyes
in several directions. And by that
time you have begun to be acquainted
with one of the incest actresses this
side of the Pacific.
Miss Powers is responsible for most
of the gayety in this weeks National
Players play. Although we are not
quite certain if that final bit of red
tapestry in her wardrobe is as becoming
as it should be, she is utterly charm
ing as the Tilted emotional spouse of
a divorce lawyer who doesn't see much
beyond his own nose. When she is
around, you don't particularly care to
recall that this Vadja piece seems i'm
mensely old and out of gear, and that
the subject of divorce today is less
exciting than it used to be.
The players, however. make you be-
lieve, as Miss Lille would say, that
'there's life in the old girl yet" You
will find Romaine Callander smooth
and polishe das Felix Roget; you will see
Donald Woods fighting his fight with
his wife and his other women with a
neatness of phrasing and a sureness
that is particularly in an un-
sympathetic role; you will be pleased to
see one of Washington's best actresses,
Maud Howell Smith, coming in for
minute and letting out spark or two
of her theatric fire; you will find Burke
Clarke bobbing in and out. and Mrs.
Addie Hibbard in black velvet with a
red whatnot over it, and Freddie Sher-
man in one of the best scenes of the
play at his Al best and later appear
ing in Clark Gable. white Sister"
italian army uniform. Incidentally.
the gentle maid who is correct, formal
and shapeleSS In one Of those black
and white affairs, and who opens the
doors correctly and dances momentarily
with Mr.. Callander is Ona MunsOn-
National ingenue-somewhat squashed
during this weeks frolic.
Interest in foreign films is causing
quite an upheaval in and about Wash
tngton. We have recently acquired the
Washington Film Guild, which pre-
scented a Russian picture at the Hippo
drome 10 days ago and will offer The
House Death" Thursday night at 11:30
at the same theater, and now we
have The Foreign Cinema Guild of
Washington of which w. Ray Gin
CELL is managing director. The latter
group will present its pictures in
Bethesda, Md, starting off with THE
Theft of the Mona Lisa" a German
film, on Thursday evening, May IL. In
answer to the query What Is the For
eign Cinema Guild?" MIR. Gingell has
sent in this answer:
Inc FOTelgn CuleIIld Sullu VI w dSll-
1ngton is group of individuals inter
ested in the local presentations of for
eign- n-produced talking films of merit.
It is movement for the establishment
of a permanent little cinema in Wash
ngton. 1t is planned to have presenta-
tions twice per month in available
theaters through the city. Whenever
possible. as in our first presentation,
films will be shown in both their orig
inal dialogue and in English for per-
sons not familiar with foreign Ian
guages."
Now then as soon as Bethesda comes
to Washington we ought to have real
Foreign Cinema Guild of Washington.
X
The cinema news of the day is that
Helen Hayes and Robert Montgomery
will be co-starred in Another Lam
guage," the now famous success which