Evening star., 1934-12-16

Dear Percy Hammond: With keen
appreciation Of your courtesy in giving
me space in your columns, I make my
semi-annual appearance, with list Of
plays I recommend for the Christmas
holiday sojourners in New York.
Operas, musical comedies and motion
pictures are omitted. Some plays are
not on my list because have not
seen them; some plays are not on my
list because have seen them.
Thus far 1t has not been a season
Of superlative excellence; not many
masterpieces. The productions that
have given the greatest happiness to
the greatest number were written
some so years ago by Gilbert and Sui
livan; and I wish the D'Oyly Carte
Opera Co. would make an annual visit.
I was both astonished and delighted
that our boys and girls showed such
enthusiasm. To us old people these
productions were roses in December;
but that seventeeners should like them
makes the future of our country Sc
cure.
The level Of the season was also
elevated by the Abbey Players from
Dublin. who exhibited the excellence
coming from team-play. At the fall
Of the final curtain Of any one Of
their plays felt as If had been
living among the people they imper-
senate.
Two important events in the i'm
mediate future, which I await with
great expectations, are the appearance
Of Katharine Cornell and an extraor-
dinary cast in Romeo and Juliet" q
wish people would remember that the
English name Juliet has only two syl-
tables, like Julius, Julian, julia, and
Walter Hampden's Interpretation OF
King Richard III" Katharine Cor
nell has made herself an indispensable
part of American life. Although" King
Richard III" Is one Of the major plays
by its author. have in so years seen
it only twice: once by Thomas w
Keene (who died hard) and once by
Richard Mansfield, whose playing
made such an impression on me that
1t Is as vividly as if I had heard him
last night. When John Barrymore pro-
duced Richard III" I had the flu;
and when I recovered, he filled the
vacancy. I wonder why Henry Irving
did not more often play the royal
crook. I am a fervent admirer Qor
the moment this Is my column) OF
Walter Hampden as a romantic actor
and know shall enjoy his new pro-
duction. I hope, when I print my
Spring list. that two plays which ]
have seen in New Haven on their way
to New York, will be on it. 1t Is as
dangerous to praise play before its
metropolitan first night as it is to
praise review copies Of new books on
the jacket; so I refrain. But en-
joyed them both.
Here is my list Of plays cart billy Sc
lected from those running while I am
writing:
"Merrily We Roll Along" A tragedy
filled with bitter disillusion: but also
with sufficient humor I heard Cissy
Lotus when she initiated Tony Pastor
at Roster and Balls; she was as lovely
as an Irish dawn. I wish the author:
would delete some Of the language SHE
is forced to speak now, as it is con-
siderably worse than superfuous. Yet
nothing can spoil this play.
Personal Appearance" BY far the
funniest play I have seen this season
And the misuse of words, such a fav.
orite trick with Shakespeare and Sher-
idan, is extremely skillful. Commute,
quotha!
Dark Victory" is a fine play, not sc
bitter a tragedy as "Merrily We Rol
Along" the contrary. it is inspir.
ing. Tallulah Bankhead is at hel
best. This is q drama not to be
missed
"Dodsworth," hold-over from last
season. deserves all its success, and il
there Is any one who did not see ii
last year, he ought to be grateful fol
something that so seldom happens ir
life-a second opportunity.
The Distaff Side" This is not ir
any sense of the word a great play
But it Is interesting and charming ir
both Characterization and dialogue
There are just as many kinds of WON.
en- on the stage as there are feminine