Evening star., 1936-01-30

evening. As an actress she was agall
conclusion that when Washington q
feminine characterizations Of this
season, Miss Skinner will be credited
with most of them.
While 1.-THE Wives" were the i'm
portant people on Miss Skinner's
fourth program of the week, she made
no less vivid the frivolous impersona-
tions of four preliminary skits. Frankly
we rather preferred the amusing ladies
of these incidents to the best that
King Henry could marry in six out
ings, although the queenly perform
ances were admittedly the more pro-
found and difficult. Miss Skinner Is
so superb as a comedienne that one
grows wistful when she Is being
tragical, remembering that at the very
moment she might be very funny
instead.
This is not intended. of course, as
any serious criticism OF Miss Skin
ner's acumen as a Snowman. She
has wisely mixed potion Of tragedy,
passion and simple kindness In the
evenings brew. producing thereby
the theatergoer's perfectly balanced
diet. We just happened to prefer
the froth at the top OF the cup.
That consisted of Christmas Morn
ing" a witty epic of the harass-
ments of the fine old American home;
'The Vanishing Red Man." perhaps
the funniest Of the lot, and required
reading for all ladies' luncheon clubs;'
"Times Square," which includes a
few sentimental figures in its gay
parade, and Being Presented
natural in Washington, Milwaukee
and other hamlets where nouveau
grand danes reign rampant.
II IS customary. we are told, to
i regard Anne Boleyn to the Dark
Tower Came" as the most proficient
and effective of Miss SINNERS queens,
King Henry style. series B. Anne
certainly is made the most vivid
person, physically and emotionally, in
Henry's matrimonial string, but it
seemed to us that she was rather
overplayed. So much gesturing, so
much shrieking on the brink OF
destruction may be cricket when one
is sitting in the Tower of London
waiting for the eXecutioner. It is
rather startling, not to say puzzling,
when one sits in the orchestra chairs.
Nevertheless, Anne is lovely lady
as Miss Skinner has drawn her. She
may be forgiven whatever she does.
More skillfully designed, we found
the pious arrogance of Catherine of
Aragon, Anne of Cleves' jovial antici-
pations of the connubial life and even
Katheryn Howard's family coarse but
vibrant personality. Not so much
time was devoted to these. but each
was pictured in quick, clear strokes.
Anne Boleyn might have left crys-
tallized rather than a dazed, impress
sion had she received the same treat
ment.
In musing on the little miracles
Miss Skinner performs with her peo-
ple-not only the ones she represents
herself but those who come to life
through her subtle hints to the imagi-
nation-it occurred to us that the
"Wives Ct Henry VIII" trick had been
done recently elsewhere. In a Aim
celebrated for its sagacious direction
and praised for the quality of its per-
formances, six actresses were assigned
the task Of bringing to life the six
wives Of the monarch. Each of these
screen performers was selected, sup
poSedly, for exceptional ability, yet in
the minds of most who saw the pic
ture eve make this generalization on
the basis Of quick poll of several per-
sons who should serve as adequate
barometers of memory only one char
acterization remains. That was Elsa
Ianchester's Anne of Cleves. In trib-
ute to Miss SINNERS magic, we must
say it is doubtful If we, or any Of those
who so easily forgot the cinema
queens, will find he regal portraits
one smidgeon DINNER half a decade
hence.
THIS evening Miss Skinner will re-
peat the Wednesday evening pro-
gram, while tomorrow night she will
stage "The Loves Of Charles H." with
IN overture of four minor sketches.
At the Saturday matinee and in the
evening she will again present MAN
sion on the Hudson" and its three
attendant skits.
X X X X
FIVE new films open at downtown
cinema houses tomorrow, and one
outstanding picture plays a return
Ceiling Zero" perturbation Of last
years successful stage play Of the same
name, with James Cagney and Pat
O'Brien in the leading roles, opens at
the Earle.
The Fox will have Exclusive Story"
with Joseph Calleia, Stuart Erwin,
Franchot Tone and Madge Evans, on
the screen, and the Hollywood Cabaret
Revue on the stage.
Frank Bucks latest cinema story of
his adventures in the wilds, Fang and
Claw" opens at R-K-O Keiths, with
Mr.. Buck himself making personal ap-
pearances tomorrow and Saturday.
Eddie Cantor's latest, Strike Me
Pink" with Ethel Norman, Parkya-
kArkllS and hnrdou NJ Tsoldu,rro -,.,.