Evening star., 1936-12-14

given itself no easy assignment IN
bringing the play here In stage form
for the first time.
The play is an exciting melodrama,
Of course, and in its New York pre-
sentation 1t had enough on the ball
to drag words Of praise from the most
critical Of the press critics. It was
called "a summary Of the present
state OF our civilization" and Mr..
Gilbert Gabriel advised his followers
to "see this play and see America,
not only first, but swiftly. amusingiy
and entirely"
The reviewer for Stage Magazine
limited at the difaculties which face
the Civic Theater, though. with the
remark that "even better than the
play are It's people" "The Petrified
Forest" 1t is safe to say, would not
have won all its plaudits without Mr..
Howard, 30 1t will be no end inter-
esting to see what the local group
does with it Wednesday night at the
Wardman Park Theater.
Production End Well IN Hand.
There should be nothing to worry
about, Of course, as far as the pro-
duction end goes. In the groups past
two plays Director Day Tuttle has
shown Washington he has q sure
hand for doing the right things with
plays and people. Just now, there
have been minor difficulties in getting
the piece on the stage, to be sure.
For one thing, the prop crew couldn't
find any machine guns. They finally
decided it must be pretty tough job
becoming a public enemy II one must
have machine guns to become one.
The closest the prop men got was .
visit to the Police School. where Q
few were allowed TO touch o machine
gun. OTIS a chance for some local
mob" to aid the cause Of art-and
loan the group a couple Of Tommy
guns)
But such difficulties as this are ac-
cepted in the general course Of events
in the staging of any play. The real
task will be staging The Petrified
Forest" without Leslie Howard (some-
thing even Hollywood did not at
Tempt.
Has Howard Wistfulness.
Bob Miller, who Is to play the How
ard role, may carry things of In fine
fashion, though. He can attain that
quiet Howard wistfulness to more than
a small degree, and in the past he has
played at professional standards two
other roles Howard did. Capt. Matt
Denant in Galsworthy's Escape" and
Josef, the amorous valet, in Candle
light" He should be getting the gen.
eral idea by the time he follows the
Howard footsteps for the third time.
Opposite Miller. in the role done on
the stage by Peggy Conklin and on
the screen by Bette Davis, will be Miss
Lansing Hall, one of the youngest Of
the towns actresses, who has played
leads at American University and dis
played considerable talent in smaller
roles at the Roadside Theater. H. H.
Bratsburg, the menace Of the piece,
is new to Washington, but he comes
from Michigan with much reputation.
Most Of the others in the cast are
also well known for past efforts. There
are Ruth Perrott, Joe Bourne, Denis
z. Connell, Ralph Fowler, Richard
Kreuxburg. Norman Rose and Harry
Westcott, to name few.
THE Blackfriars' Guild will present
"The Joyous Season" tonight, to-
morrow and Wednesday nights, with
Mary X. Crowley IN the leading role
and May Brady and John Beaver In
principal supporting parts.
The play is being directed by Mary
Olive O'Connell, and others In the
cast are Clarence J. wittler, Nell Or
ton, Dorothy Davidson, Vera Whit