The Washington times., 1938-09-15
Ina Claire Is
Coming in
New Play
CONTINUED from Page So


Wig Preminger, who 10 coming
directly from Hollywood for this
production Premtnger was
Tor II years with Max Rein
hardt, has been directing pic
tures for Twentieth Century-Fox
Ina's leading man will be
Philip Merivale, playing General
Howe Of the Revolutionary War,
which, incidentally, fixes the
time Of the play.
LOW PRICE PLAYS
Pulitzer prize play, you
Can't Take It With You," viii
play q return engagement at
the National Theateri week be
ginning September 26 -. Top
price viii be &1.5O, matinees $1'
which Is hanging UP q real bar
gain scale for e Street ON
September 30, or Friday OF tne
same week, the Earle Theater
will offer the film version o.
"You Can't Take It With You'
HIS LAST NOTICE
They inferred Theodore Marsh
Hardy at washington NatlonaA
Cemetery in Suitland, Nd, yes
terday and this department, as
well as the drama generally
lost q devoted friend.
Mr.. Hardy was rs when ne
answered the last call, and 80
years Of this long life were spent
Ia and around the theater. He
was an actor with Edwin Booth,
Mary Anderson and Adelaide
Nelson, and, In the mellow
days Of his career, acted ON
every Washington stage with
local stock companies. His best
known roles were Brewster In
''The Third Degree" aS Jeffer-
SON Worth in winning Of Bar
bara Worth" and with the
original company Of "Ben-Hur."
He was also an authority on
Shakespeare.
I found him an invaluable
source Of reference for mfor-
nation on the Washington
theater, and he gets credit for
starting the first amateur the
atrical group in this territory,
the old st. AlloysiuS Players,
organized in association with
his wife, the former Mary
Russell. also Of the stage.
In recent seasons he had been
o regular Wednesday matinee
patron at the National. OF dis
tigllished bearing, and trained
In the old school Of the drama.
he was q discerning critic OF
voice and diction. Those stars
who pleased him generally were
rewarded with . silver point
etching Of themselves, for he
was also q clever artist. Kathar-
Inc Cornell, Tallulal Bankhead,
Maurice Evans, John Gielgud.
Helen Hayes, Ina Claire ana
Ethel Barrymore were among
those who took away these art
decorations for good perform
anceS.
"It must be fine to watch a
play when you know as much
about acting as he does" Maui
rice Evans once said to me,
after Mr.. Hardy had called his
Napoleon in "St. Helena" one
Of the finest performances Of
the century. Indeed. he was
right.
A gallant trouper has passed.
A gentleman, who knew and
loved the theater, and its people,
Is no more. Peace to his ashes.
BOY GETS PROMOTED
Little Gene Reynolds gets a
grand part in the M-G-M film
version Of this years best seller
novel, "The Yearling." He will
play the boy who make a house.
hold pet of a young doe, until
the animal becomes q nuisance
though the lad can't put the
softeyed and faithful compan-
ion out Of his heart. -
Spencer Tracy is scheduled
for the lead role, the Florida
back country planter, who is
q rugged, earthly nobleman.
This acting combination Sug-
gested itself to the M-G-M cast
ing office after watching the
studio screening Of Boys
Town"
Master Reynolds plays a
crippled boy. in what is called
the most affecting and tnSpir--
ing moment Of the picture. Here,
Tracy, as Father Flanagan, is
trying to encourage the young
Gter to buck up, not yield to but
overcome his physical handicap.
He reminds him Of another
man who was crippled for .
long time and overcame his dt-
1iculty to become President"
The scene Is SO beautifully
played that Tracy and his boy
pal, Gene Reynolds, are conSid-
cred - natural" for the father
and son roles in "The Yearling."
Freddy Bartholomew was first
choice when "The Yearling" was
OlHrchaaed. hllt has arOwN an