Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-03-08

that any one else could play it at the
same wild pitch. Eddie Phillips, how
ever. manages to keep the character
at the level which George Abbott chose
for it when he directed the company
prior to its road tour. This depart
ment, which was entranced with June
Mccoy as Claire Ramm in the origi-
nal company, has the idea that Miss
Lorna Beaton did slightly less we'll
perhaps by the little girl who is the
picture of naivete, but the practitioner
OF all that is devilish. The difference
between the two players, however, is
nothing that should keep you away
from Mr.. Abbott's daffy drama of
military college life.
Brother Rat" if any one remains
uniformed on the subject. is a laugh
spattered story of the trials, tribula-
tions, triumphs. the loves, losses and
Illustrations of as spirited group of
youngsters as the stage ever intro
duced. In spite Of the fact that the
scene is a military school, the reser-
walton is fairly overrun with girls; not
ordinary campus dolls. but girls with
enough character virtually to wreck a
place like that. What's more, they do,
with the full cooperation of the ir-
repressible Randolph. The character
Of Randolph is the nearest thing that
has been written to a composite of the
Marx brothers, which ought to give
one q vague idea of the situations it
can create for the amusement of the
atergoers.
The dialogue of Brother Rat" in
GLIDING the best-knoWn curtain lines
of the last several seasons, has ten
dency to face the facts of college life
with frankness, but it is hard to imag-
inc ears to which it would be offensive.
It's much too funny to get that kind
of reaction.
In its playing, beyond those men,
toned, you will like especially Claire
Hazel as the major love interest, Mary
Ella Perry as the harassed middle
aged lady with head full Of baseball
batting averages, Robert Scott as the
tormented plebe, and Marjorie Kauf-
man as the girl who gave justification
for that famous first-act curtain line.
The show has been set deliberately
and shows no conspicuous dust spots
or scuffing as result of its long jour-
ney over the road.
EVEN luncheons of show people are
becoming colossal. That, at least.
was the case with Variety's regular
affair yesterday. Every one with
talent around contributed it gener-
ously. even the Treasury, which sent
ever ]. F. T. O'Connor, who stole the
show, virtually his last official act
since he left last night for California.
Mr.. O'Connor, who is 50 close to the
entertainment industry, as its personal
friend and adviser that the two are
practically synonymous, spoke very
unsolemnly. Other talent on the bill
included Red" Shelton, who came
over from the Capitol to gorge on
that doughnut act of his; Dick Ware,
Dick Younts and several other acts
from the Earle's stage show, and Rob-
ert Freund's Gypsy Chorus, which also
came, courtesy Of Carter Barron.
The Chicago Opera Co. came up
fro mthe Rialto to demonstrate the
vocal abilities Of its leading tenor and
soprano, introduced by Abe Toxins.
Hardie Meakin, who has put on an
opulent look during the tenancy Of
"Snow White" at his Keith's Theater,
acted as king for the day, Variety
vernacllar for POSTMASTER. Opulent
looks at Mr.. Meakin well.
RACKSTAGE, not Dollie Slaughter's
radio program, but just plain
backstage, can be almost anything.
Glamorous as glamour itself one mo-
ment. plain and honey the next. It
was plain and honey at 405. jeanette
Hackett's dressing room at the Capt.
tol yesterday. Between shows Miss
Hackett, who really is Mrs. John
Steele and very proud of it, was en-