Evening star., 1951-11-11
The Passing Show
Play Vista Exciting
With National Back
More and Better P|oys in Pair
OF Theoters in Prospect for '52
The Passing Show
By Jay carmody

Return OF the National the legitimate drama field
next May news calculated to excite merely
nunlty but also the entire Of show business
The Nationals closing July 81 ls4s cause celebe
tnat Its reopening had to have dramatic
many play that will be booked into the house
Once the first confused passed mostly of salts
faction that dastefu ended kind of excited
mean the of better play bookings National Capital
can the city support two legitimate will happen
to the Gayety?
The blunt to each question is: Who knowsp
But 1t Invites Speculation
Rather than give like that however man would much
prefer TO speculate the several prospects opened I'D BY the
lease OF the National to Richard Richard Meyers
Being the eccentric unpredcable Institution that it has
oeen ever since Erpdes the heaer always subject for
exciting conjecture Also being perpetuay the verge Of
cal and artistic bankruptcy forced eternay by its
WITS the theater eps the prophecies ranging
from Its extinction to spectacular renaissance.
Therefore to take the questions conjecture
snail be that the Nationals return its old community
must mean better quality of heaer famous old house.
with both affection and avarce
who defy the ablest taor disguise money
Notono Profitable Operation
At the time of its closing most profitable
heaer operations the Many parties extinction
segregation issue regretted that the controversy
had to be carried to such extreme.
There Is to believe that regain its old
prestige in this respect quickly.
Indeed Robert E. Sherwood told this reporter
was an economic shock that had
not been merely but to the
theater generally then doing close
show equivalent earnings Those with South Pacific" or like
attraction exceptions of comparison
Washington competitor Boston as a drama
tyout town and unlikely
is not clear the for everything about the heaer
unclear but ryouts pretty much Boston monopoly
with theate operation srangehod enjoyed
by New Engands center culture might be modded And
Of course there few producers whose spesons
direct them to Washington openings
One Of these was the late Brock Pemberton
Ferber Terey Sums 1t Up
The question whether support leg-
mate theaters the National and Gaye might
words OF that Bernie Ferbe operator Of the
Gayety.
When have had salable attractions we've sold them
When We haven't haven't"
In of population million quarter humans in
the Ferber summing might apply TO two theaters
aptly the attractions worth the money
Is regarded available than Boston, which
has four theaterS and smaller populations.
Washington virtually twice large the mid 20s when
supported three legitimate theates vaudeville
house Keihs which operated
depends entirely ones dedication optimism pemm
The theater itself is naturally optimistic #3N
As for the Gayeys future definitely intent remain
ing in business 1t National 100
seats and has neither such large basksage facilities
agreeable to travelling actors These make attractive
international John Gegud preference for
the Gayetys intimacy.
GoyeN Won Community Affection
Also in favor Of the Gayeys prospects that 1t
earned for itself considerable affection restoring legitimate
theater Washington after almost famine This
warmth merely local its effect but extends through the
whole Of show business.
In its first few months of operation the Gayey struggled
community feeling that location unavoable.
However with the appearance of stars In top attractions
such the Luns Cornea Otis Skinner Gegud and Others this
attitude of snobbishness disappeared.
much will theaters battle
purely conectura Gayety around
to find out its ultimate value.