The Courier-Journal from Louisville, Kentucky • Page 22

1 1 THE COURIER-JOURNAL, LOUISVILLE, SUNDAY MORNING, JULY 20, 1924. SECTION 3 THE INGENUES WILL HAVE THE BOARD THIS WEEK "I i It. It lives up to Its purpose In its rALIFORNIAN is much admired member of New I i- 1,.: I ATTRACTIVE looking actress who joins Malcolm Fassett this week for special role in "The Gold i Emperor. Jones," "WhiT worth mention. DUe et in the midst of it play-writing New York not been blind to Comv.y classical plays.

Among 3 On the Stage (Continued From First Page.) Ferry. other side of the Atlanta ample, there are 'The "-Willi J'JTB '1 Bound," and "Man- Contrary." J' Mary Among the classical Bw the adjective to apiv tail names the ihet? pieces a -r repertory. But it rails short of its purpose because of its productions. 1 In the first place, the Comedie does not tolerate innovation. It does not feel Itself the place for expert-mentation.

If lets Antolne found his own theater to bring about Naturalism. It makes Copeau bring in sim-iJification. by way of a protest against it, at the Vious-Colombler. That in a way Is understandable. It Is understandable because the French as a rule are a conservative people, shying at what is new, and the Comedie.

as the first theater of France, should reflect French tastes. Because a theater la a national theater, though. Is no excuse for Its being a dead theater. In other countries national theaters and State theaters are not dead theaters. They all face the same problems.

But they interpret "preserve" differently. Thev give Schiller. Goethe. Lessing, Crabbe, Shaw and Shakespeare at the Staats Theater in Berlin. They give Strindberg, Shakespeare, Ibsen, BJornson and O'Neill at the Dramatlska Theater in Stockholm.

And they maintain similar repertories at every State theater in every large town throughout Germany. Kvapil and Hilar at their two theaters in Prague run through the same list, adding to them, of course, Czech pieces. But In these other theaters they try to find out what will make a classic live In terms Rex." "Viz Crucia," 2 Lady from the Sea," "Thin "Tt "The Three Sisters," Cherry 4' Depths." "Hamlpr- the names of Sophocles imanathal. Ibsen, s.w.j peare. D'Annunzio, Grcki Macauley's "The Gold Diggers." of any party she finds herself in and many of the comedy lines in the play fall to the robust one.

Jerry is sweetness itslf and her love and care of the demure Violet are irresist-able elements of the story. Violet is in love with and is loved by Wally. a young man with a wealthy future, but to secure it he must have his uncle and euardian's consent to his marriage. This, of course, the uncle will not pive and he arrives at Jerry's thome to break off the affair between his nephew and the girl. But he mistakes Jerry for the girl, and Jerry after trying to explain that she is not the one, sets her pretty little head to work and decides on a plan.

It works immensely as one will see by a visit to the Fassett Company this week. Mr. Fassett. of course, plays the uncle. Miss Hammond plays Jerry.

Mr. Tead the nephew. Mr. Walburn the lawver, Virginia Springer plays Mable and Irene Purcell has been i especially engaged as Violet. The balance of the parts are in capable hands of others in the company.

TELL US OF THE NIGHT. (Continued From First Page.) be added three French ice i-eraudy's company Francais which -S i 1 nes or performances here in 1 Certainly the past esason York, judeine it frnn, and measuring it by anv l-Zf1 has been a then tar Th. I. cn In ti jiu tural background tfaa annS audience here: an if v. theatrical work, will prosper town.

New York's vnwStV position in the theatrical cite cannot perhaps be the on the 'i I 9' 4 Squats? iui ii ran Americans. Fnr addition to the supreme fact that Jf of all the great international have the money necessary to production, we have a rrestJ fixation ftf.lf. i.8!!!,' 4lvi- if of engrafted stocks. It dae diversification as much as to the ence of easy money that the thMw cal.life of New York has tLS. of the theater of today.

It is all very well to say that the task of the Comedie Is not to make classics live in terms of the theater of today, but to make them live in terms of the theater for which they were written. But the Comedie does not do that for the simple reason that It cannot. You cannot give Moliereand Dumas on exactly the same stage, with the tame auditorium out front, and claim that you are giving them both under the physical conditions for which they were written. You can't do it with Corneille and Paul Raynal cither. It Is a physical Impossibility.

When people say that the Comedie today gives Mollere or Racine or Corneille or Victor Hugo or even Augier exactly as they were first performed they are sadly hoodwinked. Mollere. Victor Hugo and Augier never saw an electric light in the theater or outside of It for that matter. Racine and Mollere and Corneille were played by candles. Victor Hugo and Augier by gas light.

And when you see Mollere at the Comedie you never see even an attempt to make the audience believe that the stage Is lighted by candelabra any more than you see gas-hoods along the footlights for Augier or Dumas-fils or Scribe. All of which may seem an obvious and trlffling point. mm "King Dodo" At the Ferry. well equipped for their duties, is the source of much interest on the part of their friends. "King Dodo" is full of verve and action, lovely music and much comedy.

It Is believed that the coming week will even surpass in interest "The Fortune which is the banner production of the company so far and which will be iung for the last time tonight. Vaudeville At National. JOYCE LANDO, said to be one of America's most beautiful and talented danseuses, with a company of three men, comes to B. F. Keith's National Monday through Wednesday as the feature attraction.

Miss Lando is billed to present a "song and dance novelty." which has been highly spoken of by leading critics. The dancer is said never to cease to be wonderful for in all her numbers ahe displays splendid verve and grace. The gowns she wears during her programme are said to be gorgeous and for her finale she appears In a gown that is said to be as dazzling as It is beautiful. The artistry of Herbe De Belle, Miss Lando's dancing partner deserves special mention, it is said. Frankie Kelcey and Henry Antrim, who for some time past have been appearing as featured members of revues, have dispensed with the chorus and are to appear at the National as a "team." Miss Kelcey Is an established comedienne and her present act is said to afford her greater opportunities of displaying her talents.

Henry Antrim is heralded as possessing an excellent 6inging voice and is said to be an Ideal foil for Miss Kelcey'e comedy. The "extra added attraction" tor the first half of the week Is Laura Bennett end company presenting "The Lady Champion." Miss Bennett Is said to be the only American girl to have participated In -a professional boxing match. She holds the championship for boxing among women, it is said. Her offering includes singing, dancing roman ring work, boxing, fencing, wrestling, jiu jitsu falls and other feats. Harry and Mildred Otto, another act on the bill, do a little bit of everything, it is said.

One other act will complete the bill for the first half of the week. Starting Thursday and lasting through Sunday National patrons are promised a comedy' variety bill that should entertaining throughout. The programme combines two headline attractions. They are Vic Berton and his Wolverine orchestra, the recording artists and the Jack Desyl-via revue. Enoa -Frazere.

heralded as "the Adonis of the air," is billed to present his routine of feats. His work ia said to surpass all efforts In this style of performance and his idea of presentation is said to be unique, Olga Kane, who specializes In syncopation, is on the bill and will offer a repertoire of the kind of songs that the average demand more of. McGrath and Deeds, designer of songs and comedy, are said to present the most, rougish. modish lines of nonsense and melody imaginable. They are a pair of comedians apparently The only theater New Tork u-u is the revival of native drama tw are few worth the attempt.

But tr that is a defect which cao be died. Twenty-flve years from tot there can be an nr nt in I -2 it will have been halt a century 'tin since the American theater turned tu its pre-occupition with Americsnlik (Copyright. 192. mm- happen if the Prince of Wales fell in love with an American It was the love interest that "sot em," un- doubtedly. And why? Can it be the American public is composed entirely of Babbitts, who.

free' of romance in their very day lives, crave it even in doses of observation? The announcement "of Augustus Pitou In these columns last Sunday that he has made a Ions term contract' with Joseph Resan, the Irish tenor, has naturally focussed attention upon the latter and has also Abused the customary queries of the. Who is he? Where has he 5aen all this time? and bo on and sjn forth. 8 Joseph Resan is a Boston boy, born Irish parents, years ago. He is graduate of the Sherwin School. in his senior year took part in 5i amateur minstrel show given at Alston College hall.

He literally the show" with his voice, and having always had a $rong liking for the theater he then arfd there decided to adopt the stage as a profession. He placed himself tinder the tutelage of Sig. Gilliaume Xovello. a famous Boston vocal teach-with whom he made rapid strides. Subsequently he studied at the Golden-Ijijrg School of music and dramatic in Cincinnati, later going to Italy.

tin Naples, and took a course in opera Editor's Note In the absence IRENE PURCELL neywuw iroun, on vacation bb weekly theatrical letter Is being 'doae PERQUETA COURTNEY. Conway Tearle honored Ethel rymore at a reception given at hi home in Hollywood following jj But it is not as silly as It seems. When Bar rj'm ore's final performance "The Laughing Lady," in Los a geles. Mr. Tearle was associated tiS genue role of Violet in "The Gold Diggers." Miss Purcell is One of the best known of America's younger actresses, and her latest hits have been "Jacques Duval" with George Arliss, leading woman in "The Rainy Day" by Fred Ballard at the Cort Theater, Chicago; "Hel-ent's Boys," with Mrs.

Fiske at the Henry Miller Theater, and last season in "The New Poor." In addition Miss Purcell enjoyed an excursion in vaudeville with Car-lyle Blackwell, while her most important stock engagement waa in Cleveland, where she enjoyed two. seasons with great success. THERE will be a new face In the cast of "The Gold Dig-. gers," the Malcolm Fassett offering for the week commencing Monday, evening at Macauley's, and a very attractive face it Is, to say nothing of the artistry of the young woman. She is Irene Purcell, well known to New York playgoers and very favorably remembered through her appearance at Macauley's a season ago in support of Otis Skinner in his revival of "Mister Antonio." Miss Purcell has been especially engaged by Mr.

Fassett for the in Miss Barry more on the stage or tn ral years. Among the noted futml who attended were Norma TalmsJa dancer and wears her clothes with distinction. She is exceedingly versatile as her roles sung at the opera will testify. Last week Miss Courtney took the role of Madam Pom Pom In "The Fortune Teller" and scored a marked Buccess from the first night. On her entrance she was greeted with enthusiastic applause and she grew In favor as the evening progressed.

Miss Courtney plays and sings with earnestness, dances with grace and individuality and with her natural beauty is a much admired member of the New York Light Opera PERQUETA COURTNEY, the In-genue of the New York. Light Opera Company at th Ferry comes from California where ahe played In stock, musical stock and opera. She was educated In the schools of California and has been interested In the stage since early youth. Last winter Miss Courtney went to New, York to study voice with Robert Hosea and was engaged by John Pollock for this engagement with the New Yorlc Light Opera Company. Miss Courtney has a marked dramatic talent, is an excellent Mr.

and Mrs. John McCormick (C leen Moore), Pauline Frederick, a. Mid Mrs. Owen Moore, George you see Corneille or Mollere at the Comedie you don't see the traditional street scene, woodland scene, and Interior that Dollvet designed to cover the needs of the Classic French theater. "Le Medecin Malgre Lui" is done In the best tradition of the Nineteenth Century." And so Is "Le id." The actor's "business" may be approximately similar.

But it, too, has changed, according to the traditions the various actors who have taken the parts. When you see Victor Hugo's "Hernani" you may be seeing the original scenery for the play was only first produced irV 1830. All of which is getting to what Is wrong with the Comedie today. Thj trouble is that it is neither one thing nor the other. It Is not the complete preservative it is supposed to be for the simple reason that no one building could be.

And it is apparently ignor nraurice, Bessie Love, Mr. and Hal rhh Sig. Jose Nlchie, one of Italy'3 J. Hartley Manners (Laurette TaylorL l-emost maestri. Mr.

and Mrs. Ernest Torrence, Vivas I IjLTpon his return to America Mr. Martin, Donald Brian, Florence Vlkj Mr. and Mrs. Hugo Ballin and June I perior to the 'plays with a more sombre dramatic' content.

Among the native ones have been "Tarnish," "Mister Pitt," "All God's Chillun." "The PSa.il lor a. ume enKseu uuiiwi i brk, singing1 in concerts, recitals. vidge. itorios and with orchestra through- It the United States and Canada. only backdrops with painted "perspectives and wings, occasionally walls, and.

a ceiltngec) room, but only occasionally. Its acting is excellent of its kind. In the older classics it ia finely elocutional. In the moderns it is nicely precise. Foreigners have a way of saying, "I love to go and hear the actors of the Comedie.

They speak such beautiful French." It is a strange remark. Of course, they do, but why shouldn't they? But fin plays and fine elocution are not enough for the theater of today. It takes much more than that to make a good performance. It takes ant and innocent of what has happened The Theater Abroad There Is Something Wrong With the Comedie Fran--caise and Mr. Brown Intelligently Puts Finger On It.

to the art of the theater in the last twentv vears. In Ushtlngr equipment it RAINBOW GARDENS LOUISVILLE'S DANCE PALACE Dick Quinlan's Golden Derby Orchestra AMATEUR NIGHT. MONDAY, PROMPTLY AT 10:30 FRIDAY NIGHT. CARNIVAL NIGHT still knows only footlights and borders pgrt the New York production of "Silks Knd Satins" he assumed the leading $etior role and scored an Instantaneous access. Next came two seasons over the Keith and Orpheum circuits and then he came under the notice of Upgustus Pitou, with the result tha i3lr.

Pitou engaged him. i Mr. Regan's voice Is said to be a Jare, dramatic tenor, and considered Bije finest that has been, heard 'in field of Irish drama. Spotlights seem unknown to n. in scenery it Is still in the beginning of the Nineteenth Century.

Tom Robertson in England, who first used a celling in his society plays, and An-toine in France might just as well have never lived. The Comedie offers By JOHN MASON BROWN. REFRESHMENTS. 3 UNTIL 1 THIRD AND AVERY. complete illusion.

And every craft of the theater has to come into play if illusion is to be had. Because the Comedie does not give illusion it fails. To make a clas PARIS. July 1. "What is the mat-.

ter with the Comedie Francaise?" Is a fair question to ask if you sit through some of its performances. For there is something wrong with th6 Comedie. and something seriously wrong. There are innumerable things wrong with And they are things sic Interest in the theater you All This Week Matinees ADONIS OF THE AIR" will appear at National i daring feats. POST KENTUCKY DIVISION' Travelers' Protective Association Moonlight Boat Ride and Dance have to give a chance.

From the point of view of an audience a play is only as good as its production. And the Comedie forgets that. It ignores the regisseur and the designer alike. But it still thinks it preserves. It does preserve.

There is no question about it. But enibalmer's fluid is no pre that matter in the theater of today As everyone knows the Comedie is one of the four State endowed theaters in Paris. The others are the Odeon, the Opera and the Opera Comique. The THE CORONATION OF COMEDY Malcolm Fassett Company Pre-cnting DAVID BELASCO'S Great Comedy Hit WEDNESDAY NIGHT, JULY 23 STEAMER AMERICA servative for the theater. i 1 1 mmm SEEING THINGS AT NIGHT' faults of the Opera and the Opera Comique are the expected faults of grand opera.

But the Comedie is the Boat Leaves What 8:30 P.M., Sharp Tickets 50 Cents a (Continued From First Page.) THE LP For all one knew, they had been lifted out of modern life into Restoration days. There was nothing of the revival performance in the acting. And as a consequence, even Congreve's preposterous plot took on flesh and blood, and the savor of his remark able wit was more relishing because of the verisimilitude. 557 rrt "Theater It is the first official theater In France. Even the Odeon must style Itself In comparison.

"Second Theater Francais." The Comedie's reputation is worldwide. Educated people everywhere in the habit of mentioning it with bated breath. Ii is the theaier o. Mh-liere. It is the theater of Corneille and Racine.

It is a National theater. It is a repertory theater. It Is state endowed. It is a theater of great actors. It Is a theater that presents at reasonable rates the masterpieces of the French stage.

Its actors who come to interpret these masterpieces are trained at the Conservatoire. So what can be wrong with the Comedle-Fran-caise? Is there any other playhouse In the world that has so much tradition behind it? Is there any other theater in the world that has so much in its favor? It preserves their classics for the French. Its repertory is catholic and Includes plays that cover the history of the French stage, as well as major pieces from other stages. So what can be the matter with the Comedie Francaise? The very simple fact is that the theater's job Is not to preserve in alcohol. The theater must be a living thing to be an interesting thing.

Unless it interests it does not educate or amuse or do any other of these things that people have a right to expect of it. One trouble with the Comedie is that It preserves In alcohol. It rests back on its laurels and seems to take the attitude of "If this play proves a'l right outside of the Comedie why then in due time I will call it In from the boulevardes and incorporate it in my repertory. I will give it just as It was first performed, or as nearly as Is pos silbe. And I will give it settings that will be with it as long as possible.

As far as the magic of lighting goes Well, that's very well for peoplp outside to tinker with, but I don't have to worry. I am usually sold out, even it most of my seats go to parents who take their children to see classics. I am not going to bother myself with these new-fangled things. I will wait, and when other people are through with them, why then. If they really have amounted to anything I'll take them over." That is to all intents and purposes the policy of the Comedie.

True; there are exceptions. A new play and a strong play ike Paul Raynal's "Le Tomeau sous l'Arc de Triomphe" finds its way into the Comedie's repertory. Put even It is rewritten and cut so as to please discontented French audiences, and the play'a problems are Ironed out with the soothing touch of a Pollyanna. But the trouble with the Comedie has never been its flays. It manages sooner or later to get the best plays written In France.

If It is more often later than sooner that is in a way to be expected of a theater that is essentlalry a preservative and conservative theater. It is not fair, perhaps, to point out now that Brieux de Curel, Porto-Rlche, and Davendan had their first efforts coddled by An-toine at his Theater-Libre instead of at the Comedie. And it is not Its plays that are wrong with the Comed'e today. They are the best things about It seems to me that the actor with wit enough to kid the roles of a by By AVERY HOPWOOD The Greatest Laugh FcsMtbI of All Times A Rollicking Comedy of the Stage and Its People To Miss "THE GOLD DIGGERS" Is to Miss the Best Comedy of Them AH. SAME OLD BARGAIX PRICES 25c, 50c, 75c, St.

00 NEXT WEEK "MARY'S ANKLE" gone day might also kid the next role given him in the present one. Out of a hundred plays brought to Broad l-i ll ft I 3 J. i way by contemporary writers, a good seventy-five could be thus handled. ii Iinil III Out of a hundred actors reaching 9hm All Week and Satwrday FOHTAINE FERRY NEW YORK LIGHT OPERA CO. HERE'S BeW and Norman's ideas of matrimony, and you may take "sides" with either one.

WITH TIXLEV DEB'S Broadway, a good eighty-five could be thus kidded. And there is nothing more distasteful to the playgoer than an actor who Is intent upon advancing his own superiority to his material. But London, after all, has been forced to fall back upon other days. It has not the crop of younger playwrights now making Broadway an American institution rather than a place where European dramatists rely upon their major profits. seeking a good play, rarely finds it among the new scripts.

Barrie and the early Shaw and Pinero and Jones are assiduously refurbished for the modern note. London has witnessed no such season of native comedies as Broadway has offered In 1923-24. Counting up for the year, one finds New York's native numbering among JEFFERSON ff If! Hillill Also Featuring; BERNICE MERSHON EN0S FRAZERE. ENOS FRAZERE. heralded "the Adonis of the Air." comes to B.

F. Keith's National the last half of the week as one of the feature attractions. Mr. Frazere is said to be a slender, smiling, blonde who gains the good will of his audience as soon as he makes his first appearance up on the stage. His many daring feats are said to surpass anything ever attempted upon the stage and critics throughout the country have proclaimed him a "wonder" In his particular line of art.

He is supported in his offering by Miss Corinne who is said to be a clever dancer with a hi i Continuous Daily 1:3011. Saturday and Sunday 13:3011. MONDAY, TUESDAY and WEDNESDAY Another Gala Comedy Variety Bill of 9 a --vTi DANCING DEVICES That are mirth nrodtirlna. tihllaral- and RESTAURANT hlrkrn Blnncrt a fvf them "The Show-Off," "Tweedles," ll Evcrj- night in the coolcut dance hall In the Sooth SWIMMING Momliir. Afternoon.

Kvcnlnt a "The Changelings," "Expressing Wil lie." "The Potters," "The Beggar On RE ITHVAODEV HE Horseback, and a dozen others with social value. The comedies have been far su most pleasing personality. if DC 'J ATTEND OLIVER AND WESTON PRESENT Miss Joyce Lando and Boys With Herbie De feell In a Song Dance Novelty Scenery and Effects by Henry Lando DIAMOND JUBILEE PICNIC OF THE SPECIAL FEATCRE LAURA BENNETT CO. As the Lady Champion MIsa Laura Brnnett Hrlra Oton Miu K.tta Shark Irloo Mr. Matnna Oltastoa HARRY MILDRED OTTO In "Public Deceivera" KENDAL, BYTONE SLATER In "At the Studio" to act." is Miss Daniels' indignant stand.

"When you try to do that you take all the romance out of marriage and reduce It to a state of cut and dried regulations. "You might as well finish It by telling people just when and. how they ought to die and ask them why they were born. "If I have to have someone dictate the terms of my marriage to me you can bet I'll be an oUJ maid." And Norman Kerry who overheard her speech and was asked for his point of view, declared: "It's all very well for people to say they won't stand for this and that; but I notice that they're the very folks who wind up by doing the accepted thing. "They're wise.

Convention may seem foolish at times but it's my experience that the people Vrho disregard It usually regret it afterwards. "Personally I believe In the old-fashioned marriages one wife and one love. It's the only kind I ever want and you can- tell the world that I'm going to stick to It." The funny part of it is that both Miss Daniels and Mr. Kerry have an opportunity to express their real thoughts In the film. In "Daring Youth" Miss Daniels takes the role or a young wife who insists upon three days of complete freedom during the week.

Mr. Kerry is cast as the husband who wants a "whole-time wife." How a solution is reached between these conflicting views furnishes an most interesting comedy drama, "Daring Youth" starts today for a week's engagement at the B. F. Keith's Rialto. I i i BEBB DANIELS AND NORMAN Joseph Orphans9 KERRY.

ISTEN to the song of a atar and MAI RICE D. GREENWALD TRESENT9 IRANKIE HENRT her leading man, who disagree about the. very subject that they EXTRA ADDED ATTRACTION KELCEY and ANTRIM 'A I In -IJttle Rhyme and No Reason." Wednesday, July 23d. 3 Tke Walnut St. Car To Grounds On Frankfort Ave.

In Crescent HiH it: i i I fill! On the Screen Monday. Tuesday, Wednesday JOHJI GILBERT In "A MAN'S MATE" A Romance of the Paris Underworld. expound in the pictures. The star is Bebe Daniels. The picture Is "Daring Youth.

The leading man Is Norman Kerry. The subject matrimony. Bebe declares that matrimonial arrangements lie solely between the two parties involved. It is as foolish for any one to try to dictate rules of conduct for them as it is to attempt to regulate one's stomach by the clock. "Marriage is not a mass matter which you can put couples aside like Ford automobiles and tU them how MUSIC SPECIAL ATTRACTIONS -KEEP COOL AT KEITH'S NATIONAL- fciinaat -1.