Indianapolis Times, Volume 38, Number 219, Indianapolis, Marion County, 18 December 1926 — Page 7

DEC. 18, 1926

‘LAFF THAT OFF’ TO BE HOLIDAY EVENT AT ENGLISH’S

‘The Vagabond King’ Will Open Engagement Here on Monday Night, Jan. 3 —Yale Dramatic Association Will Send Its Play to the Murat. “la(T That Off,” a comedy that was awarded a place in New York’s golden dozen,, comes to English’s for three days, beginning Monday, Dec. 27. Don Mullally, actor and playwright, who will be remembered for “Conscience” and “The Dessert Flwer,” is the authr.

The play ran for an entire year in New York, at Earl Carroll’s Wallaek Theater, playing through the .summer. The oast Is headed by Larry Oliver often mistaken for George M. Cohan, for they not only resemble each other, but both have played the same parts, and includes Marion Wells, recently of "The Dybbuk" and "The Phantom Ship,” Norval Keedwell, well known# to theatergoers and screen fans: Pauline Crake, Hattie Foley, one of the best loved character women in the profession; William Gargan of "Aloma of the South Seas" fame and Jack Williams. Three young chaps who are batching together—a stranded but beautiful young actress—a skeptical boarding house lady and a trick of ■fate that almost shatters the boys’ faith in human nature—together with anew version of a hoarding house slavey—forms the basis for (he plot. "VAGABOND KING” TO BE JANUARY VISITOR "The Vagabond King," after 567 performances on Broadway, New York, ha.s departed the eastern metropolis, having established a record equalled by few of any musical plays in history. The operetta comes to the English Opera House on Monday, Jan. 3, for eight performances—six evenings, with matinees on Wednesday and Saturday The tremendous personnel of "The Vagabond King" affords some idea of the magnitude and Importance of the attraction. Among the outstanding numbers sling in ensemble is “Song of the Vagabonds,” done, by sixty richvoiced members —the beggars and brawlers of Paris led by "Francois Villon,” the vagabond-poet. Other selections, done In solo, duet ,nd Irio form are "Only a Rose/’ Tomorrow.’’ "A Flagon of Wine,” ind 'Love Me Tonight.” These are ill melodies from the pen of 'turtolf Friml, the Bohemian com- • „,~er. who provided the score. V\l,E DRAMA CLUB POKED AT MURAT ■Out O’ Luck,” the Christmas V.v of the Yale Dramatic Associa- ■ >n. which will be presented at the Murat Theater on Dec. 22, should be of special interest to Yale alumni. It Is the first all-Yale production that hss ever been taken on tour. Its success last year in all the cities visited attests its quality as entertainment. Tom Cushing, 1902, is the author. His work is well-known on Broadway, Including such successes as "Thank You,” "Laugh, Clown, T.augh” and "Blood and Sand.” This season “The Devil in the Cheese." his ln.test piece, is being staged by Charles Hopkins. "Out O’ Luck” was written at St. Mihiel during the war and was taken from actual frontline episodes. Distinctive music for one scene has been composed by Cole Porter. 1918. well-known ns the author of "Bulldog.” “Bingo” and other famous Yale Songs. The production is under the direction of E. M. Woollev. 1911, whose ability is well established. particularly in the staging and difficult dramas, many for the first time in this country. The plot is built around the charters of a dozen doughboys, which rails for a variegated cast. Nearly all undergraduate extrh-ourrlculum activities are represented. It includes Guv Richards, 1927 varsity

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Barrymore Decides

John Barrymore has selected “The Ragged Lover” as the final title for his first United Artists Picture. Barrymore is nearing the final stages of production on his first independent effort at the Pickford-Falr-bank Studio, Hollywood. Presumably, the screeen creator of tiie original well-dressed man. Beau Brummel, is about'to give us proof of his versatility, showing in "The Ragged Lover” that clothes do not make the man.

tackle, who blocked two punts in tHo Harvard game, one of which brought a touchdown, and who later received all-American mention; It. B. McGunigle, 1927 university half back, and star of the Dartmouth game; H. Hamlin, 1927, another member of the squad, and in addition chairman of the Yale Record R. C. Osborn, 1928, art editor of the Record and leading undergraduate cartoonist. Two oarsmen In Edward R. Wardwell, and Henry Sage Goodwin, both seniors, advertise their crew prowess on the stage. Joseph A. Thomas. 1928, is managing editor of the Daily News. T. S. Ryan, 1927, president of the dramatic association, is a champion squash player; N. S. Ludington, 1927, manager of the trip, is famous on the campus as an orator. All members of the cast are experienced actors. Henry C. Potter, 1926 art, who played the leading role so well last year is again as signed that part since he returned to New Haven this fail to study in the department of drama. HERE IS THE VILLAIN Philo McCullough, First Natonal's official portrayer of “villain" roles, is particularly glad that Billy Bevan of the two-reel comedy fame shares supporting honors with him in the “Easy Pickings" cast, which George Archainbaud directed with Anna Q. Nilsson in the featured role. “The only man they treat more roughly in the mystery type of pictures, than the villain, is the comedian,” 'says Philo. "I’m glad Billy is with us to share the punishment.” MILES OF FENCE HERE Twelve miles of barbed wire were used to construct the military prison camp used in "Barbed Wire,” Pola Negri’s new starring vehicle fog Paramount.

Pageant Tonight Tonight aO the Cadle Tabernacle, a pageant, "Christmas In Many Lande,” will be presented by the Indianapolis Theater Guild. Groups of flgty girls each from Shortridge High School will sing in costume and in the language represented In the French, German and Italian episodes. TBie religious music will he played on the pipe organ by Mrs. W. E. Duthie. Hundreds will take part in the big cast.

AMUSEMENTS

LOOKING OVER NEW EVENTS UPON LOCAL STAGE

ROUNDING THEATERS

Now comes *tlie charge from Rabbi Stephen S. YV ise that “ ‘Helen of Troy’ is the most immoral book of decades.” Both the stage and literature nre subject to’these general indictments focused upon a single event.

Every attack of this nature when it comes from a public character helps the box office value of the attraction, provided the book or the play have qualities of honest realism and greatness. "Helen of Troy,” by John Erskine, professor of English at Columbia, has been a best seller for many months. "Helen” does not need the attention of Rabbi Wise to keep it a best seller. "Helen” probably will soon be seen upon the stage and there is talk that It is being held for Miss Ethel Barrymore, who is now enjoying her first popular success in some seasons on Broadway in another play. As “Helen" is to become a stage I lady sooner or later, it Is interesti ing to consider her as sisti rs of Mother Goddam in "The Shanghai Gesture,” Miss Lulu In “Lulu Belle." The reason that we can not agree upon what is dirt in literature and upon the stage is duo largely I think upon the fact that our mental experiences and are contacts with real life are not the same. Realism to me in "Desire Under the Elms” was life, because I am familiar with that phase of cruel sex longing and fruitless ambitions in certain sections of this country. I recognize that O’Neill has given us realism, cruel and relentless, hut nevertheless It Is realism. In meeting Mother Goddam, the character played by Florence Reed in "The Shanghai Gesture,” I think |we have theater and not realism. | And in this brand of theater it is the I license to give us superheated sex land mental experiences. | "Mother” is a rough product and j she kils virtue as easily as she does 1 reputation. “The Gesture” ts just [ plain theater, not life. It is just a I yarn, Madnme’s experi-

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ROUND With WALTER D. HICKMAN

ences are not altogether unknown in real life. ‘‘Lulu Belle.” on the other hand, it seems to me, Is both theater and realism. Miss Lenore Ulric makes Lulu one of the llvest human beings I have ever seen on the stage. Lulu in her hands Is the real article, and yet the last act is nothing but powerful melodrama, startling theater. In the printed form I did not find "Helen of Troy," as published by Bobbs-Merrill. to he Immoral. I found It to be a corking mental ex perlence—theater. At times It was smart satire to me upon woman, both ancient and modern and upon man In all ages. Since the Immoral charge Is hurled against "Helen” by Itabbl Wise it Is Interesting to note what the author, Erskine, has to say about decency In literature. In "The Literary Discipline," writ-

AMUSEMENTS LkEI TH°AL Star ArrlM □lll Keith-Albee±4.l. II |J Truly a Gala Holiday Week Offering • AN UNPRECEDENTED VAUDEVILLE SHOW Cl S>< Look At This Wonderful Bill rV| England’s Premier Ventriloquist In a Ventriloqulal Scene, “Whitehall," London. EDDIE ALLEN and DORIS CANFIELD fy THE LE GROHS K STANISLOFF and GRACIE Jt BENTEEL and GOULD Dancing Xylophonists M MAX YORK, Jr. X BOYD and WALLIN T Jl| PATHE NEWS-TOPICS-FABLES Be Sure and Bring the Children to the

No. I—l km line Drake will he soon in “IxilT That Off," at Eiglisli’s for three days, starting Monday night, Dec. 27. No. 2—Hero is Gracie of Stanisloff and Gracie, dancers, at B. F. Keith’s all next week. No. 3—Billy Bussell and his harmonica will be at the Lyric next week, starting Sunday afternoon. No. t—Jimmy Kemper starts his second week Sunday afternoon at tiie Palace.

ten by Erskine years before “Helen." It Is Interesting to note what he has to say. Erskine writes In “Discipline"; "The principle of literarv decorum which applies to the representation of the body applies to the allied them© of sex. The body is a fit subject for literature, but not in detail. Sex is a proper subject for literature, so long as it Is represented ;is a general force In life, and particular instances of it are decent so long as they illustrate that general force and turn in our minds to it: but sexual actions are indecent when they cease to illustrate the general fact of sex, and are studied for their own sake; like the ears in the portrait. they then assume an emphasis they do not deserve.” And again Erskine writes; "There are, of course, unhealthy minds which have developed a mania for obscenity, and at the other extreme of exaggeration there are the unbalanced minds which do not care to

admit the existence of sex. But sex, in one form or another, is in the thoughts of most people most of the time, and common folk—and the great poets—speak of it constantly, and :n the same way." As far as 1 a mconcerned. I try to find out the motive of the theme. Then 1 studied it.-; method of presentation. 1 test it by both dramatic standards and those of realism. And then I have always been reasonably sure Just what is dirt and what is not dirt. MIGHTY COLD WATER Swimming In water three degrees above the freezing point was one of the requirements made of Wallace Beery, Paramount featured player, for a scene in his newest laugh riot, "Casey at the Bat,” which Monte Brice is directing.

AMUSEMENTS ft A ft A CHRIJTMAJ /HOW /J™ / ii/IJA y of RUPLENDZNT pmJIJ/ W NOVELTIE/A /"S? & FIRST APPEARANCE HERE II a ja HOWARD Lj 9DANTE rj V Gjfc| EUROPE'S GREATEST CONJURER j\j \| PRESENTING A MARVELOUS PROGRAM OF f/l y the most baffling illusions LI ’ll EVER CONCEIVED PN 1 HALL, ERMINIE& BRICE M m A NIGHT ON BROADWAY w)\ i SIX MUSICAL ALVINS $ PU| FEATURING DOROTHY JANSON j> n BURNS & FORNAN P FI SONiS?, STEPS AND SMILES Wi 4 BILLY RUSSELL J I MUSICAL COMEDIAN M COOPER & BERMAN 'I ECCENTRIC FUN MAKERS ’N ESTHER FOUR J PREMIER NOVELTY ARTISTS KETROW’S ANIMALS 9 A MINIATURE CIRCUS fj Santa Claus on the Screen, Kinograms pjj Imperial Comedy—“ Madam Dynamite 1 * H | LYRIC DANCE PALACE | [\l I CONNIE-DOLLY GRAY AND 1 THEIR RHYTHM KINGS K jjj AFTERNOON AND EVENING fy

Honored Fred Newell Morris, teacher of voice, will sing the bass role in Handel’s “Messiah,” to be sung by the Toledo Choral Society. accompanied by the Detriot Symphony Orchestra, in Toledo Dec. 20. This is Mr. Morris’ eighth appearance with the society.

RICHARD WILL RETURN Richard Barthelniess, First National star, sends word from across the water that he is sailing from Cherbourg on the Majestic, on his return from an extended vacation abroad. He will travel westward immediately to start work at the First National studios in Burbank.

PAGE 7

BIG CHRISTMAS SHOWS BOOKED IN VARIETY HOUSES Keith’s, Lyric and Palace to Have Good Novelty Programs. In keeping with the holiday •pirH| and as a special centennial year ofJ sering, B. F. Keith’s will offer a Christmas festival hill of ten actsJ starting Sunday matinee. I Among the prominent features! will he; CORAM —Known as "England’s' premier ventriloquist, who has a real stage production for his act, with scenes laid in "Whitehall, Lon* don." He and his pal, Jerry, ar the central figures in the offering. ( EDDIE ALLEN AND DORIS CANFIELD —In their comedy offer*l ing of witty dialogue and songa* called "Gimme the Makins.” THE LK OROIIS —Tw'o men ant* a woman, will present a novelty In! tiie way of a pantomimic contortion act. STANISLOFF AND GRACIE—! Will be seen in a colorful terpslcho*! rean number, “A Whirl of Dance.’•l They will he assisted by A1 Stobbi,' a concert pianist. ED WARREN AND CHARLES I O’BRIEN —In “What Trice Glory?’*! called "What Price Review.’’ The! act shows in a humorous way the| price paid for amusements of the' revue kind. EDDIE AND MORTON BECK—| Duo of singing comics have a smart j songalogue that includes topical! numbers written especially for the act. HARRY BENTEELAND HELEN 1 GOULD —Hhown in the two-a-day I field ns "The Dancing Xylophon-I (Turn to Pago 9)

Famous Cnlcerslty of MICHIGAN OPERA “FRONT TACIE BTTFF" Mural —Tonlto, Deo. 18 Prices—Sl.oo to $2.50.