Life — February 28, 1918 — page 23: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

most modern metropolis. It could appeal only to a fraction of the public, so that only artistic ambition could be the under- lying motive for such an effort. The “Electra” is not for the theatregoing public of to-day, and the rewards for the elaborate undertaking must live mostly in artistic satisfaction and not in material profits. It seems safe to say that never has the tragedy been so per- fectly presented. In the conditions of the Greek theatre itself and of every performance since, indoor and out of door, it has never been possible to frame the play as beautifully and at the same time bring its meaning so clearly to an audience. The scenes in their classic atmosphere suggested Alma Tadema in gloomy mood, and the music of Mr. Damrosch and his orchestra reflected truly the inspiration of the tragic theme. Miss Anglin and the others in the cast with speaking parts de- claimed the long speeches with understanding and suited their acting admirably to picturesque requirements entirely different from those of the modern stage. “Electra” may not be for our day nor for our public, but the splendid performances at Carnegie Hall show that after more than two thousand years there is still moving force in the acted Greek drama. OnE, 5 Bik VERYBODY having anything to do with the new show, “Sin- bad,” at the Winter Garden gets his or her name into the pro- gramme except the designer of the Oriental scenery, which is the best thing in the production. Here one may enjoy all, and more, of the gor- geous coloring and graceful archi- tecture of a city of the Orient, and without the dirt, smells and insect A life. It is impossible to review a (1), new show at the Winter Garden except in terms of comparison with its predecessors. In the case of “Sinbad” the management has adhered rigidly to the policy of cutting out the vulgarity which marred some of the earlier efforts. The piece needs a good deal of fattening up in the way of fun, Mr. Al. Jolson, with all his cleverness, not being able alone to supply enough for such a long entertainment. It would also be improved by the addition of more musical numbers of the sort one always expects to find at the Winter Garden. There is the usual abundance of youthful femininity in the customary numerous changes of gorgeous apparel, this side of the forces being headed in the principal réles by Virginia Fox Brooks and Hazell Cox. The general impression of “ Sinbad" is that it is up to the usual Winter Garden standard on the material side, but that it is a bit thin in fun and originality. There seems to be a lack of braininess about the production that would be fatal if the tired business man ever found it out. Metcalfe. CONFIDENTIAL e« GUIDE & Astor—* Why Marry? by Mr. Jesse Lynch Williams, Clever comedy discussion of the title question set forth by a good company. Belasco.—" Polly With a Past." Brightly acted and diverting comedy with Mr. Belasco's excellent staging. 343 Girl 0’ Mine,” by Messrs. Bartholomae and Tours. In+ timate girland-music show with catchy airs and good dancing. _ Booth.— Seventeen,” by Mr, Booth Tarkington. Puppy-love with its comedy and tragedy amusingly presented. Broadhurst—Emily Stevens in “ The Madonna of the Future,” by Mr. Alan Dale. Imitation of Oscar Wilde, suggesting his degeneracy but not his wit. Casino.—" Ob, Boy!” Diverting girland-musie show. Century.—* Chu Chin Chow.” “Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves” made the thread of an Oriental spectacle with gorgeous coloring and striking music, * Cohan and Harris — A Tailor-Made Man.” Clothes as an aid to business success made the basis of a laughable and well played comedy. Cohan's.—" The King.” with Mr. Leo Ditrichstein, Well acted comedy from the French, funny, but a trifle bold in lines and situa- tions. Comedy —The Washington Square Players in“ Youth.” ater. Cort.—" Flo Flo." Frothy and unrefined gitl-and-music show. Criterion. —Laurette Taylor in “ Happiness,” by Mr. Hartley Man- ners. Very human comedy with the leading part well fitted to the star, Eitinge.— Business Before Pleasure.” The enterpri Potash and Perlmutter provide more VAighter by emba moving-picture busine Empire—Ethel Barrymore in “The Off Chance," by Mr. R. C. Carton, ce above. Forty-fourth Street—" May acting and accompaniment rty-eighth Street—" The Love Mill.” music show of somewhat amateur quality. Fulton.—Miss Margaret Anglin in. “ Billeted.” comedy, amusing and very well played, Globe-—* Jack o” Lantern,” with Mr. Fred Stone. Background of claborate girl-and-music show emphasizing the star's energetic fun-making. Greenwich Village.— Karen.” from the Danish of Bergstrom. Propaganda drama dealing ‘with the inequality of the social sex law as applied to women. Horris.—" Success," by Leitzhach and Liebler. of the theatre with the story told behind the scenes. Hippodrome.—" Cheer Up." The institution which sets forth spectagle, ballet and vaudeville at their biggest. Hudson —" The Master" and “ Democracy’s King,” with Mr. Arnold Daly. Notice later. Knickerbocker.—Closed. Liberty.—" Going Up." Mr, Frank Craven as an involuntary aviator in a musical play with fun and tuneful numbers. ._Longacre.—"" Yes or No.” Original double-barreled staging of an interesting drama. Lyceum.— Tiger Rose.” Melodrama of the Canadian Northwest, Stirring and well staged. Lyric.—" Nazimova " in “ Revelation.” A movieplay which comes very near being real drama, Manhattan Opera House—“ The Garden of Allah.” drama of the North-African desert. Marine Elliott's—Marjorie Rambeau in “The Eyes of Youth.” Novel treatment of a dramatic story, very well interpreted. Morosco.—"' Lombardi, Ltd.” by the Hattons, Comedy of the day dealing with both the fashy and the sentimental side of the fashion- able dressmaking trade in New York. New Amsterdam.—" Coban Review of 1918." Luxv music show with clever burlesques of current plays. Norworth.—" Under Pressure.” Notice later. Park.—'* Seven Days? Leave,” by Mr, Walter Howard. Melo- drama with thrilling scenes and’ spectacle connected with the present war. Playhouse —" The Little Teacher,” by Mr. Harry James Smith Rural sentimental comedy, well done. Plymouth.—" The Gipsy Trail," by Mr. Robert Housum. Well acted and diverting comedy of to-day, Princess—" Oh, Lady! Lady!” by Messrs. Bolton, Wodehouse and Kern, Fetching little girl-and-music show with a lot of fun. Punch and Judy.—" Her Country.” Notice later. Republic.— Parlor, Bedroom and Bath,” by Messrs. Bell and Swan. Farcieal comedy, not over-refined but full of laughs painter —""The Copperhead,” by Mr. Augustus Thomas ater. Thirty-ninth Street—" A Cure for Curables,” by Messrs. Biggers and Whitman, Notice later. anf @t Colombier—Tmported French stock company in changing inl, Winter Garden.— Sinba Ziegfeld Midnight Fro never-go-to-beds, Notice ig firm of ing in the ne." Musical play, agreeable in plot, Pretentious girl-and- Polite English Amusing drama Picturesque us girland- Notice See above. .— Aftertheatre entertainment for the comicbooks.com