The Cincinnati Enquirer from Cincinnati, Ohio • 57

I I I I I lit I I I I I i. 1 ri 'i I i i ii i 1 i Ti 1 1 i 1 I i I ill i 1 It I I 1 tl -A rr 1 i .11 i SUNDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 25, 1931 SECTION THREE SIX PAGES SECTION THREE SIX PAGES njVVVUl(VV''i i parrte Walter Samp.ben.janb. Jfa? painter (greet Co Controversy Still Persists About Crichton 9s Later Life Two Stars Secured As Special Feature Of Burlesque Show TaJcen By Critics On The Place Of James Barrie In Dramatic World Revival Of "The Admirable Crichton9' Provokes Interest In Earlier Plays Of Same Title And In Scotchman Of That Name Who Lived In Sixteenth Century "Meet My Sister" Not To Play Cincinnati Shubert To Be Dark For Two Weeks. WW tgj)t Way Church Mouse Turns Into Insidious Cat In Playl Adapted From Hungarian-Viennese Girl OhvU ously Sets Cap For Bert Lytell English Venture Struggles For American Recognition--Wealth And Success Is Pops Tic DetU" Be comes' "Everybody's Welcome" In Musical Ver sion Of Comedy Oscar Shaw And Ann Penning ton Star. By Gtorg? A.

iSAAC GOLDBERG, writing on cism, illustrates the "inevitable divergence of the moat enlight ened opinion" by quoting from three leading critics' expressed Attitudes toward Sir James Barrie, whoa "Admirable Crichton" perform Innocently obvious in this Hatton Americanized version, but it is entertaining because the excellent acting makes one condone much that is obvious. That the piece has been more or less devitalized is known to those who saw a German version ot the original In these parts not long ago. In the part of Susie, old playgoers recognize In Ruth Gordon much of the petite charms of the one-time fa mous Lotta Crabtree, and in the In nocuous but graceful vehicle qualii ties which attracted the public to Minnie Palmer's style of plays of years ago. Which is to say that Miss Gordon Is a thorough little spellbinder, with a vivacity and a surety of touch that cannot fall to delight the heart, and that "A Church Mouse" is just the sort of back ground for her fascinating per sonality and style of acting. Bert Lytell makes a first-class character, of the jovial, good-natured, fllrta tious Baron.

At the Forrest Theater, Ronald Jeans's English play, "Lean Harvest," with Leslie Banks the featured player, is in the problematic stage whether it will equal the success it had in London. It is a delightfully produced and acted drama, dealing with the career of a young man who grows rich and. in the process, loses all he holds dear. It is the tragedy of ambition that o'erleaps itself. He first loses his provincial sweet heart because she is content to marry him at once and be happy in humble circumstances, while he wishes to make a success in the business world before marriage.

Continued On Page Section 8. London, England, where he had a studio theater above the Dickens Old Curiosity This company carries 100 wooden actors manipulated by a company of eight dramatic and musical artists on a complete miniature stage, with elaborate lighting equipment and. scenery, designed by Tony Sarg. It is the maestro's motto to have a laugh or a stunt in every minutes of the two hours of a per formance. Permission for a group of Univer sity of Cincinnati Applied Arts sttM dents to be a behind-soenes audit ence was granted yesterday.

The) courtesy was requested by Miss Alice: V. Little, assistant professor of ap piled Arts, for a group of her stu dents who are building a marlon ette theater and experimenting with marionettes. They have already progressed to the point where anunw ber of puppets have been con structed. The visit of Tony Sarg's Marion ettes will furnish them with an' op portunity to see at first hand the workings of a- marionette theater They will not only watch the per formance. but study the set-up and Bshtins: of the stage, and the eon el the puppets.

laj Star Leighton. the subject of contemporary criti Admirable Crichton," either from a character who lived about the time of Shakespeare or from a play of the same name by George Galloway, a copy of which is in the New York Public Library with the date of 1802 on its title page and printed "By John Taylor and sold by the booksellers of London and Edinburgh or at the author's own shop, Wilson's Land, Crosscauseway." This earlier Crichton was a rip-snorting tragedy and dealt with romance, intrigue and learning of a period in the dim" past. A kindly press agent has sent us a sample of Its style, taken from the prologue: When Gothlo darkness dastardly retlr'd, And Knowledge (air her votaries lnaplr'd, Crichton, a brilliant north star, bright ap- pear'd, And Learning's standard from oblivion rear'd; But ah! as a cruel gust. And laid Fame's darling sudden In the dust; Sudden, alasl dropp'd Scotia's genial flow'r, While Europe's eyes gushed filial tears a shower. Nothing of this earlier play except the title was used by Barrie.

It would seem more likely that a sense of humor and contrast, rather than the Influence of history or tradition, prompted the dramatist to hang on to his character of a butler the high-sounding designation. For the Ad- This act. was acclaimed bv tae Eng lish press as a richly deserved one and congratulations from, all over the world were showered upon him by friends and admirers. This season Sir Philip is appearing as Malvolio in "Twelfth Night" and as Polonius in "Hamlet" He has surrounded himself with a company of recognized players. The cast Includes one of the best-known English actors, Russell Thorndike.

who will be seen in the parts of Sir Toby Belch In "Twelfth Night" and as Hamlet in "Hamlet" Russell Thorndike is the author of "Doctor Svn." a novel published in England and America from which he adapted the play of that name, some of his other published noveta are "The Slype" and "The Vandekeers." He is also biographer of his sister's life, Sybil Thorndike, England's traele is. The -ok has recently been published in England and America. As a Doy itusseii lnorn-dike sang in the choir at the Chapel Royal, Windsor. Castle, and was boy soloist to the late Queen Victoria and last sang at Windsor on the occasion of her funeral. 1 The performances in Cincinnati are under the auspices of the Unlver ity pf is coming to the Grand tomorrow night.

Storm Jameson says: "Mr, Barrie Is not a romantic, though he is here in their company. His work eludes classification. There is nothing like It in the whole of modern drama and few will be found to withhold from Mr. Barrie any honoring word. They should be graciotfS words and kindly, like the work that waits their tribute, needing it so little.

But the drama of J. M. Barrie has other arts than the wizardry that sets men's thoughts wandering in forgotten places and their eyes searching for forgotten dreams. There is pity, infinite pity, and lest that become intolerable, infinite courage, defying suffering and age and death Itself." "If the true artist is he who makes life finer and nobler than it is, then is the author of "Quality Street" and'The Old Lady Shows Her Medals" Indubitably an artist, touching life with gentle fingers, making it braver and sweeter to our With the engagement of "The Admirable Crichton" with Walter Hampden, Fay Bainter and a typical George C. Tyler revival cast at the Grand Opera House for an engagement nights, beginning tomorrow, the controversy regarding the eventual fate of the fictional Crichton is likely to blaze again among lovers of J.

M. Barrie's works. The ending of the play has always been a bone of critical contention from the time it was first produced in 1902, and Barrie himself has made changes in the script on the occasion of its revival in London. What really happened to Crichton after the play was over? Returning to the costume and the mien of the butler after his year's of sovereignty or an island, was he content to live the "natural" and, to him, humiliating life of civilization? Just what would he do with the rest of his life, besides remembering and remem bering? student of characterization, for a wide range of psychological conditions, for almost everyone with the vaguest sensitivity, there was an appeal. Yet only a small handful of theater-goers were on hand at each performance.

Why? It couldn't have been a question of price, because seats sold as low as 50 cents and reached only a $2.50 top. Possibly the Impression got abroad that the vehicle was "high-browed." Even so, there surely are enough lovers of the "high-browed" in Cincinnati to By Frederick F. Schrader. sraiAb connssFONDSNcn to the ekqciibs. New York, October 24.

tjHE CHURCH MOUSE is a mB Ttfl small beast of prey which has shown poor judgment in making its habitation in a church, since a church freely dispenses consolation but hardly anything in the way of those sub- stantials which sustain physical life. Ladlslaus Fodor, the Hungarian playwright, has chosen the church mouse as a symbol of poverty and humility which he has Incorporated in the personality of Susie Sachs, a little Viennese who has tasted poverty to the bitter dregs but shakes off her humility in a despairing effort to be selected one out of a hundred applicant by Baron Thomas von Ullrich as his personal stenographer, the young Baron following the congenial and ambitious occupation of President of the Vienna Universal Bank. She all but forces herself into the job and does so well In managing the Baron's affairs, business and social, that when he beholds her without her church-mouse trappings and her office uniform, but in the latest Parisian sartorial conception cut decollete very he just can't resist the temptation of discharging her and becoming her husband. That is the sum and substance of "A Church Mouse," which William A. Brady is presenting at his Playhouse.

It is perhaps a meager little comedy, George Jean Nathan says of Barrie: "The triumph of sugar over diabetes." Ludwig Lewlsohn is the third commentator quoted. "His (Barrie's) plays are commended for' their purity. He surrounds with the gentlest pathos and all the beauty he can comprehend in a triviality of soul that is as shameful as one hopes it rare. Spiritual triviality we come very close to Barrie with that phrase. He makes harsh things sweetish and grave things frivolous and noble things to seem of small account.

No wonder he is popular among all the shedders of easy, comfortable tears. He dramatizes the cloud in order to display its silver linings. Barrie's imagination is as uncontrolled as his ideas are feeble and conventional." These estimates of the author of "Peter Pan" and "Alice-Sit-by-the-Fire" would seem to have small application to the younger man who wrote "The Admirable Crichton," a comedy-satire on the "back-to-nature" philosophy, and in which the concrete problems of environment versus heredity and social class distinctions are delightfully blended. Barrie borrowed the title, "The mlrable Crichton Is naught but a menial moving in lordly circles, far above his circumstance in caliber, and who. near the end of the play, answers Lady Mary's query, "Does he despise her?" with, "Yes, my lady." The original Crichton, chronicled by John Johnston in his "Heroes Scoti," published in 1603, was sur-named James.

Barrie's hero is Bill. This early biographer gave Crichton his title Admirabilis and details his career at length. James Crichton Was born in Dumfrieshire in 1560, the son of a Lord Advocate under Queen Mary. He earned his Bachelor's degree at the age of 14 and a Master's degre a year later, both at St Andrew's University. At the age of 17 he was holding forth In Paris, deliv-1 ering extemporaneous poetry and de bating in the Latin tongue, it is recorded that he could converse in at least ten languages, ancient and mod ern, and served hi the French Army for two years.

In 1580, Crichton was in Venice and through his success in prevailing sport of the timesaccumulated a host of admlr. ers Who formed a traveling nucleus for his audiences everywhere he traveled. Among his close friends were the humanists, Lorenzo Massa and Glovammi Donati. At Padua, in the course of one debate he extem porized a Latin poem, took a valiant "crack" at the Aristotelian Ignorance, and ended with a peroration in praise of Ignorance. He appears to have possessed a characteristic uni versally distinctive of scholars versed only in cultural lore a marked antipathy toward the sciences, scientists and scientific data.

He usually won his arguments; whether he disproved facts Is not on record. Crichton finally went to Mantua, became tutor to the young Prince of the community and was killed by the Prince in a street quarrel. This event is stated to have occurred In 1582, but, just as if it made any difference, there are those who declare friend James was alive as late as 1586. a The above facts have as much relevancy as the oft referred to flowers that bloom in the May, tra la. Barrie's hero hasn't the slightest resemblance to the original James Crichton.

The earlier play contains no. hint of inspiration for the Barrie's play. Should a curious reader wonder why we even mention the matter of earlier Crichtons, he will be in the same mental state as the young applicant for officer's training- during the late hostilities. Saluting the head officer, the recruit was asked his name. "Harry Randolph Smith, sir." "You were born In Chicago, then?" "No, sir." "Your middle name is Randolph?" "Yes, sir." "There is a Randolph Street in Chicago, Isn't there?" "Yes, sir." Then how is it that your middle name Is Randolph and you weren't born in Chicago?" don't know, sir." Disappointment will be felt over the rerouting of "Meet My Sister," which takes it eastward rather than to Cincinnati.

It, had been booked to open at Shubert Theater this evening. a result of the change in schedule, the Walnut Street house will be dark for two weeks, an interim to be broken by a week's showing of "Mikado," with Schumann-Helnk in a featured role. Following this will come "Three Little Girls," the Chicago Civic Shakespearean Company in repertory; AI Jolson in "Wonder Bar" and another of the Dramatic League attractions. And speaking of the Dramatic League, it is mighty hard to understand the pitiful response accorded the outstanding merits of its first offering, "Mrs. Moonlight" Besides those intrinsic qualities of the play itself and the unalloyed beauty of Its presentation, there elso was present an honest popular appeal.

For the sentimentally inclined, there was incttation to flowing tears; for lighter minded folk, humor was in abundance; for the dreamer of dreams, for, jtba romantic, for, the Current Attractions The original acted version, it may be recalled, gave broad hint that Crichton would settle down with Tweeny in a little public house in the Harrow Road, "at the more fashionable end," There are only two hints as to Crlchton's future in the original play, bints so vague as hardly to deserve the phrase. To Treherne's question, "What will you do, Crichton?" the erstwhile "sovereign" Shrugs his shoulders. "'God It may mean," is Barrie's-only comment in the stage directions. And then the final lines of the play: Lady Mary "Tell me one thing: You have not lost your courage?" Crichton "No, my lady." In those lines there is the hint, too, that when "The Admirable Crichton" comes here, its audience will be in the mood to take it as it finds it and conduct no such inquiries into the philosophy of radicalism as first met the play. i have filled the house for each presentation.

Plays such as the Dramatic League proposes sending here are of a quality to require high-salaried stars. It would be a matter of real regret If the league should decide, that they couldn't afford to send their productions to Cincinnati. Yet it hardly is reasonable to expect that any producing organization should take the reception given "Mrs. Moonlight" with a hearty and philosophical laugh. Producers and most other people just aren't that way.

who quickly fall afoul of the law. Additional vaudeville players include Jim McWllliams, "pianutist;" Rosette and Luttmann, dancers; the Yacopl Troupe, gymnasts; Morton and Parks, funsters. EmpresB "Rumba Girls." opening at the Empress Theater this afternoon for a week's engagement features Harry Steppe, Hebrew comedian, and Jerri McCauley, singing and dancing star. Miss McCauley leads a troupe of other women, including Gladys Mc-Cormlck, Arda Karlova and Sally O'Donnell, brunette prima donna. Four men add to the speed of the show.

They are Ned Dandy, character comedian, who keeps Steppe stepping; Jim Hall, entertainer; Palmer Cody, juvenile, and Tim Benson, character man. A midnight show will be given Saturday. attracted the attention of many dance band leaders of the country, who are instructing their trumpet men to try to catch the Armstrong manner. The Boswell Sisters, recent Albee Theater headliners, give generous praise to Armstrong in explain ing their success. It was he, tney say.

who trained them In the singln manner that has brought renown. Some two years ago he filled an engagement at the Showboat a night club in Chicago. He has filled lengthy engagements in New York, Los An geles and New Orleans all centers for advanced jazz musical develop-nuatrrM SU II Chicago, That the sponsors of burlesque are always trying to present the very best talent and shows possible is attested by the appearance in "Rumba Girls," opening at the Empress Theater this afternoon, of Harry Steppe and Jerri McCauley, a star combination which would do credit to any attraction. Steppe Is back in burlesque this season after an absence of several years, during Which time he played both on Broadway and on the road, including Cincinnati, in vaudeville, musical comedy and revues. Steppe's forte is Hebrew characterizations and one of the few remaining comedians still doing this type of character.

He writes his own comedy scenes and many in which other funsters are seen. Miss McCauley, while one of the newer members of the burlesque world, is nevertheless popular. Her first appearance in a burlesque show took place on the same stage on which she will open today. That was three years ago, after Henry Dixon, veteran burlesque and Broadway pro ducer, had discovered her in a Chicago cabaret. Since then Miss McCauley has risen to the top rung in A titlan-haired, peppy comedienne, she has a way about her and a per sonality which wins Instant favor.

Show Boat Tonight marks the end of the en gagement of Bryant's Show Boat troupe in their presentation of "Hamlet," at the foot of Lawrence Street. The Show Boat has been in the Cincinnati harbor for six months, offering old style melodramas and vaudeville between acts. The company has achieved much success and are leaving behind many friends. Arrangements have been made for the boat to return In the spring and again present a repertory of plays that had their hey-day in the early nineties. Zoo Now that a name has been found for the pigmy elephant at the Zoo Gimpy there is much speculation as to how the little pachydern will take to it A christening ceremony will be held in the near future, according to present plans.

Susie, the gorilla, will be one of the guests of the occasion. The Zoo is now clothed in its autumn colors, and is well worth seeing for its scenic effects alone. Greyttone Al Sky's Orchestra will entertain dancers at the Greystone Ballroom, Musio Hall, tonight and he will be followed in the bandstand Tuesday by Louis Armstrong's Orchestra. Saturday evening, Greystone will hold its annual Halloween ball. Fifty dollars in gold will be prizes for the most beautiful and most, comical costumes.

The grand march will begin at 11:30 o'clock and dancing will continue until 1 o'clock. Michael Hauer's Orchestra, will be in the bandstand. On that evening he will feature his vocal trio, Carl Taylor, Harry Yoder and Clyde Reynolds. Hortethoe Gardent Dance numbers that are new and a novel entertainment program will be offered by Cliff Burns and his Green Mill Orchestra at Horseshoe Garden Dance Palace, Ward Avenue, Bellevue, Ky, tonight The De Lyle Sisters, Charles McCarthy, James Morris and Wilson Lang will perform. The gardens are open Thursday, Saturday and Sunday nights.

Preparations are being made for the Halloween carnival scheduled for Saturday night Prizes for the most unique and prettiest costumes will be liven. Erlanger Grand "The Admirable Crichton," by Sir James M. Barrie, with Walter Hampden and Fay Bainter In the leading roles, onens at the Grand Opera House for an engagement of four nights, beginning tomorrow, mere will be a matinee on Wednesday. The theme of the comedy places Bill Crichton, model butler. In the home of a superficially democratic peer.

The members of the household, with Crichton and Tweeny, the kitchen maid, are landed on an isolated and deserted island to woric out tneir social salvation as a primitive group. Albee Hot and Jazzy is the music prom ised hv Louis Armstrong and his or chestra, vaudeville headliners at the Albee Theater. Screening is "Pardon Us," first full-length comedy picture for Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. The pair enact hapless bootleggers Orphans Are Invited By Shrine To Watch Puppet Performance Comedy And Tragedy Form Bill To Be Offered At Music Hall Leader Is Versatile Soloist; Croons And Plays Trumpe Arrangement have been completed by Syrian Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, to bring Tony Sarg's Marionettes to Taft Auditorium Thursday for afternoon and evening performances. The afternoon per formance will start at ciock, when Thackerav'a "The Rose and the Ring" will be the attraction, and the evening performance, at 8 o'clock, when "Alice in Wonderland" will be shown.

The affair will be a special treat to Cincinnati orphan and crippled children, for Judge Frederick Hoffman, Illustrious Potentate of the Shrine, have arranged to have some of both groups as guests of the Shriners at the afternoon performance. The original Tony Sarg Marionettes will be seen. For the last 10 years this company has toured the United States and Canada, producing a new nlav each season, present ing these plays with complete scenic equipment and costume investiture equaling any. metropolitan theatrical production. Although there are countless marionette companies now, there were none traveling when Tony Sarg mada hla first, production in this ountiz ftftef several feasant Ja "Twelfth Night" and "Hamlet" are to be given by Sir Philip Ben Greet and his company of English players at Music Hall tomorrow afternoon and evening.

"Hamlet" will be performed at night, while the comedy will be enacted at the matinee. It is a rather singular thought about Shakespeare that though he has been dead over 300 years there has never been a night since i he passed away that somewhere in this world one of his plays has not been performed. The sun never sets on the British possessions, nor has darkness ever dimmed the marvel of this man's genius, which belonged no to England, but to the world, for his works are being performed now in every country that has the slightest claim to civili-ation. Sir Philip Ben Greet is returning to America by invitation of leading universities and cities that had seen him last season, and by those who wanted his company, but were unable to secure it A fine reputation, after all, is one of the bulwarks which lead to eventual success, and after 50 years of public serlce in giving Shakespeare and the classics. Ben Greet was recently honored by a knighthood bestowed upon him by -U Majesty George the Fifth, Music plus personality seems the most fitting description of Louis Armstrong and Orchestra, who are Aibee Theater headliners this week.

In musical circles, Armstrong admitted to, be one of the foremost jazz trumpet players of the day. Behind him is a band of 10 musicians. Their duties are simply to beat out accompaniment to the Armstrong trumpet work and Armstrongs singing. Seldom is there need for an instrument to assume the lead. Armstrong takes of this with his voice or horn.

-fUs style of singing, of playing, baa.