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Show I With The First Nighters M ' VARSITY PLA YERS J P YOU haven't paid a visit to our p little theatre, Social Hall, and love M art for art's sake, done put off drop Bl ping j This week Ellen Van Yolkenburg is portraying the protean moods of wo- M mankind in a way that shows how M real talent and the true dramatic in- M stinct may be developed, for in the m four plays, "Womankind," "A Farewell H Supper," "Lithuania," and "Joint Own- M ors in Spain," there is sufficient range H to test the real ability of any 'actress, M and Miss Van Volkenburg rises to m each occasion in a manner that leaves M no room for doubt regarding her ad- H mirable qualities. M Maurice Browne is seen in only two M of the plays, but in both, his excellent M interpretations have the stamp of the M true artist. m In the support, the best work was H done by Mari Bollman, though Marie M Hill is entitled to considerable praise .H and Adolph Axelrad gave a creditable 'H performance. In fact most of the play- ' i ers did very well they are not pro- H fessionals, but several of them indi- H cate that they can improve with study. m In describing "Womankind," per- B 1 nnns we mny uo pardoned for borrow- Img from the program, as that seems ' to be the thing lately when catching the morning press. "It is a poignant HF " and ironic little tragic-comedy of peas- H ant life, presenting a not unfamiliar H situation with restraint, sympathy and H power." H As the philosophical wreck of a H , bleak, unhappy life, Miss Van Volken- H burg got everything there was to be H ' had out of the pait and scored from M beginning to end. There is a lit- H tie too much "me cheeild" in Mr. Gib- M son's effort, and he was cruel to put M ' the whole village wise as to who it's H' father was, but the womankind part of H the play is quite true in certain phases H and Miss Van Volkenburg saved it. H "A Farewell Supper," from Schnitz- H ler's "Anatole," presents a situation H delightfully amusing, and in this the H play of wit between Mimi and Anatol H who is attempting to be off with the H old love, a Parisian ballet girl, and on H with the new furnishes no end of hu- H mor. H "Lithuania" is a hideous and de- H pressing thing, yet put together by one H who gave every indication of being a H master craftsman. The strength and F intensity in this work of Rupert H Brooke signifies that he might have be- H come a great dramatist had he been H spared to go on with his work. H There is a morbid fascination in the H revolting theme, and the way it is H handled is reminiscent of a scene in H "Oliver Twist," though the two cases H have no parallel. In her interpreta- H tion of the daughter dragged up rather B than brought up to womanhood with fl her life clouded by loneliness, brutal- JM ity, and poverty, Miss Van Voikenburg H was qulto. wonderful, and' in the tense rolo of the mother, Mari Bollman easily eas-ily divided the honors. In "Joint Owners in Spain," the char-acteristization char-acteristization was so complete a change, that one could scarcely realize the same person was playing. "Candida" will be the offering at the little theatre the coming week. ORPHEUM CHARLES IRWIN tops the bill in the second opening of the season at Mr. Levy's show shop, and he is some topper. With that radiating personality per-sonality of his, and the mirth that sparkles from his eyes every minute, he should care if a lot of his good stuff went clear over head; over the vacuums into one. We believe he used to work with an attractive partner, but he doesn't need one, for aside from the reference to his thirst being a gift, practically ex-erything ex-erything he offers Is brand new, and when told in his Inimitable way there Petroff, and the usual ballet, are seen in a series of classic dances, and while all of them are finished artists, and their work is most pleasing, there have been many others who have inspired in-spired considerably more enthusiasm on the big time. Wilbur Mack and Earl Bronson, cleverly contributed to the evening's sport in Mr. Mack's "A Pair of Tickets," Tick-ets," containing some fast conversation, conversa-tion, replete with hits, and the musical musi-cal part of their entertainment- enhances en-hances the pleasure of those in front. The bill closes with some extraordinary extraordi-nary athletic feats performed by Prosper Pros-per and Maret, and unusually interesting interest-ing pictures. PANTAGES ((AH, CHARMED," the headlinerat J Pantages this week, furnishes innumerable laughs and some of the best music heard at Newman's emporium em-porium in a long time. The outstand- INEZ MITCHELL, WHO IS APPEARING IN THE MUSICAL COMEDY "OH, CAARMED" AT PANTAGES THIS WEEK is no resisting the subtle humor it contains. He is the star of a fairly good bill which, however, does not contain a great deal to get excited about. The Florenze duo announce something some-thing new in magic and they have it. Their act is not embellished with the usual camouflage of tricksters, and the gentleman spares us the conversation conversa-tion that usually goes with such an act, but he is as clever as he can be, satisfactorily brief, and his cigarette trick is worth the money alone. Caliste Conant returns with her songs and rLribB, and Foster Ball and Ford West, o are always welcome present the Sume character study that has been successful for several seasons. sea-sons. Alia Moskova i?'lora Lublena, Boris ing feature of the little musical comedy com-edy is the singing of the chorus, the novelty of hearing a chorus that can really sing, furnishing one of the big surprises of the bill. Regal and Mack in "The Book Shop" started a composite giggle that did not stop until they had disappeared, and Sherman, Van and Hyman, with their comedy and music, scored heavily. "A Phoney Episode," with Adele Potter and Bernard Wheeeler, furnished furnish-ed fast chatter, good songs, and original origi-nal dancing, and the grotesque gymnastics gym-nastics of the Kremkes caught the first nighters just right. "TWIV BEDS'' THIS hilarious farce upon its return received a greeting from those who gathered to enjoy it that left no doubt respecting its popularity. Two audiences have again laughed through a. its rapid fire comedy and today there will be two more opportunities for those who have not seen the present company to enjoy a good laugh. There are few farces that last over a season. "Twin Beds" is one of the exceptions, and rightly so, and in all probability the play will continue to make periodical visits for some time to come. "THE BRAT" MAUDE FULTON'S "The Brat," as " produced by the Wilkes Stock company this week, pleased the patrons pat-rons of that house, and while very inferior in-ferior to the production seen when Miss Fulton and her company were here, the performance was very cred- j itable. ' Miss Mae Thome, in the title role, was surprising good, giving a very human hu-man portrayal of the girl suddenly transplanted from the streets to a regular reg-ular home, and sho was ably assisted by most of the company, particularly Burt Wessner as the bisljp. The Wilkes company has been practically prac-tically reorganized, and it is a little early yet to judge what may be expected ex-pected in the various plays that will be . produced between now and the end of the season. ERA NCIS WIL s ON HAS HEIR ON Tuesday last Francis Wilson became father of a boy. It is interesting in-teresting to note that Mrs. Wilson, the mother of the infant, was formerly on the stage and that her last engagement en-gagement was in Mr. Wilson's play, "The Bachelor's Baby." Mr. Wilson himself has not appeared appear-ed on the stage for three years. However, How-ever, ho had given nearly fifty yars to IiIb profession. Nevertheless, he still finds much to occupy him, inasmuch inas-much as he is president of the Actors Equity Association, is an industrious playwright and gives lectures on such subjects as "The Humorous Side of an Actor's Life," "Eugene Field," "Joseph "Jo-seph Jefferson," and "The Humorous , , Side of Our Serious War." The first Mrs. Wilson died in 1915. OPERATION ON N. GOODWIN - NAT C. GOODWIN has had an operation performed upon his eyes which is causing his friends keen anxiety. While on tour with "Why Marry?" in Kansas City three weeks ago Goodwin by mistake bathed his eyes in chloroform liniment. He stuck bravely to his work despite de-spite great pain and danger, but fin- ft$ ally, on the advice of a physician, decided de-cided to go to Now York for treatment. treat-ment. Dr. Frank Irvin performed the operation at the Manhattan Eye Hospital. |