The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1884-12-29
THESPIAN GOSSIP.
Chat With a COnnOiSSeur About Crit
les and Plays.
THE EFFECT OF PRAISE.

NAOW ehO SOAbPbhiOD AAhNO Duu6T0u
This Fall-A Review of tho Attrec-
tions at the Leading Houses -. A
Story About Mark Twain and
Cabel.
"woiI, how are things theatrical Just now"
inquired the CRITIC OF a certain ubiquitous
parsonage who is supposed to DO posted in re-.
gard to matters in that line, not only from his
intimate acquaintance with the management
OF the various houses, but from his custom OF
frequenting such places ds spectator.
"Things are looking better" no responded.
"This has been a hard season for companies.
Lots OF 'em have gone under. The merits OF all
have been tested. But tho poor ones have not
always gone under, nor have tho good onos al.
ways survived. There's the Lynwood Com.
pany, about as poor lot OF sticks as ever
were put upon the stage. They have stranded.
on the other hand there's the Milan Opera
Company, as excellent a musical organization
as ever trod the boards OF q Washington thea.
tire. They have also been swamped. Oh, tell
you It has been hard pull for some compa-
niles. number have failed because they de.
served TO, others were Improperly advertised,
and others appeared at the wrong time. When
there was accumulation OF oil these factors the
company generally collapsed. Things are pick.
Ing up now, though, think" he continued
meditatively.
"The Washington theatres have done we'll
considering everything" he resumed. "Thore
has been scarcity OF money as there always
is In the Presidential year. The election
body has been pinched In consequence. Not.
withstanding that these theatres have drawn
well when they had good attractions. Not al
ways you say, eh Well, that is because the
Doodle had NOT Ipnrnad that the m
was good. Tho papers are entirely too kind In
their notices Of the entertainments at tho
tneatres. II anything poor comes then tho
critics fall TO praising the scenery and stage
setting.
"You may remember Emma Abbott In semi
ramlde., You know what q poor thing the
performance was. Even the kndest critic
couldn't say favorable thing of the por-
Torrance. Gone Field ridiculed the singing
OF the 'starSpangied Banner where little
Emma lost her way In the upper register, but
those who descr ibed the event confined them-
selves to elaborate accounts of the fashionable
gathering present and detailed descriptions OF
domination for Emma Abbott's enfrontery in
innlcting sucha performance on the people,"
"You would have tho Washington critics
more severe 2" queried the scribe.
VI would have them truthful. They are too
lavish In their praise. II does not help thea.
ire 10 have everything played there indiscrim.
inately praised. The people soon Ind out that
an attempt is being made TO deceive them.
They cease to put any reliance in the papers
criticisms. 1t is the old cry OF wolf. The pa
pers praise 30 much that finally their praise is
worth nothing. Now, II were a manager,
think would like to hire some critic to abuse
one one OF my performances SO that another time
his praise would have some effect"
"You look upon press criticisms as nothing
but theatrical notices?"
"That is about all they appear to be. They
are written to induce the people to 60 to a Ger.
tain theatre. They are not written to inform
me, me people what sort Of an entertainment they
twhat kind OF entertainments have wa had
thus far do You think?" the reporter asked.
son the whole, they have been pretty good.
Mrs. Seguln with Ford,s Comic Opera Com.
Milan opera Company, fOsiled Back Janish,
Joe Jefferson, Barrett, the Madison Square
Company and the Carleton Opera Company
az IN, tnese s nave Deen good and worth seeing.
very poor, and some were not worth criticism"
"You forget Twain and Cable" sugg ested
"oh, i was combining myself to theatrical
events. Yee, Twain and Gable wore worthy,
and an they drew. Blythe way, understand that
Mark Twain 10 getting mighty sick OF Gable.
MARK, you know, has had TO rough 1t, while
liable was coddled and raised in luxury. Gable
is Miss Nancy sort of a fellow-just the
He Is always ready to respond to encores, and
VIII appear on the slightest provocation. Mark
has to Keep him in check. He gives him posi-.
tive orders not TO sing more than two OF his
creole songs when encored
"Recently Cable was 80 anxious to make an
impression that no repeatedly appeared to
encores. Mark was fuming behind the scenes,
The hour was getting late. The audience
were showing signs OF impatience and Mark
mad O long sketch to give. tell you the air
was plne when Gable appeared. Recently
New York State Gable lost his shawl. He was
whining about II and fretting. Finally Mark
could stand limo longer, and calling friend
aside he broke out, Il was O damn fool TO go
Into this thing, but there sits n damnder one,'
polntlng 10 Gable. he made the air assume
cerulean tint for about i've minutes with his
comprehensive profanity. hate says Mark
with him."
show do they manager"
gets The rest. Twain knows that Cables
pathos is good foil for his humor, but /
doubt ooI II they travel together another sea.
;, VIVA, :, entertainments are there in prospect
swell, at Alpaugh's we will have Ristori,
pany; Maggie Mitchell, Mrs. ID. p. Bowers, In
La Charbonier;' Henry irving, j. K. Emmett,
robson and Crane, sieba, SIN the Ranks,'
slave, .soparatlon, bunch 0 OF Reys "a anS
the Hanlons
cat the National there will be young Mrs.
Mr. and Mrs: ". J. Florence, Lolita, Louis Al ii,
drich, In My Partner;' Hazel Kirke,' The
silver King, Fanny Davenport, in Fedora
oon James s5 Rs the the gt
q Monte Christo;' May BLOSSOM Barney
McOauley, In 'The Jerseyman; Edwin
Thorn, In Black Flag Mr.. and Mrs. N. q.
Goodwin, Kate oaxtoD, Mestayer Comedy
Co., In 'We, Us & co. Certainly there is
enough variety In that list TO select from.
Then, at Ford'e, we are to have season OF
grand opera. The following companies are
expected Boston. Ideal English Opera o.,
Mapleson Royal Italian Opera Co.,
Damrosch Grand German Opera Co.
This week We Will have Tn the Ranks at
Alpaugh's, Young Mrs. Winthrop at the Ma.
tionai, the Hanlans at Ford's, 'Oiivette' at Her
zog s,a nne entertainment is promised us at the
Comique, and Cinderella tho chiidren's IA
vorite, at the Dime Museum. Among the en-
tertainments In this near future are the Burr
oaks Company, january 81 the Florences,
same date; Henry Irving, February 2; Maggie
Mitchell, January 30, and Robson and Crane,
January ~. You must go, must your"
First" interIected the reporter, "tell me
Fords"
'Hldeous as II is It is tenfold better than that
painted abomination with a yellow .dressed
lady In the foreground which they lately had,
Please announce my thanks for the clRpsc
Wen, fatal" .nlae
Cut-RaterOssfe.
n 80