The evening times., 1896-11-13
LOCAL THEATRICAL BITS.

The difficulty in dramatizing a novel is
aptly illustrated at one of the theaters
this week. 1t is evident that the dramat,st
used as much OF the book dialogue pos
siblP, the result being that the play, in two
acts at least, is dull, talky-talky, and dry
as a beeI chip. Experienced hands at
hacking plays out OF books say the Test
way to do is to take plot and main char
acterS, throw the novel away and write
new dialogue and introduce comedy OF
your own manufacture, The playgoers
want words that can he acted and the
dialogue of n book is evolved by vastly
different process and erected upon widely
divergiDg lines from that OF a drama.
a bent shingle nail was the talisrnan used
by Miss Lizzie Macnicbul, the contralto
of the Grand Opera Company, playing at
the Columbia Tbeater, on Monday night
Everybody ought TO know that She IS n
Washington girl, and those who don't
and~see her should guess 1t from her fine
stage presence and really gorgeous voice.
But Miss MaCnichOl isa trlile nervous and
n little supcrstitious. one sort of offsets
the other. at least the superstition over
Comes the traitor nerves when supported
by mascot, talfsnan, or good omen
Now, d nail, likewise a horseshoe, has
always been regarded by-actors, who have
run the ramut or charms, as sure thing
theatrical venture. Especially to have
one drop upon YOU it is positively sure
Of bringing about great rewards artAsti-
Cally and fina ncially.
That is Just what hdppened to Miss Mac
nichol, and on Monda Y night that particu-
lar little bent nail was carried on the
stage, and really the gifted young artist
believes in her heart 1t had something To
do with the hit she made.
A Sunday night lecture at city the
ater recently brought into prominence a
fact regarding theater attendance that is
not generally known or even considered by
those most interested in the box receipts.
The theatcr front has three doors. but
since the season opened only the center
ones have been open or prac ciisii. as
the stage carpenter wsuld say. Nearly
every one who came TO the place of aHiuse-
ment that night tried the closed doors, and
many amusing scenes OF discontinue were
witnessed by the few who were watching
the tide OF pleasure seekers.
Woman, and man, too, is a vain creature.
and even the most ignorant tries ~ wear
the manner OF ITO the manner born in
public places 1t was, therefore, not n
little embarrassing to have their ignorance
or the regular entrance empha sized by vain
jerking at the side doors that would not op,:l.
Speaking of this, a we'll l-known theatrical
manager said:
As in everything else. theater going be-
comes habit. The boom OF the 'Eeaters
came with the dime museums. continuous
performance houses. Sunday lectures and
other entertainments on the stage. They
drew from people who never attended the
theaters, but who. having once been
amused even By .he veriest amateur or
tyro, soon try the genuine and original
thing before the footlights.
This fact was brought home to nc not
many years ago, when / was on the door
for widely advertised home play minus
villain. sensation and vulgarity. Many
times the piaygoers would present their
tickets at the box office window to be
taken instead of at the door"