Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-20
END OF THE SEASON.
Castle Square Opera Company t.
Close It's Engagement.

When the curtain is rung down on the
presentation of Glover at the Columbia
Theater Saturday night the engagement Of
the Castle Square Opera Company in this
city will be closed for some time to come.
In making it's adieu to the people of Wash
inston there Is regret on both Sides.- The
company regret the close of the season, be-
cause it has done, in the main, an excellent
business here, and on the part Of the thea
ter-going public the same feeling exises, be-
cause of the excellent performances that
have been put on at summer prices. The
success that has crowned the efforts of the
company in putting on standard operas at
low prices during the season last summer
at the Lafayette Square Theater and the
supplementary season of six weeks, just
nearing its close, would seem to warrant
indefinite continuance of the engage
Hient here, as long as theater-gOers cOntin
ued to patronize and applaud, but sew
erance of the pleasant relations enjoyed Is
imperative on the part of the company. The
strain Oh the principals in giving eight per-
formances a week and changing the bill
each week is the main reason for closing
the engagement. The management thinks
that it is ll-advised to place the reputa-
ton OF the organization in jeopardy by
overworking the principals and chorus and
thus lowering the standard of that work,
SO. with much reluctance, for the business
done has been undeniably good, 1t has con-
Guided to consolidate the Washington and
Philadelphia companies and finish the sea-
son at the Grand Opera House in the latter
city. This move is made after much con-
SideratiOn and will undoubtedly give the
principals and chorus of 10th companies
an opportunity to gain much rest by divi-
sion of the work on hand after long and
arduouS season.
When the company first made its appear
ance here it was warmly applauded be-
cause it had for its object the putting on of
standard operas at summer prices, but its
most ardent admirers did not even hope for
the financial and artistic success that has
overtaken it. Although opposed to attrac-
tons that have come here With every pros
pect of doing the biggest business of the
week, the Castle Square Company has not
failed to hold its own This end was &C
complished by securing the best talent there
was to be had and staging the operas with
consummate care and skill, and this latter
feature has been one of the most attrac-
tive sides of the engagement of the COM
Pany. 1t has seldom been the case, and
probably never in this city, that company
playing an engagement of such length
of time as this company has should en-
pioy entirely new scenery for every pro-
ducton, and not only for every production,
but every act in every production. The
ability of the company to put on grand
opera at low prices is easily seen in the sue
cess that attended the performance of III
TrovatoIe' when the house was sold out
entirely for six performances out of the
eight
be bestowed upon that part of the Castle
Square Company. 1t has always evinced "a
lively desire to sing the music with spirit
and force, and in nearly every case the
ork of the chorus has been a feature of
the production. With regard to the prin-
cipals in the organization there has not
been one who could really be said to be I'M
equal to the work. The work of Joseph
Sheehan and Melville Stewart, together
with William Stewart. has been enjoyed SO
much that there is no adequate phrase to
properly convey the regard that is felt for
them. Miss Grace Golden has enjoyed a
series of successes such as is seldom en-
joyed by any comic opera singer while
Lizzie Macnichors splendid contralto voice
has never failed to elicit the most sincere
and heartiest applause VIM. VOLTS work
has gained for him the kindest criticisms
ard it was always a source of disappoint-
ment when his name has not been down for
a part i'll production. Arthur Wooley and
Raymond Hitchcock are, in all probability,
two of the most popular and favored men,
bers of the company, and their work, when
ever they have been given parts, has never
failed to secure the kindest of criticisms
Miss Gertrude Routledse and Miss Bessie
Fairbairn. Miss Gertrude Quinlan and Miss
Emma King. all come in for share of pop
ular approval and have all proved most ac-
ceptabie in smaller parts, Miss Rutledge III
particular being especially favored in a ma
tronly role.