Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-07
Interesting Gossip About People in
Both Professions.
PROGRESS MADE BY WASHINGTONIANS
No Large Theater Will Be Open
Next Week.
REP AIRS TO BE JADE

Next week the Glen Echo people will
have the amusement field all to them
selves for both the Columbia and National
theaters will be closed. Manager Rapley
says that there will be many improvements
in the latter house before it opens for the
fall season. We shall spend a good deal
of money, he said, where the public will
not be able to see its results. We propose
to do considerable work back of the stage,
making improvements in the dressing
rooms, so that those who will occupy them
will have greater comfort. Then, too We
VIII have a new drop curtain. The front of
the house will be recarpeted. and there will
be repainting and new draperies. Alto
Sether, propose to make the house even
more attractive than it has ever been"
MIR. R1pley goes to New York next week
TO look after his bookings and to arrange
for neXt seasons attractions. Some of
those already secured are the BoStonianS,
Nat Goodwin. Jefferson and Fanny Daven-
port. For awhile MIR. Rapley will make
Asbury Park his headquarters going up to
New York as frequently as may be neces-
sary.
When the Castle Square Opera Company
closed its summer at the Lafayette Square
Opera House it was announced that it
would return to that theater and open
preliminary fall season August 80. 1t is
now understood that the company will not
make its appearance here until some time
about the middle of September, and then it
is probable that it will be heard al the
Columbia Theater. Whether it will remain
IL permanent institution at that theater
or not has not been determined, but it will
probably play there for several weeks. The
good impression that the organization
Made here last spring will make it well
coined back with pleasure by the music
loving people of Washington, particularly
il Der,pnuel remains the III
be hoped that both MIR. Joseph Sheehan,
the tenor. and Miss Lizzie MacnichOl, the
coutraJo. will be with the company, as
well as Miss Golden and some other good
soprano. The serious illness of Mr.. Chas.
NJ SouIhwell the general manager of the
Castle Square Opera Company, may have
perhaps been the cause of the delay in
opening in this city. Mr.. Southwell has
been suffering from a serious attack of
pneumonia, but the many friends whom he
made here will be glad to know that he Is
Oh the way TO recovery at present
Mrs. Frances Hodgson Burnett spent the
last three days of last week the guest OF
Miss Julia Arthur and her brother. Arthur
Lewis in New York, at the Holland House.
She went purposely from her home
III this city to see Miss Arthur regarding
her forJhcomirg production of "A Lady of
Quality. Mrs. BurnettS visit was an ex-
ceeiingly active one. She spent Thursday
inspecting the recently completed scenery
of a Lady of Quality with Miss Arthur.
scenes are III TOUR sets anu are the
work of Mr. Homer F. Emmons- Both
Miss Arthur and Mr.. Lewis are enthusiastic
ever the results of the scene painters skill.
Friday was spent by Mrs. Burnett inspect
ing the costumes. which are being made by
Mr.. Ogden for Mr.. DaZian, and the author
ess gave suggestions as TO her ideas of the
color scheme and effects. Saturday was
taken Up by Mrs. Burnett meeting the diff
ferept members of Miss Arthur'S company
and conversing with them regarding her
conception of the roles. Mrs. Burnett has
pronounced Miss Arthur TO be the ideal
CloriEda.
Mr.. Arthur Lewis, manager of Miss Ar
thur. last week engaged three MEM
hers for his stars company TO appear in "a
Lady of Quality" They are Mr.. Robert
McWade. Mr.. Herbert Fort;er and Miss
Ethel Kate Mollison. Mr. MCWade will ap-
PEAR as the parsOn, Icle that has been
elaborated in the play and now presents
Mr. NcWade is the well-known actor of
Rip Van Wrinkle fame. Miss Mollison was
last season leading lady for THE Cherry
Picksrs' company. and AIR. Fortier was for
a number of years In Mr.. Daniel Frohman'
Lyceum Theater Company Mrs. Burnett
has pronounced Miss Arthurs company as
it has been selected by Mr.. Lewis to be Il
perfectly set cameo.
Eugene Blair begins her starring tour in
Baltimore September Il. which will inau-
gJrate the second season of this accom-
plshed woman. Miss Blair will he seen at
the Academy the latter part of September.
and will present number of standard
plays all well known and popular. and in
which she has won great distinction. Eu-
genie Blair's ability has long been recog-
nized. and in the emotional school this
charming actress is probably not excelled
today.
Since the presentation of East Lynne and
Jane Eyre last winter Miss. Blair has added
The Ironmaster." Mercy Merrick in the
New Magdalen," "Galatea" Carmen" and
Camille" to her repertoire. all of which
characters she has stamped with her own
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS and convincing.
Miss Blair will be surrounded by an evenly
balanced company. and one which will he
in every sense worthy of the star and the
plays TO he presented. After the Washing
ton engagement all of the principal south
ern cities will be visited, as Miss Blair
proved herself last season one of the most
successful attractions in the south. Septem-
Der - Is the date reserved for her at the
Academy of Music.
Mr.. AL. Stern of this city, who has made
such success as an imitator in vaudeville,
Is going to do legitimate work next season.
His limitations of actors. which has been his
particular turn, have been the most cor
rect and interesting of any that have been
seen in long time as he not only repro
duces the voice and pecuiarties of utter
arce of the actor he initiates, but also his
poses. walk and gestures. II am going to
do character work next season." he said
the other night 1T is a step upward in
the profession, / think. and while / have
never yet done anything of that kind, /
have confidence that 1 shall succeed. That
will give me an opportunity for thought
and study and 70 develop what creative
power may possess. rather than the mere
initiative faculty which Is all / have here
tofore brought into play
Mr. Hans Roberts has gone back to New
York to begin rehearsals with the Daily
Company. Mr.. Roberts has made marked
improvement in his acting. as was shown
in the excellent work he did with the CO.
lumbia Sock Company. He has been with
Mr.. Augustin DAILY for three years now
ard is reaping the benefit that comes from
the hard work and constant rehearsal that
that manager imposes upon his people. ~
feel the improvement / am making" said
Mr.. Roberts the day before he left the CITY
and l believe Mr.. Daily appreciates the
effort i am putting forth. have had
three raises of salary since 1 have been
with him, and you know he does not pro-
mote man, either in parts or in a pecu-
mary sense. unless he thinks he deserves
IT, / have been given some good parts
and l think ] have played them satisfac-
torily. Now i am the understudy for Jim
my Powers. and that's pretty good isn't
III? Mr. Roberts friends IN this his home
city. are gratified at his progress
The Sunday Night Music Club met at