The times., 1897-04-18

Rel" ill THURSDAY - a HoosIer Doctor
balance of the week.
Academy Harrigan in old Laven-
der
Grand-Barton Keys Opera Company.
Rijou-J f. Toole in Killarney and the
Rhine
wentieth Century Maids.
Variety, not necessarily vaudeville. is
the spice of life. We shah have it this
week. this glorious spring Easter week,
when the orchestra chairs and the boxes
will be flower gardens Of pretty women,
pretty bonnets and pretty dresses The
theaters viii be crowded this week, or. at
least they ought 10. The rigors of Lent
having given way 10 the joyous Easter
tide, there will be a general return TO The
playhouse on the part of many whose re-
ligious ol1servanceS have kept them stran-
gers To the theasers for forty days.
The variety Offefelincludes almost every
thing; u tragic actor. a couple OF comedians,
a summer opera, an old-time actor-draua-
tist, d play appealing with Information
aud az eut-and-out vaudeville show.
Walker WhitesIde is d stranger in Wash
iugtUn lie is a young man, but actor
of eX perience and attainment, and ne has
ambition 10 sustain him. He VIII play
Hamlet, ShyloCk and Ricbelieu. Digby
Bell feels, after the generous manner in
which he was supported in "A Midnight
Bell last year, that it will bear repeti-
tion SO he viii give Hoyt's play until
thursday evening. Then he viii give Us
d peep at Gus Thomas last comedy, "A
Hoasier Doctor" Thomas is always in
terestiuE. He mas never failed at com
edy His dips into social and prohlemati-
cal subjects have been less interesting, but
as an ijylist Of simple nature, he is I'M
equalei. and his "Alabania,' Burglar
and In MiZZoura are still Unrivaled
The Lafayette begins il Us long season of
opera tomorrow night with the Castle
Square Company. This is the only well
fUrTnIIai cd plan for summer entertainment
80 far announced. The reception which
Washington viii give the Castle Square
people viii be watched with interest.
Boston for two years, and Philadelphia for
fourteen months, has entertained this style
of opera. The opening lill VIII he Strauss
"Gypsy Baron" On Tuesday our com
pany VIII furnish Baltimore with the same
pattern OF flying matinee that we had
ten days ago. The company gooyer oplay
FOR the benefit of q charity
For the third week OF II e spring season
at popular prices the Academy has Ned
HaITigan in ''Old Lavender This actor
holds a unique position en- our stage. He
is an out-and-out authorization, and never
plays any but his own pieces. He is called
the Dickens Of New York, because ne under
stands so wen the character of tie middle
and iowerclaSses.
George X Fortescue is one of the attiac-
tions at the Grand. He will he seen in
Barton Keys Opera Company. j. L. Toole,
the comedian, viii give Killarney anl the
Rhine at the Bijou. Morris Twentieth
Century Maids is Kernan's bill
The past week was not fruiJleSs of good
things. nor is any week, which discovers
to the stage a new leading man Mr..
Nathaniel Hartwig, of Aiss Nethersole's /
Company. discovered himself to Washing
ton as an actor Of leading roles worthy a !
place near 50 eminent an artist, even as |
his star Mr.. Hartwig has been here often |
before. but his birth in the mind of the !
public dates from this visit
Ii is very easy to be on. the stage, but |
not of it. at least in the puhlics mind. |
One need go no farther for an example |
than the case in point. Mr.. Hartwig has |
been on the stage some time. For sew
eral seasons he has been leading man for |
Marie Wainnght He had every oppor-
tUnity seemingly To acquit himself OF all
the possibility in him. He was given 10
play Armand Duval, Master Wildrake and |
the heroes OF her other plays, But no one
ever noticed him particularly He was
a goodI0oking fellow, well dressed, incon-
spicuous actor, A bad actor? Scarcely. !
A good actor? Hardly.
But IN a season with Miss Nethersole |
he leaps forward to a good position How
Is it, Perhaps this: Mr.. Hartwig evidently |
had ii in him, for we see t developed
Then 1t was in the development Miss |
Vain wright was his coacher. But she was
an actress of technique. and not the teul-
permanent of her art With Miss Net hersnle
he encounters woman VIII possesses
as well as technique He
sees new light on his work. Play acting
Is moi merely action and words deliyercd
by rule. 1t is action and words delivered
with feeling Truth must inspire the
feeling. and TRUTHS the daughter OF Thought
Tie actor must learn 10 think first When
be understands his character. he can feel
with it When he feels with it, then he
brings technique to express the feeling
the automatic art succumbs
10 the sensitive, and the results som ething !
most desirable.
Mr HaTtwig has had opened to him the |
imtless possibilities of thought. He has |
grated il onto his acting and the result
IS something SO far beyond his former
that he may feel indeed that !
,nly just now he has made the first step !
. the real progress which viii, with dill
senee, and subjective possibilities. place
iim high up in the list Of actors who are J
rfists. Not yet he there. He has barely |
aised himself out OF the ranks of grace
al autornatons- IL the praise which his
lew position and his own attainment has
rought him do not afflict him with cere-
raj elephsntiasis. or stifle the inclina- | 1
ion which it should bring for renewed |