Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-11

public. and interest in this excellent play
ard in Mr.. Miller's admirable acting has
increased with each performance. Opinion
is divided as to whether the changes made
In the piece since last season are improve
ments or not, but the whole effort Is clean
and wholesome, and 1t Is welcomed on that
account. "One Round Of Pleasure has
not proved as satisfying as other spectacles
that have been here this season, but Miss
Francis Of Yale has been greeted with
good houses. and Miss Fanny Rice in "At
the French Ball. has done an excellent
business. Next week will bring out all the
lovers Of music. all those who hang on the
fringe Of musical circles and all those who
know nothing about music but who go
whenever it Is a fad" for the Damrosch-
Ellis Opera Company will be here.
The change of opera for the opening
night has caused considerable comment.
some of 1t of an unfavcrable nature. Mel
ba's perfect vocalization will find nearly
as full scope In Violetta as in Rosina, but
The Barber Of Seville requires a much
better supporting cast than "Traviata."
and 1t may be that 1t was on this account
the change was made. The Philadelphia
papers have not been enthusiastic over
the new singers that Mr.. Damrosch has
presented. and possibly he fears that they
would not do justice to Rossini's great
work.
There has been a general desire. judging
from the communications received by The
Star, that THE Barber should be given
instead of Faust but it is hardly likely
that such change will be made Faust
is Gounods masterpiece and it is one of
the most popular and best drawing operas.
The only possibility of a change on the last
night of the season would appear to be in
he hot fa1I,o
sing but once during the season here. The
assurance is given, however, that barring
sickness, which, of course, cannot be
guarded against, she will sing as adver-
tised-
The two other operas announced, 'Lohen-
grim and Carmen should attract good
audiences. The first will present Gadsky
and krauSS, both of whom are artists, al
though the former has passed the zenith
Of her excellence. Bzet's work will intro
duce Campanari, one of the most versatile
artists in the company, as the Toreador,
and he will give a splendid performance.
The Carmen will be Mile. Seygard, who
was heard here last season at one of the
Choral Society's concerts. She has very
attractive personality and will make be-
witching looking gypsy. How she will sing
the role remains to be seen.
The dramatic attractions next week will
be the domestic drama, Shore Acres,
which has more human nature in it than
any play now before the public; Roland
Reed in THE Wrong Mt. Wright" SPLEEN
cid vehicle for the display of that come
Migrants" and The Cherry Pickers."
All these plays. except that to be pre-
sented by Mr.. Reed, have been seen hero
before and have net with success. Those
who cannot afford the opera prices will
lave a good list of amusements from
which to select.
The great Barnum & Bailey show has
ir7E md n{y,o
will be delayed two weeks on account Ct
some improvements that Mr.. Bailey is
making TO the building in which it will be
exhibited. the arrival of the immense
number of animals and the large force If
performers and employees has filled the
people over there with wonder at the i'm
mensity Of the ente prise, and 1t is eX-
pected that the opening will be an enornl-
Gus success.
The alleged effort to give the public
what IT demands has been the excuse of
managers for offering much which good
taste repudiated. The present season af-
fords a potent argument against these
charges of popular depravity. There is
reasonable person who wishes to limit the
range OF theatrical entertainment, except
ing as decency and intelligence may de-
mand- Farce comedy, tragedy, extrava-
ganZa, grand opera and the intermediate
forms of amusement fulfill legitimate func-
lions and are to be welcomed. Unfortu-
nately, the commercial mind does not al
ways grasp the fact that there is an elu-
sive subtlety in fun which defies imitation
Money can buy hack-work in rhymes and
music secure the services of individuals
with clever accomplishments, and pay rail-
way fares from town to town; but the
charm of identity and OF legitimate quality
do not respond to the dollar which has no
artistic sense behind it, and the public
stays away. The ease with which per-
formances CT this kind are turned out has
caused the country to be deluged with the
purely speculative brand of humor. Spon-
tdniety was crushed, except in the cases of
conscientious actors who brayely contrib
uted the little that a single struggler can
do to save the day. There are few sights
more saddening than that of an actor who
has been betrayed by author musician
manager. or all three. No doubt the actor
has his revenge. but the suffering he causes
is not so public. Theatergoers in this CITY
nave silently resented the bombardment OF
trash which the season has produced
They have. with significant accord mass
cd by the houses which offered no more
than the noxious breathings Of the Tender
ION. On the other hand. they have award
ed liberal patronage to the Intelligent and
seif-respecting efforts to amuse whether
IN the domain of drama musical comedy.
or ourlesque- Efforts to mislead nave been
painfully numerous. but in almost every in
stance the people have rejected the tinsel
and seized upon the genuine. Striking evil
oence OF a growing popular tendency to
discriminate in favor of the best nav no
lOuhu III tne extraordinary business that is
being done by productions which reflect al
most exclusively the literary aspect of the
stage.
NEW NATIONAL Observation-Disclosures
and perseverance may always not be
crowned with success. but James A. Herne
the talented actor and dramatist, can have
little fault to find with the success that
has crowned his efforts in behalf of bet
ter and purer native drama. The sue
cess he has gained with Shore Acres
has no doubt surpassed even his idest
dreams, and yet to those that have stud
led his play X Is not difficult to I'M
derstand. The public had grown tired
of the old-fashioned blood and thunder
melodrama. and the simplicity and nat
uralness of "Shore Acres" came to 1t like
a refreshing breeze on sultry July day.
This is Mr.. Herne's sixth season with this
quaint New England comedy-drama and
1t easily promises to outlive the present
century. 1t is doubtful IL any other ma
tive work has been more widely commented
upon, as nearly every noted writer in this
country has found In Shore Acres an
excellent theme for his or her pen, and
all agree that Shore Acres Is an epoch
marking work Mr.. Herne begins his an
nual ngagement in this city at the New
National Theater on Monday evening next.
WI en- re will again appear in his original
creation OF Nathaniel Berry. His sue
cess In this interesting character sketch
has only been second to that achieved by
the play. He will have the support Of a