Washington sentinel., 1898-04-30
THEATRICAL

Manager Rapley's attraction at the
New National Theatre the week begin
ming Monday evening next will be no
less than Mr., Charles Frohman's pol
ished, popular and fashions BILE star, Mr.
John Drew, now rounding out his sixth
season under that astute management.
Mr. Drew was seen here earlier in the
season in "a Marriage of fCOnvenIence," g"
the brilliant comedy Of manners which
Sydney Grundy made into English from
the French of the earlier Dumas. Dur
ing the coming visit to the National he
will be seen in a character and play of an
altogether different sort. as Major Dick
Rudyard in Zone Summers Day" The
latter play has never before been seen
in Washington, and, therefore, it has
the element of novelty. It is described
as love story and classed a comedy,
and Is from the pen Of Henry v, Es
mond, young gentleman who is known
as the William Gillette of England, be-
cause of his ability not only to write
plays, but to act in them. MIR, Esmond
is reputed to be only twenty eight years
of age, yet he has played a round of
parts that would astonish a veteran OF
the stage. ranging from Sir Francis
Levison in East Lynne" to Bill Sykes
in "Olver Twist" Besides he has writ
ten several plays that have met with
considerable success, and 1t is interesting
to note that it was in his Courtship of
Leone, at the Lyceum, New York some
years ago, that Miss Mary Mannering
made her first American appearance
His zone Summers Day" has entirely
satisfied London playgOers, If we are to
Judge by its ran OF over six months at the
Comedy Theatre, begun in September
last and brought to a close only few
weeks ago. John Drew pleased New
Workers with it for seven weeks at
Wallack's Theatre, though the engage
ment originally was tor only five weeks.
The play is altogether modern in color
ing and therefore in sharp contrast to
the Grundy Dumas play, the scene OF
which was laid IN the middle Of the last
century. The first two acts OF Zone
Summers Day" are supposed to take
place in a picturesque, sunlit grove on
an island in the Thames, where all the
characters come to picnic. and where a
band Of gypsies is encamped- The
third and last act is a moonlit lawn on
the same historic river, where the de-
nouement OF the story is shown and
where Mr.. Drew has opportunity to
exploit the more serious side cf his star.
The supporting company will be found
strong and well balanced. and will
include in its feminine contingent Misses
Isabel Irving, May Buckley. Ida Vernon,
Bijou + fernandez and Mrs. Delos King
The masculine portion Of the company
includes Messrs. Arthur w. Byron, ID,
II. Harkins, James D, Barrows, Frank
r, Lamb, Morgan Conan, Graham
Henderson, Neil Heating and others,
Wednesday and Saturday mstinees are
announced, and Manager Rapley looks
to a profitable as we'll as exceedingly
fashionable week.
The World Against Her" Frank
Harvey's FIVE act meloc rama, will be
the attraction at the Academy next
weeF, The sensational element OF the
play is SAID to be good, and keeps the
interest Of the audience throughout
Mr. Harvey believes in situations that
thrill. and bare knucks fight in a
couuterleiters' underground den be-
tween the husband and the villain is one
of the devices that he uses effectively.
The characters are not those taken from
the ranks of wealth. but from the masses,
and the shadows that cloud the lives
are pictured earnestly and dramatically.
There is plenty Of opportunity in the
mvlodrama for humor, and with the
songs that are logically introduced the