The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-20

only did ne contribute several charming
airs. but every note of the ballet music
and a few dainty recitatives. He gave il a
production that could hardly be surpass-
ed. both of his scenes being gems Of paint
er's art. He engaged the fastest of the
costumers and the most capable of stage
managers, besides a ballet master who
evidently knows all of his business and
little more. Then Mr.. Rice secured an ex-
ceIlent cast Il large chorus and three or
four other things of a nature to make
drama tized version of Pope's Essay on
Man" seem full of the life and vigor all
hands must have Iabored so hard TO put
into THE Ballet Girl" The presentation
was not much below the average, and Mr..
Rices skill and enterprise are TO be
thanked for it.
As far as the drama goes it looks as
though Washington were TO be flooded
with novelties in the play line Only
week ago we had Clyde Fitch's Moth
and the Flame" and last week Paul kes-
ter served TO US, through the medium OF
Madame Janauschek, a second bit of work
nearly as powerful and about as unique
as the first.
What Dreams May Come had many
faults from a critical standpoint, but they
were, nevertheless, faults that Will be
easily remedied. The fact that the action
was slow and the lines long will not mill
tate against prophecies for its success
when it is remembered that the author
has not yet had an opportunity TO study
his own work. The questionable fidelity
to the doctrines of theosOphy embodied
in the Countess Dimitris claim that she
could kill by power of viii has nothing
at all to do with the matter Its verify
or faIseness has no bearing on the power
Of the play. Mr.. Kester has simply sup
posed a possibility and drawn his scenes
on it, But there is a doctrine of the
Mahatma that admits nearly every detail
set forth in the drama. Not two years
ago a woman was arrested in London be-
cause another had charged her with at
tempting to destroy her mind and even
10 murder her by means of the power of
one brain over the other.
At any rate Mr.. keSter has gotten ev-
erything out of his theme that could pos
sfbly be extracted. There is the requi-
site atmosphere and plenty of it, while
an element of mystery and terror is so
well brought out as 10 add greatly to the
strength of the play. Three or four re-
markedly strong scenes give the piece
unwonted force and q certain abruDtness
has no small bearing on the effect The
climaXes Of the second and last acts were
excellent. and the situation of the third.
while a little long in the telling, was
though Mr.. Kcster had written an ex-
traordinary play in What Dreams May
Come" and, even though Madame Jan.
auschek may not be able to draw suffi-
GENTLY well to make it successful, he has
reason to congratulate himself.
1t seems odd that. in spite of the bur
den of over twenty years on its back
THE Old Homestead" should have done
fol 1-t s4f no at fax
cite Square Opera House, and yet it is
true. Denman Thompson himself was
great factor in this success. many of his
| old friends fearing that this might be
| his last tour Then The Old Homestead"
| appeals to that class of people who do
! not go TO the theater as n general thing
"a class that knows too little of con-
| struction to see the faults Of the play
| and too much of simple human nature
| not 10 understand its virtues. These folk
never grow weary of The Old Home
| stead and. for that reason. it is proba-
| BILE that the piece will be, as far as life
| is concerned, immortal.
The last two weeks have brought ia
| Washington an exceptional lot of press
| agents. In spite of a suspicion that Il
| their Cleverness was known they would
| be discharged. some of their illusions are
| too good to he reserved. sam Harrison
| who is ahead of The Ballet Girl" de-
| votes much of his time to poetry and one
| of the best things seen here in a decadl
| is his verse on the maiden he represents
| Il was given out in advertising form a
| few days ago and is as follows:
What is the Ballet Girl. schooIboy say?
! The girl that | mean To we'd one day
| She makes me feel Just gone. YOU know,
| As she smiles my way and she points her toe
! I'm going to KloHdi6e when / can,
! IN come back rich and a great big man,
With a necklace for her in null size pearl.
| And diamond ring, for the Ballet Girl!'
What OF the Ballet Girl. Puritan?
! ~ deadly snare for the sons OF man.
With her fiying feet and her floating hair.
! And that which she doth or doth not wearl
| Whenever she takes the lme-lit scene
| / put UP my hands-and look between,
She sets my brain III perfect whirl-
! The dainty, dangerous Ballet GIRL!
What is the Ballet Girl, Cbappie. speak?
''She's simply ripping and awfly chic.
I'm not poet and all that rot,
/ But she somehow Just gets over me-what?
| The other JOhnnieS are gone on her,
| But | am the chap that she'll prefer.
! For I am going to be an Earl.
| Now that's what tetChcs the Ballet Girii''
| What is the Ballet Girl. then in fine?
girl with heart like yours and mine,
| Who plays her part on the stage at night
| To make her living and your delight
Her future fortune your verdict gives;
| Frown. and you kill her; smile, and she lives
| And surely none but thoughticSs Churl
Could grudge smile to the Ballet Girl,
And someone belonging 10 the com
pauy To PROFOUND the question. ''What
| Happened to Jones?" this week. has ex
tracted from the play the following clever
plays on our proverbs:
Virtue is its only reward"
''The wages of sin is debt
| 'PoCy is the best honesty"
| ''Nany hands like light work.
| 'Oscuation is the thief OF time"
"A bird i'll the hand lays eggs.
| Every dogma must have its day"
| "a thirsty man will catch at a straw"
| THE woman who collaborttcS is lost. 4"
at is not good for Il man 10 give a loan"
| 'Straws show which way the gin goes
| The rolling stone catches the worm
"Ahsinthe makes the heart grow fOnder"
The lack of money is the root OF all evil
Its wise child that owes its own father"
! Heaven lies about US in our infancy, and thi
| world lies about when we are grown up
Allen Albert. jr.. one of the brightest
| most earnest and best newspaper men il
this city. last week severed his connec
ton with the Post, and. on Wednesday
| left the city as press agent for Duncan