The times., 1898-11-27

created MS gen. ne mas proceeded 10 give
it setting that might seem to be larger
without hiding the stone and brighter
without overshadowing it. For this pur-
pose he has introduced parts and inc.-
dents that are connected with the main
theme only by the smallest thread and
yet are entirely subservient to 1t. TIE
expertness with which this has been done
almost approaches that shown in Ike
works of the French school. Mere de-
velopment of opportunities was all that
was necessary to the completion of the
effort. The manner in which this has
been accomplished will not have to be re-
lated to those who saw the drama and VIII
not interest those who did not.
The more perfect thing is the smaller
may be that fault which mars it. There
were four trifiing matters connected with
the presentation of '"Way Down East
| that took a great deal from ones enjoy
| ment of the piece. The first of these was
| the manner of type in which Mr.. Bra
| dy's name was printed at the top of the
program First came this line, then that,
| containing the title of the work, and fl
nally one telling of its author. The whole
| bill was strong proof of the exist
| Ing cheapness of brain and the present
solidity OF the stage on a purely cash
basis. Mr.. Brady is a hustling young
| boy, who has made fortune by such
artistic efforts as the mana nagement OF
| James j. Corbett. Like most youngsters.
| he probably likes to see his name in
| print-even when he has to inform the
| public of the cost of the telephone mes
| sages he sends in order to do 1t. But,
aside from his direction of Il pugilist.
| and his success in coercing n leading dra-
matte weekly into relating how much ne
| was charged for his business CONVERSE
| tions, Mr.. Brady does not seem to have
done any thing that gives him excuse
| for putting himself above play. players
and playwright. Not that this presump-
ton argues SO much the managers lack
of appreciation for their efforts ex-
| cess of appreciation for his own. Had
the vehicle produced been the work of
William Shakespeare Mr.. Brady would
probably have retained his start of the
Bard of Avon by about three numbers
of type. And William A. is not the only
chap who does this sort of thing. OF all
the means of impertinence constantly
thrust before one. none is so disgusting
as being told that some ignorant specu-
lator presents star, who has spent
her life in fitting herself for her work
presents" a vehicle written by some
one else, whose intellect the manager has
. | not even e-.e intelligence to understand
After ALL Zangwill is not far wrong
in his ideas of the stage as some people
, seem to think him.
The other faults observed We're not SO
notable. The quartet of hungry farm
, hands which devoted its time to singing
before during and after dinner was only
half as ludicrous as the octet used in
. The Old Homestead because only hall
. as large New Hampshire people must
have their appettes under better con-
troll than their voices if We are going to
believe what Mrs. Parker and Mr. Thomp
son have to say about IL. Phoebe Davies
otherwise perfect performance of Anna
Moore was made slightly inconsistent by
the rapidity with which she recovered
. from fits of Illness. Padding butter is
rather a laborious pastime for a woman
who has tainted twice from fatigue anC
5 hunger only three minutes before begin.
. ming her task. For the sake of realism
o too, II might be good idea to remove
a yellow poster, marked Theatre" from
the bottom of the bench used in tbs
dramas last act. The bill is doubles:
r very useful 10 draymen who carry ths
d production's scenery. but 1t hardly seem!
4 an appropriate decoration for an articl,
| OF furniture in the backwoods of New
Hampshire. That is all!
: No one can help feeling gratifed at thl
5 success little Alice Nielsen achieved her,
a last week. After her struggles and arnbi
= tions, triumph seemed only deserved. ant
he would be indeed hard-hearted wht
= could grudge the charming singer on,
: particle Of her achievement. That Wash
S inston has echoed New Yorks opinion o
e her there can be no doubt. Everyone IL
i, the city who pretended TO be anyone wen
c TO the Lafayette during her engagemnt
n while those who purchased seats merel,
n for the sake of enjoying the performance
ss1far
theater every night. There was not
"a complaint a word OF harsh criticism
s either from press or public. Miss Nielse
: with her wholesome naturalness. her de
\ lightful voice. her chic mannerisms, he
e appearance and her ability won every
n thing in sight" She is now establishe
"a as n local favorite and will be welcom
any time she chooses to return. Nothin
= more need be said of the star, her oper
:, or the production. There can be no cor
N demnation for any of the three and a
e. that could have been remarked in the
q favor has been printed before.
"a "The Red, White and Blue" was som,
in thing of surprise for Washingt omar
is who had learned that the average wa
= play was about as putrid a form ,
,s amusement as could be doIed out to a
;, unfortunate public. This work of an vi
"a announced author was really possessed {
~ inherent strength and would have draw
n quite as well as II did last week had tn
,s country never been obliged to teach II
h. Dons lesson in ethics. There was col
= siderable real wit in the piece and gre;
n, deal of power-not to mention its powde
tn The story was concise and sharply tol
p the incidents unique and unexpected al
the whole presentation one of the fir
= class. Manager Savage had staged Il
T. production, too, with a great deal of la
H. ishness and had placed it in the ham
&c of an excellent company, SO that the {
of tire entertainment was really enjoyabl
1d OF course, no claim was made that Il
to offering would be found anything but
.b "thriller and there may have been son
he mistake in putting it in such house
10 the Columbia. But one can only judi
r. an attraction by its own standard. aud
~, that light 1.-THE Red. White and Blu,
lie was certainly clever-the cleverest thin
yo that has visited Washington since la
NJ we saw Thomas E. Shea in 1.-The Man-C
q Wars Man"
lie Still there was great deal of Taught
a. in the presentation that was not suppos
of to be there. People with well develop
he senses of the ludicrous should be raref
fl to avoid comic operas and meiodrama
nd This does not include the gallery Geitie
.r- to whom a curtain line marks the e
a. trance into a new life. the ;racticaliti
n and absurdities of which do not app
Ic to them. There is a man in town vi
e. has been arrested three Zines in the 10
n year for beating his wife. lie was IL
hy stairs the other night at the Columb
es and made himself conspicuous by
re. frantic applause of every word which e
er pressed the hero's detestation of scou
drelS who war on women. Not I