The times., 1898-01-08
TOPICS OF THE STAGE.

Richard Mansfield again changed his
bill at the Lafayette last night, pre-
senting for the only time in Washing
ton this year Clyde Fitch's dainty COM
edy, Beau BrummeI.' The affiIiatfon
of this actor and this role is one of
the things for which this generation of
playgoers has reason to be grateful. In
any other hands than Mr. Mansfeld's s
the role would not have been embodied
of the delicate charm which he gives IL.
To say that in other hands the part
would have lost il would not be strictly
true, for the value of the presentation
is only in what Mr.. Fitch has remotely
suggested and what Mr.. Mansfield has
intimately, originally and elaborately
denoted The audience was very large.
in fact, the largest of the week, which
goes TO prove the permanent popular
ity of this delightful characterization.
THE Devils Disciple" at the matinee
and DIR. Jekyl and Mr.. Hyde tonight.
The event of this evening will be the
first night" at the Columbia. On the
stage of this theater will be given
trial TO a new comedy by an officer of
the navy The play is called AN Old
dice. Messrs. Smythe and Rice, whose
comedy company are to make the pre-
Sentation, are here to watch the pro-
ceeding, and on the promise of tonight
will rest the possibility of a New York
production and probable run. The
cast will be made up from the MEM
bers of the My Friend From India"
company who were the first to make
a success of this clever farce. The
nY cir l.r-o 10 Of
ton.
Another event of tonight will be Mr.
Cranes single appearance as Senator
Hannibal Rivers in his popular COM
edy, The Senator" 1t is several years
since this piece has been given in
Washington and Mr.. Crane presents il
in this instance only in response to
a very general demand for it. One
of the interesting features of the even
ing will be Mr. William Boag's per-
sonation of the Chinese minister.
One night this week a paper quarter
of the currency issue of thirty years
ago was passed into the box Office of
the Lafayette in exchange fer ticket
to see Mr.. Mansfield from the gallery.
AS the curious piece of obsolete money
came in Mr.. Will Albaugh remarked
with his customary native wit: There
went man who has been saving
quarter thirty years to see Mansfield"
Otis Skinner in a recent interview
declared that the dramatic art cannot
be taught 1t is inborn. True, one
might profit much by study and prac- j,
tice and experience, but the mind must
be there. Relative to Richard III, that
crooked backed, crafty, ill-favored be-
ing. brilliant, malignant, ambitious be-
yond bounds who stopped at no crime
in order to reach the throne. Mr.. Skin
ner says that the ordinary stage pre-
sentation did grave injustice to Shake
speare's creation. Instead of being a
cruel man, Richard of Gloster was es-
sentially a man of the world, finished
diplomat, most astute politician. who
had all the evil deeds which could
serve him in gaining the ascendancy
done by others. He never appeared in
active participation of any of the dark
deeds. but had them executed by his
henchmen. In studying Shakespeare
and in endeavoring to impersonate his
characters it is essential to bear In
mind that the world is progressing and
rests not content with old forms. So
the copying of the manner1sms and
portraitures of others will not be ac-
ceptable The impersonation must be
self-evolved.