Washington sentinel., 1898-12-24
original company, scenery, properties,
and in a complete Casino outht.

and in complete Casino outht.
The merry Christmas offering at the
Columbia will be that popular comedian,
Roland Reed, in Geo. n. Broadhurst's
original comedy, "The Wrong Mr..
Wright" The piece was presented
here last season, and to say that It was
successful is putting it mildly. Mr..
Reed will have the valuable assistance
Of that delightful actress, Miss Isadors
Rush, and capable company of we'll
known actors. The play abounds in
highly amusing and complicated situa.
tIons, and the character which Mr., Reed
portrays is built on different lines from
anything IN which this comedian has
appeared for a number Of years.
Seymour Sites, a gay old boy from San
Francisco, who breaks out again after
ten years reformation, is the congenial
role in which Mr.. Reed finds himself
For ten years he has been noted for his
penuuousness, but Immediately upon
meeting Henrietta, female detective,
he becomes smitten with her, and gives
way, whereupon he spends money
freely, ano entertaiEs in the most lavish
manner. She mistakes him for the man
who had forged Sites name to check
for $50, 900, and has him arrested for
robbing himself. Henrietta has, in the
meantime, become greatly attached to
Sites, and after she has caused his arrest
regrets her action, and tries to induce
him to escape. AlIis finally satisfactorily
explained, and the play ends happily.
Running through the play are several
interesting underplots and the story is
told in bright, crisp dialogue. The
characters are novel in construction and
well carried out There will be an extra
matinee on Christmas Day.
Washington is to have another pre-
mier. This time il will be one OF more
than ordinary impOrtance--the produc.
ton of the much-talked of "Zaza," at
the Lafayette Square Opera House.
II is David BelasCo's version of Simon
and Berton's celebrated five act play
which had long run at the Theater du
Vaudeville, Paris, Charles Frohman
will make the production, and it
promises to be an exceedingly elaborate
one. The title role will be played by
Mrs. Leslie Carter, and her supporting
company will be OF extraordinary nu-
merical strength and artistic excellence.
"Zaza" is sad TO have no prototype in
the drama. 1t is declared to be entirely
different from any play so far obtained
from the French. Il has been likened to
Camille, but 1t can be stated that there
is no similarity between the two.
"Zaza" came in the nature OF a surprise
| to Paris. II was put on hurriedly at the
Theater du Vaudeville in consequence
o. the failure OF Sardou's Pamela" 4"
AS unexpected as was the non success
of the latter, SO was the triumph of
"Zaza." In the nature OF managerial
makeshnt, it imme diately began to
attract the most distinguished audiences
and ran for over six months. 1t was
Withdrawn last July, but resumed in
September at the same theater Mr.,
David Belasco's adaptation is said to
have taken no liberties whatever with
the story, b t to have closely adhered to
the original. He believes that he mas
found in Mrs, Carter the best actress in
the English speaking language to play
the heroine. The Heart Of Maryland
was first presented in Washington, and
was huge success, MIR. Belasco expects
that this initial presentation here OF
"Zaza" will carry the same good fortune
with it.