Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-10
ADJUSTMENTS.

| Alpine inn Is the only setting used through
| out the three acts. But there is a wealth
of humor of the quieter sort, and ka-
| leidoscopic array of quaint characters,
which cannot fail to delight any auditor
| who yearns for humor that is not horse
! play. and for piquancy that is free from
suggestion. While the purpose of the piece
| is consistently comic there are no 'appar-
ent struggles to lower its tone so to
be sure of keeping it down to the popular
level. Some of the points would be appre-
ciated for their full value only by the
| European tourist. for the comedy is pri-
| marily satire the Alpine traveller. Its
| foreign quality has been closely preserved.
! Occasionally an Americanism is introduced,
| but to lOcaliZe it would have demanded
| the sacrifice of too much that is pic
| turesque. AS to plot, the play IS severely
| unpretentious But it is liberal with clever
| ideas, bits of character study and ludicrous
| contretemps. There is real human ma
| ture in it all, easily recognizable beneath
| the labor of the caricaturist from the
irascible old gentleman who takes his
| pleasure sadly to the honeymoon young
| couple who walk through their visit, OBJ
| livious to scenery and cuisine, gazing only
into each others eyes. The appearance of
| Mr.. Frederick Bond was a welcome and
| interesting event.
At first the role of a German headwaiter
| seemed rather beneath his capabilities. but
| he made 1t creation to be remembered
-
| splendid exhibition of his efficiency as a
character student for while emphatic in
Its comedy, 1t was not burlesque. Clever
Leo Dietrichstein had love-making scene
which was as pretty and whimsical as any
thing seen in that line since Richard Mans
field presented his exquisite matinee trif1e,
prince Karl Charles H. Bradshaw SEEM
ed determined to take his portion of the
entertainment out of it's Fliegende BIaetter
atmosphere, for he made the part of the
| Berlin merchant who is travelling under
protest English in6ea6 R11t
vigorous, entertaining portrayal. and the
question of nationality was not one of
serious consequence. One of the oddities of
| the production was the character of the
gentle, Lnworldly savant played by Mr.
Fred Summerfield. The Emersonian philos-
ophy which this gentleman recited was not
merely tolerated by the audience. His de-
clamatory enthusiasm over the beauties Of
everyday life We're heartily applauded and
the performance took a. prominent place
among the delightful whimsicalities of the
evening. Mr.. Richard Bennett played the
part of the young man who falls in love in
"a good manly fashion. Miss Anne Suther-
land mas much to do as the uncultured, SEN
timental but withal sensible hostess of the
White Horse Tavern, and she met the diff
culties of her role fully and effectively
There are a number of other characters
which would be prominent in a cast of less
general strength. There are no rough
cages IN the production. The stage man
agement was model of exactness The
rain storm in the first act was a scenic de-
vice which almost compensated for the
monotony of single stage picture through
an entire play. and there was not a SEN
tence spoken which did not carry with it
an air OF spontanfety. Eat the White Horse
Tavern Is solid quality and good measure
1T has no daring strokes of originality in
plot and no astonishing novelties in execu
ton. 1t is an exquisite bit of legitimate
comedy, played in a strictly legitimate
spirit, by cast Of very exceptional merit.
COLUMBIA THEATER.-With the same
brllliant costumes and stage settings and a
thoroughly efficient cast the Moth and the
Flame. pronounced success by Washing
TON TWO seasons ago, returned to the local
stage last night, when a standing room
audience greeted Mr.. Herbert Kelley, Miss
Efhe Shannon and their company at the
Columbia Theater Clyde Fitch's story has
lost none of its force and character from
the repetition. The play has been a for
tune-maker for its producers and starts on
third years run with the same enthusi-
astlc interest and approval ma nifest by the
theater-goers as when first given upon any
stage During its two years of constant
production The Moth and the Flame" has
been seen in practically all of the large
cities of the country, and, as in Washing
ton, the interest in its scenes and the desire
to live with it's characters has instead of
tagging, as is usual in such cases. been
heightened to remarkable degree The
production is pretentious one. The ward
robe and settings have been replenished
and renewed this year. and there was a
freshness about last nights performance
doing a piece in it's first weeks run The
audience greeted its old friends in the cast
Vociferously, and was enthusiastic from the
first. During the evening this ostentatious
approval increased in intensity, curtain
calls being repeatedly demanded
In THE Moth and the Flame" Mr.. Fitch
does not leave the bounds of nature and
reason. He extracts the good and bad
from his characters and gives a play as
near to life is possible. The master
stroke of the piece is probably the church
scene. In which the small talk of the early
arrivals, crisp and gossipy, forms a bright
and diverting background for the somber
scene to follow, the Interrupted wedding
ceremony. In this second act it would seem
that the final climax had been reached, but
such is not the case, for In the events fol-
lowing the commotion Of the wedding day,
when the moth escapes barely in time. the
playwright has found an abundance of ma
teral for strong lines and situations.
OF the company much praise may be be-
slowed without fattery, for the cast, down
to the smallest part, is made up of capable
people. Thoroughly conversant with their
characters and completely competent to at
tend to all falling in their line. Mr.. Kelley
and Miss Shannon have the leading parts.
which they portray with the same fidelity
and force as in the past. Easy and conf
dent in their work. they have possibly i'm
proved a trifie since last here but they
were always clever and deserving of the
many pretty compliments accorded them.
Mr.. and Mrs. Lemoyne are missed from the
| cast by Washingtonians, but their places
have been filled by competent stage people
whose work gave entire satisfaction. The
presence of Mr.. VIM. Boag in an important
| role increased local interest in the play,
however, and his entrance was the occasion
| of spontaneous outburst df applause. Mr..
| Boag was very good. indeed, as Mr.. Daw-
son. Harry NJ. Blake as Douglas Rhodes,
the Tilted lover but true friend, acted the
part with intelligence. The other amusing
and Understanding characters of the play
were taken by the following. each being
particularly pleasing in his or her part OF
| the evenings entertainment, and among
whom it would be unjust to individualize:
! Mr. Charles Stedman, Mr.. VIM. A. Evans,
| Mr.. Louis Payne, Mr.. Chas s.. Robinson,
Mr. Arthur Haven, Mr.. r. A Laidlaw, Miss
| Ethel Winthrop, Miss Isabelle Waldron,
| Miss Eleanor Franklin. Miss Mabel Flor
| ence Miss Winona Shannon and Miss
| Emma Janvier.
| THE NEW GRAND.-ManaSers Burke
and Chase have provided another excellent
| bill at their popular house, and the large at
! tendance last evening evidenced the fact
| that refined vaudeville is very attractive to
| Washington audiences. The attractions Sc
| cured for this week are frst-class IN every
| instance and are varied enough to please
| all tastes. The famous quartet OF Gypsy
| singers-Loraine Armour. soprano; Helen
| Pria tann