The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-04-30

The mercury and receipts at the thea
tres took Numerically opposite positions
last week and the choler of the amusement
caterer went up as the collar of the amuse-
ment lover went down. AS yenturers in
the local field have had occasion TO notice
frequently. good houses are impossible in
really hot weather and touch of such
meteorological conditions as Shakespeare
must have had in mind when he spoke of
a melting mood has not only injured the
business of the few days just gone but
has served to assure the speedy ending of
the present season. The final perform
ances Of every place OF entertainment in
town are now announced, the Columbia
being excepted since its regular year has
already given way TO a supplemental one.
The Lafayette has been dark for nearly
n month. Both of the Rapley enterprises,
the National and the Academy, will be
handed over to desolation and the reno
water after three more engagements have
been PLAYED at each, while the vaudeville
theatres are TO follow suit a fortnight
later. The Grand's finishing bill will be
staged on the Monday preceding the Peace
Jubilee here, with the closing entertain
ments at KernRns and the Bijou schsd-
uled for early in June. Almost stimuli
taneously Glen Echo and the river resorts
are to be opened, which arrangement, in
conjunction with the continued appear
counted upon to provide enjoyment for the
multitude and work for the critics without
intermission.
To return to the circumstances of last
week, every manager in Washington was
made to suffer somewhat by the heat AT
the National q series Of extremely large
audiences was entertained by Alice Mel
Toll arf 1lnr
booking OF the popular star in Harry B.
Smith and Victor Herbert's opera proving
most fortunate. The few vacant seats no.
ticeabie would undoubtedly have been
filed, however, had Harry Rapley been
able to control the Weather Bureau man.
..Iost-Twenty-fou Hours was not quite
as carefully given at the Columbia as had
been the earlier works of the Frawley
Company, and this fact combined with the
torridity to partially stay the big bust
ness that has been being done there.
miserable combination of stable stormers
presented Jean Mawson's absurd "a
Daughter of Cuba to empty benches at the
Academy, while the Grand was not crowd
ed by any means: Kernan's failed TO do
well with Bryant and Watson's Australian
Beauties" and vaudeville aggregation at
the Bijou did not prove its ability to quite
draw that house out OF the slough of de-
spond. The Geraldine Farrar recital, on
Wednesday evening, at the Lafayette. was
not attended by the excellent audience ex-
pected.
From an artistic point of view this week
will be the most interesting that has been
noted in Washington theatricals during the
month. A new play-Arthur Pineros
.'Trelawny of the Wells"-will be shown
at the National by the Lyceum Stock Com
pany, Of New York, and T. Daniel Frawley
is to appear at the head of his organiza-
ton in William Giilette's ''All the Com
forts of Home" at the Columbia. An old
time local favorite. Frederic Bond. heads
tho list Of vaudevillians to be seen at the
Grand. Karina and Rose'Sydells London
Bellies" visit Kernan's, and the usual bill
is to be offered at the Bijou. And here's
to the success Of these managers who at
tempt to coerce the Weather Bureau.