Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-11
AMUSEM ENTS.

vas "Phroso. Dramatists and actors
seemed to have been bent on cheapening
Mr.. Hopes story to the last degree. A
procession of anti-Climaxes and dialogue
whose brilliancy could be rivaled by the
ordinary conversations in a market house.
combined with deficient acting on the part
of Odette Tyler. robbed the production of
all the sparkle and vim which the story
Possessed Miss Taylor is a good actress,
but she is not this kind of an actress. The
Rouuiers'' presented by Mr.. Richard Car
roll to very good advantage. AS the week
progressed Mr. Carroll acquired confidence,
and viii no doubt sustain his previous rep
utaton as a good reliable hand at rough
and tumble comedy roles. The other houses
presented attractions in accordance with
their respective policies and resources. and
fairly divided the popular price patronage
among them.
NATIONAL TfIEATER.-The visits of
Mr.. Sol Smith Russell to the capital city are
the subject of increasing interest with the
lapse Of years Not to his refined art alone
but to those personal characteristics which
give him a place in the social order as emf
nent as that he 50 cOnspicuously holds in
his profession is this interest due. Mr.
Russell will. Monday night, begin his an
nUal engagement of one week at the New
National Theater. and with the exception
of Tuesday and Friday nights, when Hon.
John Grigsby," the comedy which was so
literally patrontzed during his visit last
season, Will be presented. will devote the
week to a revival of "A Poor Relation"
assuming his famous character of Noah
Vale To be poor and yet be happy; to
be poverty stricken and yet be charitable:
to be out at the knees and yet gentleman;
these are some of the unique attributes that
Sol Smith Russell combines in the sweet
and unwOrldly character of "A Poor Re
lation." 1t is the oft-repeated story of
the poor inventor-rich in originative
genius yet poor in all the qualifications
that enable man to cope against the grind
ing selfshness of the world.
As in all well conducted dramas. justice
does finally prevail. and the poor relation
reaps the full reward of patience. charity
and we'll doing. The Poor Relation is a
unique characterization upon the stage.
and Vet a character which the world will
recognize at sight. Mr.. Russell is peculiarly
adapted for the part he plays. In his inter-
probation there Is little trace of artificiality
and restraint. Never does the framework
of the character prOtrude- He is abso-
lutely and entirely natural, and in these
features lies the elements of his great sue
cess. He submerges his individuality en-
tireiy in his role and the auditor never
thinks of Mr.. Russell. the actor or the
man II is only the Poor Relation that
he sees. and this alone is proof of Mr.. Rus
sells art. 1t is a characterization which
must be seen to be appreciated, and into
which he weaVes quaint touches OF humor
and pathos that are more than strong. Mr..
Russell is supported by a capable and we'll
balanced company.
COLUMBIA THEATER.-The clever
work that Mr.. Louis Mann and Miss Clara
Lipman have done in The Girl From
Paris and The Telephone Girl makes
their return to Washington in a new play
a matter of much interest to lovers of
merry farce comedies. They come to the
Columbia Monday evening in piece which
has been played I'm New York city for
month with unqualified success, called
The Girl in the Barracks" Miss Lipman
plays the part Of an actress from the AL
Cazar, and when you've been given that
hint you know pretty we'll what it's all
about Lame TOurbillion Is the Alcazar
young woman. and she drops into the music
studio of Paul Roland to ask him to help
her win q bet that she has made. To out
do a rival actress who has sung in the
streets for charity she has accepted
wager Of $4,000 to win which she must
pass tWeuty-fOur hours in the principal re-
cruiting barracks in Paris. Paul is an old
lover OF hers, and during their earnest
cOufab lie Bardy, a rich old chocolate man
ufacturer (Mr. MANN. comes in. He mis-
takes Lame for Pauls wife, and the amor
Gus old boulevardier promptly sets the
complications going. He has gay young
son, one Of the gilded youths of Paris. vino
also drifts IN, and Lame appropriates his
pocket book and his summons to military
duty at the barracks. The first act having
provided Lame means Of getting into the
Recruiting station, she dons military uni
form, and the rush and whirl Of the piece
occur IN the second act, when some re-
markable gofngs on are INDUCED in by the
disguised actress, and the inmates of the
barracks. Lanes identity is discovered
by an officer. who falls desperately in love
with her. and the balance of the piece is
game of hide and seek, in which Lanes
identity is finally made known. This is
about as near an approach TO a 6escrip-
uon OF the madcap plot Of this farce az
can be told In cold type But 1t Is said
70 be an admirable vehicle for the ex-
plotting of Mr.. Mann's amusing eccent-ici-
ties and Miss Lipman's rather chic meth
DDS. In New York they said 1t was as
good as THE Girl From Paris" The play
has had over thousand performances In
Germany.
The original New York cast. which will
be brought here intact. is as follows: Joseph
Coyne. George ", Barnum. Ben T. Dillon.
leighton Leigh. Thornton Cole. Bert F'lans-
burgh. Sidney Pryor. Claude Yerkes. Helen
Harrington. Vivian Edsall, Beatrice Bon
ner. Mary 2. Post, Amy Lesser. Mabel
Frenyear and a number of others. The en-
sagement Is for one week and the usual
Thursday and Saturday matinees will be
given.
LAFAYETTE SQUARE OPERA HOUSE
David Lowrys new comedy drama, My
Son Ben will have its first presentation
IN Washington at the Lafayette next Mon
day night A good performance may be
anticipated, for many Of the people engaged
are excellent artists. Mr.. Lowry's lit
erary reputation-he is known a sue
cessful newspaper writer and the author
OF hundreds Of short stories and several
novels-should be a guarantee that the
play itself viii possess merit of no ordinary
Character. His first dramatic effort, DE
votion." met with an instantaneous sue
cess when produced. My Son Ben is
story Of today, with scenes locate In New
Hampshire, and with personases we are
told, breat hing the breath OF everyday life
II deals with the joys and SORROWS of a
kindly old man. whose idolized SON.
through a mistaken generosity toward q
dissolute companion. involves his self sac
Tihcins father IN financial ruin, but in the
end redeems himself and proves himself to
be man Of heroic and noble impulses
The story OF the play seems to be slender
enough. but the action Is said to be quick
and cumulative, and crowded with pa
theuc and humorous Incidents happily
blended. The piece. II Is promised will be
carefully staged, scenery having been
painted for the production BY Henry e
Hoyt q the Metropolitan Opera House
New York, and mechanical devices man
ufactured by James H Bradley of the Fifth
Avenue Theater. New York
The following is the cast of characters:
Benjamin Thorpe, ST., owner Of Granite
Point Mr. John Jack; Benjamin Thorpe.
II, his son. Mr.. Augustus Halbach: Ike
Harrison. Ben's old schoolmate Mr. Ey-
erett Kin: Alfred St George, who wants
to be practical farmer, Mr.. Edwin Brew
ster. Henry Morton. his valet Mr. Pfck-