Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-30

1ayette, out the audiences nave not Deen SO
large as they should have been. The tri-
star combination of Louis James. Kathryn
kfdder and Chas B. Hanford has done
splendid work in the THE Winters Tale, -
and 1t is to be regretted that the public did
not support these excellent players and
their company as It should have done,
At the Columbia NJ. Creston Clarke has
given some admirable performances, show
ing marked Improvement over his work of
last year. and Mr.. Downing. at the La
fayette, has presented new play that will
probably make him money on the road.
Next week the attractions at two of the
theaters-the Columbia and the National
very strong. AT the former Mr.. James
ONeill will present The Musketeers, with
all the scene effects that made that ro-
mantle drama SO successful Ill New YORK,
end with strong supporting company. At
the National that charming play, because
She Loved Him So.'' which was seen with
satisfaction last year, will play a return
engagement At the Lafayette new can
dloate for public favor in stellar honors
viii appear. This is Mr.. Harrison j. w one,
who viii present THE Corsican Brothers,
hamlet and David Garrick." The New
Grand will offer fine list of polite vaude-
vile attractions. and at the Academy Rose
Coghlan will be seen in the meiodrama
Tine White Heather" Kernans and the
Bijou will give good vaudeville offerings.
The death of John Sleeper Clarke recalls
to many of the older piaygoers the fact
that in his time he stood in the front rank
of American comedians. In some charac-
tiers he was without peer and it must be
remembered that he was contemporary
with VIM. Warren, John Gilbert, John E.
Owens, Jos. Jefferson, VIM. Z. Burton, in
the height of their popularity. In Major
Wellington De Boots and in Toodles Mr..
Clarke was unsurpassed. His DIR. Pan
gloss was second only to that of VIM War
rem, while in DR.. Ollapod. Newman Noggs
and other characters he attained high
rank. The last time Mr.. Clarke played in
this city was in 1881, at Fords Opera
House, now the Bijou. and he delighted
large audiences by his splendid portrayal
of DR.. Pangloss in THE Heir at Law.
Mr.. Clarke had very attractive person.
ality. He exceedingly well posted In
dramatic literature and was an excellent
Shakespearian scholar. He was close
student and never did anything on the
stage that he couldn't give reason for.
He was a delightful talker and had a rich
fund Of anecdote and keen sense OF
humor. He had what Is rare in a good
actor. great business sagacity. and accu-
mulated large fortune. Although he had
practically retired from the stage many
years before his death. his loss will be
deeply felt by many who had enjoyed his
artistic work and by all who had enjoyed
his personal acquaintance.
In 1892 Mr. Eugene Robinson, who owned
the play Of Paul Kauvar.' engaged Mr..
Wolfe for the part of Paul. At the first
fully the work of his new leading man:
After the curtain had fallen on the final
act the manager made hurried entrance
into the dressing room of Mr.. Wolre ana
began to instruct him as to the proper
rendition of the character, claiming that
in the scene with Gouroe, the leader OF the
Partisan commune who was bully, bras-
CART and ranter. that Mr.. Wolfe should
a;ca lie yrnin n a
the ignorant leader of the mob.
Mr. Wolfe argued that he had made
study of the character: that Paul was an
Intelligent gentleman. who would not, or
could not, descend to the bullying lever OF
Gouroc.
Mr. Robinson referred to other actors
who had previously played the part, ana
said that they had always drowned out
the voice of Gouroc with their vocal pyro-
technics, and insisted that Mr.. Wolfe do
likewise.
Mr.. Wolfe then said to the manager:
"Mr. Robinson. If you were in pubic
place and a loud-mouthed, believing bully
with dirt on his face and liquor on his
breath were shouting out dire threats to
the entire community and addressing his
remarks personally to you. would you pay
as much attention to the sincerity of his
threats as you would to one who was quiet
~ but intently passionate and VINO Whls-
pcred in your ear a threat of physical In
jury if you did not leave the place? Which,
Mr.. Robinson, would have the more infiu-
ence you and which do you think would
be the most generally respected and feared?
An audience in the theater is composed of
separate individuals just like yourself, and
/ think that my rendition of the roe will
affect them more by its intensity and by
the strong contrast drawn with the char
acter of 'Gouroc." than If / were to de-
scend TO his level, and L would rather
sign the part than play it in any other way
than / do
Mr. Robinson thought moment. left the
u, will nrf nrl and to ha
end of the season repeated Mr.. Wolfe's
gurnents as justification for a change in the
method Of presenting the play. Mr.. Wolfe
represented the consistent student actor
and not the sCene-eating ranter after the
applause of the groundlings.
James O'Neill speaks thus of the roman
tic drama: Young people like the roman
tie drama because il appeals to the heroic
and noble side of human nature. The pes
simists are few; most of us like what IS
good and encouraging. You have seen how
short is the favor bestowed upon the psy
Geological plays-the subtle analyses of The
human heart-the complex studies of the
morbid impulses of man and womankind.
These things may interest for a while but
they have never acquired permanent
hold upon the liking of the playgoing pub
lie. / remember that number of years
ago at the old Wallack's theater, New
York, when Lester Wallack was the man
ager, he would bring out novelty after nov
city, many of which failed. When finally
his efforts he would produce some romantic
melodrama, often with himself in the lead
ing part. The business increased immedi-
ately; there was an instant response on the
part of the public and his production would
run for months"
1t was suggested that the picturesque side
of the romantic play might be one of the
most potent causes of it's success.
Undoubtedly ii is said Mr. O'Neill.
THE handsome costumes of the most at
tractive periods of the past, the graceful
manners and the chivalrous customs-all
these appeal greatly to the popoular imagi-
nation of the present. Moreover, the roman
tic play teaches history by one of the most
agreeable methods Imaginable. Rest as
sured il viii never die so long as the thea tor
exists. No other form of the drama Is so
captivating. The theater-goer is being edu-
Gated: he is progressing. And how do you
think | reason 1t out? Not from the down
stairs fashionable. but from the actions Of
the man In the gallery. Not so many years
ago the gaileryite was the bane of the
thoughtful actor for the man in the gall
lery had a habit of breaking in on ones
favorite speeches with burst of ill-timed
applause. The galleryite was very easily
moved-his emotions were at concert pitch
and the tiniest thing sufiiced to send his
hands together to express the hitherto
pent-up feelings. But the galleryite has
progressed-has grown educated No more
does he interrupt with his noise-making an
probation. He sits calmly patient until the
climax Is reached-and then applauds And
he does this because he has learned more
about dramatic art than he knew before