The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-29


cannot wonder at the fact that during the
last month local theatricals have been
Fat and taste!ess. For, while the vaude-
Vile horizon is constantly broadening
that sort of variety which means change
or difference has been essentially lacking
for some time. Whether carelessness IN
booking is to be brought up as the cause
of this or whether the condition has been
the result of misfortune cannot be told,
but it is undoubtedly true that the state
of affairs that has prevailed here for some
time has entirely precluded the possibility
of managers finding their occupations
profitable fortnight ago nothing but
musical comedy could be located from one
end Of the Rialto 10 another, last week
only the regular speciality houses could
boast OF Offering anything but meio-drana
and in the period to come the serio-comic,
the dancing sisters. the monologuist ana
the sketch team will have virtual control
of every theatre in town. While the sur
passing excellence of one or two of these
attractions might have enabled them 10
do a good business at the expense of their
rivals the combinations seen mere nave
been on so even q plane of mediocrit: that
big returns have been out OF the question
for all alike. II is TO be hoped that the
better luck. for both directors and patrons
must have grown very weary of being sur
rounded by vacancy every night and at
the matinees.
The one really meritorious visiting COM
many in town last week was that which
supported Julia Marlowe. This organiza-
lion was seen at the Lafayette, and pre-
9 nted j S usual bills 10 the smallest hous s
the star has drawn in Washington during
the past FIVE years. When the troupe left
here the stage at Manager Painters place
OF amusement was cleared for the first per-
Torrance of Charles Hovt's new farce, a
Dog in the Manager" 1t is declared that
This piece differs from the style OF spe-
cialty-carrier the author has been giving
us in a Trip 10 Chinatown" and "A
Stranger in New York, but nothing posi-
tive can be said of this statement until to-
morrow night. At any rate, the Offering
is likely TO prove frivolous and enjoyable.
Within The portals of the Columbia the
Eaelodramatic Paul Gilmore, who ha@ been
playing to empty benches ever since his
arrival, leaves in order TO make room for
Eydes Comedians" a combination on
the roster Of which appear the names Of
Helena Mora, Mcintyre and Heath. and
other noted vaudevillians. Shenandoah,
which has just suffered a revival at the
National gives way 10 the Mathews &
Bulger production Of BY the Sad Sea
Waves" Bronson Towards old war
drama began its local season to big re-
turns but the general cheapness of the
presenting cast, together with the newspa-
per criticism that followed this discovery.
cut the downstairs business OF the house
almost in half Lillian Burkhart and Alice
Shaw have headed a bill at the Grand
and have attracted fairly large audiences
audiences which Managers Burke q; Chase
trust VIII continue to come when Mason
Mitchell. Patrice. and George Monroe are
installed as headliners at tomorrow's matt
nee. Though a Grip of Steel has broken
no records at the Academy during the last
six days, better luck is expected for Joe
ont when he opens there in Looking for
Trouble, while the rather poor attend
auce that greeted the "Tammany Tigers
last week at Kernan's may improve with
the opening CT Miacos City Club" and
Fred Hallen viii prove more profitable
star for the Bilou than was Frank Bush.
whose name monopoliZed the black type On
the last issue of programmes made at that
place Of amusement. The usual Sunday
concert Will be given by Manager Grieves
tonight
While every one of the coming attrac-
tons, with the possible exception of
Hoyt's "A Dog in the Manager" is merely
q vaudeville show. some pleasing develop
ments may be expected and there is a pos
sibility OF good business being done And
as has been said, patrons OF the theatres
would relish this quite as much as can the
directors.