The times., 1899-05-28
Free Attractions an Injury TO
Playhouse Patronage.
Continuous Vaudeville the Greatest
Drawing Card fer Visitors.
Blanche Bmtrs and Mnude Adams in
.'The Dancing GfrI7 and "Romeo
Juiiet, Here Next Week.

forth in these columns two weeks ago, and
the sequence proves the truth of the fore
cast. With three nights fireworks dis
play, the revelries. the concert in Conven-
tion Hall. bicycle races. parades. and other
counter attractions, the established places
of amusement nearly went begging for
business. Starvation stared everyone in
the face Tuesday night, and the combined
audiences that evening would not have
surpassed in number thal of the customary
corporai's guard. Business picked up a
little on Wednesday. and when people be-
gan to grow weary Of the out-of-door cell
ebration on Thursday and Friday, patron
age assumed portion Of its expected mag
nitude. and the closing performances were
pretty well attended
Individually considered the week fur
nished some surprises. Most unexpected
was the leap into temporary prosperity of
the Grand, and certainly none will be-
grudse the managers of the commodious
vaudeville house the good fortune which
smiled and even broke into 4 broad guf-
faw when looking upon them. Up opposite
Lafayette Park, the beautiful playhouse
christened after the French patriot was
as lonely as a snow ball in Tampa, the
booking failing to come up TO the stand
ard set by Manager Painter, and conse-
quently was cancelled. The very best of
the PASTORAL dramas, with the most ar
tisiil cast ever seen in this line OF dram
atics. starved at the National during the
early part Of the week, but rs each visitor
was a walking advertisement Of the merits
OF the play. assumed a considerable prom
inence from business standpoint on
Thursday. Friday, and Saturday
Old friends and true of Charles B. Han
ford kept the Columbia respectfully filled
during the latter part of the week. people
coming to see the popular Washingtonian
who have followed his career and don't
or A Hot Old Time just SO it is their
friend Charles. Down on the Avenue Man
ager KeTnan had the good judgment 10
ring up as late as possible. thus giving his
wrestling matches close to the midnight
hour after the fireworks had been con-
sumed, and so caught a coed share of the
floating population. ROBBERS matches
proved quite a drawing card. even though
ne did have TO cough up" 20 at least one
man who fulfilled the requirements of his
challenge. II was soon found that the mid
night matinee would be a silly venture
and the doors closed as soon as the regular
evening performance was completed. The
Bijou, with a good bill and a cool house,
also arranged its performance to accord
with the public taste, beginning at noon
and continuing until O'Clock, then ring
ing up again after the early portion of the
out-of-door events were over for the even
ing performance. Business was not large
at either Of these houses and the manage
ment breathed sigh OF relief when the
City assumed its accustomed quiet
The coming week marks the transition
from the regular to the summer season.
In some respects it is the most artistic
OF the year. in bringing the two most
talked about women in the theatrical bust
ness TO Washington. For single even
ing Miss Maude Adams will fill the Ma
tional to overhowing with her growing
coterie of admirers, after which the new
old house will play a piece called dark
nights until the dGwning season rouses
it from its lethargy. The artistic triumph
of the Frawiey season viii be the appear
ance Of Miss Blanche Bates for the first
time in Washington The Dancing Girl"
is selected as the avenue for her introduce
tion 10 the National Capital, not that it
is her best character. but because the COM
pauy is ably suited TO support il. The
Lycsum presents for the approval OF its
patrons The Monte Carlo Girls a name
suggestive Of sporty nights, while Manager
Grieves assures his patrons that they will
get their moneys worth If they visit him
and his. 4 charity concert at the Colum-
bia on Tuesday afternoon, and the open
ing of Glen Echo with a clean vaudeville
bill, complete the attractions for the week.
CoIumbIa-"The Dancing Giri.-
Henry Arthur Jones greatest society
drama, The Dancing Girl with Blsnche
Bates, Augustus Cook. and the entire
Frawley company. including the c,eyer
actor manager himself in the cast, will
be the combined attraction at the Colum-
bia Theatre this week. The combination
IS especially harmonious from the fact that
Il was in the Frawley company that the
young California actress. who has since
startled New York with her realistic i'm
presentations Of adyenturesses. gained her
first experience; and it was in this very
role q Drusilla Ives, the dancing girl, that
she made her greatest SUCCESS on the Pa
cihc Coast, playing opposite TO Mr.. F.aw-
ley, Is the Duke OF Guisebury. In the
same cast were Georgia Weiles, as Sybil
Crakei Alfred Hickman and Frank
Mathieu. who will appear in the roles al
ready familiar to them. Augustus Cook.
celebrated for his inperg rgonation of Ma
poleon in NINE. Sans-Gene," was the
original in this country of the character
OF David Ives. the stern Quaker father of
Drusilla. With such a list of principals.
supported by the full strength of the
Frawley company in the rest of the char
acters. the success Of the performance Is
practically assured. The cast is a long
one. and includes, besides those already
named Harrington Reynolds, as John
Christison; Charles King. as Mr.. Crake;
Godfrey Stein. as Goidspink: George Gas
ton. as Stephen Grant; J. r. Amory, as
Captain Leddra; ]. b. Hollis, as Ponia-
towski; Mary Van Buren. as Faith Ives:
Mrs. Bates. as Lady Bawtry; Kathleen
Chambers, as Lady Brisiington; Ada
Leyick as Mrs Grant; Corinns Parker. as
MIS-. Christison, and Violet Kimball, as
Sister Beatrice.
The story Of THE Dancing Girl" will be
recalled by many from its former presen-
taiion here by Z. II. Sothern and Beer
bohm Tree. To certain extent It antici-
psted Hall Gaines Christian" although
it differs from the dramatized version OF
the Manx authors story. DTusilla Ives.
Che daughter OF Quaker family living at
the quaint old fishing village on the Isle
OF 81 Endellion, OF the British coast,
strays far from her home and the simple
religion OF her fathers. IL fact, she seems
10 be reyersion TO the very incarnation
OF all that worldliness against which the
Friends Society is living protest She
becomes a popular ballet dancer in Lon
Con and one Of the sirens who lure men on
10 eKtrayagan and destruction by their
bewitching beauty and fascinating ways.
The man most deeply entangled In her
tolls is the Duke of Guisebury. hereditary
Landlord OF the island. but whose extrav-
agances have brought him almost TO the
verge OF ruin. Drusilla may be termed
his evil genius, for while he has doubtless
heipaa h.r al nd
road which leads not to salvation. she has
dragged him along with her. contrasted
10 the rccreant Quaker is the lame girl.
SlbYl Crake daughter of the nrke,s man