Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-09
ANU SEMENTS.

NEW NATIONAL THEATER.-That
phase of human existence known as sport
ing life has been the subject of much phil
osophic comment and has been described
with picturesque emphasis. This particu-
lar specimen of Sporting Life claims as
condensed and vigorous a description as
language can devise. 1t is lurid in It's in
tensity, sulphurous in its villainy and red
hot every minute of the time.
The English sporting melodrama was
about que for another representation on
the American stage. 1t is one of the stand
bys OF the drama. Your library dawdler
may sneer at it and your social devotee
may look aSkance and patronizingly muir
muir How droll,' but they somehow drift
INTO the audience and lend at least tacit
Endorsement when the gallery. without
waiting for types and presses. registers its
CRITICISM and says, That's the Stuff A
little melOdrama now and then should like
a little nonsense, be relshed by the best
of men. Its methods of appealing to the
emotions are rugged and abrupt. 1t ad-
dresses itself To the auditors sentiment In
much the same fashion as the comedian
with a stuffed club appeals to the risibles
II does not persuade; it compels. The logic
of events and the tempcramental procliyi-
ties of the human race have no meaning
Tor the melodramatist. Mr.. 1bsen and his
satellites can take care of that sort of
thing. And melodrama like Sporting
LIE Is not written, anyhow, 1t is painted.
scene d1ltr scene ana act after act is
evolved from the mastery brushes of the
artists who wrought the chief basis of the
work. Gentlemen with plain matter-of-f fact
names. such as Hart and Becker and Gates
and MOraGge, whose plodding brushes have
covered yards of prOsaic canvas have sue
ceeded in overshadowing the efforts of some
erntnently capable actors; in leaving the
lines OF the authors at a vast discount and
in minimizing the Importance even of the
live horses who make their appearance So
much interest attaches to the superb skill
with which splendid assortment of mas
sive scenery rs handled that the acting
members of the organization might be ex-
cused for being a bit discouraged. But
Elita Proctor Otis stood her ground firmly
and eventually demonstrated that the
scenery did not have altogether the best of
it She is a most accomplished actress and
in spite of the bald. melodranatic mech
anism which intrudes itself in the plot, in
vested those scenes in which she partici-
pated with emotional sincerity and artistic
worth. Another interesting figure in the
cast was Mr. Frank Burbeck, who ably
seconded the intention of the authors to
depict a thoroughly unconventional money
lender-one who. while always a man of
business, had the instincts of a gentleman
and the impulses of a philanthropist Mr.
Joseph Wheelock had responsible part in
the trainer for Lord Woodstock and PLAYED
with his accustomed intelligence. Joseph
kilgour was the hero-the spendthrift lord
who takes the place of the unknown prize
| fighter and in a single round defeats his
/
Despite the efforts of competent actors and
Industrious playwrights this is the scene
| that really gives the audience its moneys
worth Even the massive scenery is reIe-
gated TO the background 1t is the plays
| raison d'etre. The plot is designed princi-
| pally for the accumulation of heroic cpl
SOdes and hairbreadth escapes. 1t is made
| to stand melOdramatic wear and tear and
| does not call for any analysis or moraiz-
| ing. 1t is plain melodrama-but very ambi-
\ uously and extensively interpreted.
| COLUMBIA THEATER.-There was not
| space in the Columbia Theater last night
l to accommodate the people who wanted to
| see The Runaway Girl This bright,
| breezy piece of nonsense. which makes its
| the Columbia this week, seems to have
| grown in favor with the public Mr.. Jas
| II. Powers, who. of course, is not the run
| away girl, Is, however, the bright particular
| star of the performance. Mr.. Powers in the
| play is jockey. a guide to Cooks tourists :
/ excursions a speaker of Observation-Disclosures
| English--indeed. all-around indspensa.
| bic part of the play. who never grows tire
| some aud who never seems to grow tired
| 1t would be hard to point out all the fea
| lures which are pleasing. there are so
/ many. There are girls galore in the cast
| who are all entertaining. Miss Marie Ce-
| leste makes a very acceptable Winnifred
| Grey and has most attractive voice Mir.
lam Lawrence as Carmencita the fat CIR
/ entertained the audience immensely. Miss
\ Rachel Booth, who takes the part of Lady
l Goodies maid, sings and dances well. Miss
| May Baker. the Dorothy Stanley of the
| cast, is also very entertaining in songs and
| dances. 1t is she who sings .Oh, Listen ia
| the Band" Mr.. Arthur Cunningham CHIEF
| of the band of wandering musicians, has a
| good voice. Van Rensselaer, Wheeler q.
Guy Stanley is very entertaining in hi,
1 songs and witticiSms. The production in II,