Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-13

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tV6MhW Through a fortui-
n NNEREHh~ III touS combination OF
I WlMY ~ circumstances, rath-
nIIw ~er than because or
A HWM any extraordinary In
n HIM. IN trinsic merit. "A
- - W3 >TF) Runaway Girl gal
~ VW IN Hoped into the lead as
M~ box-office attrac-
WNM ton this week. Inc
w character Of Flpper
was amusing in a
Jimmy PowerS-esoue way and the audi
ence throughout the week had those COM
Portable numbers which expand small
laugh on the part of each individual into
| an aggregate roar. With plenty of pretty
costumes and weli-handled calcium lights
and stage management whose detail was
al times almost exquisite in its nicely, the
piece could not fell to appeal to the pass
ing fancy. The performance Is one when
looms up in the piaygoers retrospect with
humorous complacency, though certainly
without any Impression of mental elevation
1t is not to he expected that there Will
| be many more girl shows launched. The
mimetic spirit of the stage has asserted
itself strongly in titles. Mr.. Hoyt
many years ago made a hit with "A Parior
Match" and followed it up with "a Bunch
of Keys. Immediately the farce writer's
turned from the good oid-fashioned Inc
article. Even to this day the custom
| holds. and title which begins with "a
conveys at once suggestion of nun ana
frivolity. The same tendency asserted it
self after plain everyday name doomed
itself into popularity. and Smiths, Jones'
es,'' Browns" "Johnsons" and Robin
sons were exploited and the idea was
worked until the directory yielded no more
suggestion. The Girl plays have had a
long inning. The promoters are no doubt
awaiting the final fate OF new farce
called Hello. Bill to decide whether they
will launch a series Of How de do. Tom!
and How are YOU Dick and Good
morning, Harry plays.
1t is not alone in titles that this slavish
devotion TO mascotry asserts itself. In an
evil moment me one invented the phrase
costume play Any play which dressed
| the characters in attire of another period
was a costume play. This merely super
fetal analysis made untold business for
wardrobe dealers. but the public quietly
took its pick. as II there had been no pre-
cedents of success which it ought, In defer
ence to the box-office to respect The
ID Artagnans who were a short time ago
so numerous have succeeded in elbowing
one another completely off the stage. The
phenomenal success OF ''Trilby" drew at
tention to the novel as a source of dra-
matte material and subsequent bookshelf
expeditions brought returns which have re-
suited IN rush to dramatize every novel in
sight. The drama tZation of the novel can
not be regarded as anything but wholesome
and desirable by those who believe that the
stage, which exploits music. dancing. paint
ing and. indeed. every phase of artistic ex-
preston of which humanity is ca
pable. ought to be DONNA ted by the lit
erary element. Whether a dramatized novel
can be perfect play is. of course, a very
be settled whether any play could be de-
scribed perfect" But this form of
stage work aSsuredly suffers one serious
disadvantage in the necessity of combating
nrpN-fnilGlSr rp1 No, &c
dency TO author worship which resents the
tampering with characters and Incidents
inevitable in adjustingsa successful book to
the mechanism of dramatic representa- ton
Yet the value Of tha advertising derived
from book success is sufficient to aunihi-
late thls consideration when the stage pro-
duet has a reasonable share OF interest
Novelty the public must have but from
novelty to originality is Il long lonely jog
Sporting Life proclaimed its general
Character in its title. Any one who could
see the Knockout in the prize ring without
a responsive thrill must be set down as a
hopelcSsly biaSe creature who had no bust
ness at melodram ma in the first place The
acting company included some fine artists
whose work was especially commenda bic
when it is considered that the conscientious
deXtertty of the stage hands was all that
stood between them and destruction in the
midst Of the mighty crush of moving
scenery.
a bdtIelDT honeymoon mad placid
engagement at the Lafayette. One Of the
notable people in the cast was Mr. William
McEay. who, in addition to being an actor
of talents and experience. has made some
interesting observations as Il traveller Mr.
McNay narrowly missed the honor of being
the first man to read the Declaration of
Independence at Honolulu after Hawaiis
annexation. He was invited to read the
Declaration on July 4. but was obliged to
sail before that date. He describes an in
terestfng condition of affairs regarding the
stage In Honolulu. The theater there is
most creditable structure. and would rank
as good playhouse in this country for a
city of twenty or thirty thousand inhab-
itants. Social considerations dominate the
fortunes Of the actor absolutely. A com
pany Is expected to play only three nights
during the week and must change the bill
each night. as all the audiences are made
up. practically Of the same Deanle SoctaI
functions held on the other nights would
prevent a play from securing patronage
There Is a large population of native play
goers. but they, like the white people, fol-
low the leaders and desert the company
which does not secure the Endorsement of
the upper circles. Mr.. McVay saws the ar
fractions of Hawaii many, but not sur
fictent to compensate for an exile from the
states.
The Academy of Music afforded annie
evidence OF the survival Of the fttest as
applied to the theater. "A Texas Steer''
was received with interest and enthusiasm
notwithstanding the fact that it would seem
TO the casual observer old enough to have
been relegated long since to the limbo
OF canned beef. II is the play upon which
the reputation Of Mr.. Charles Hoyt most
securely rests. and Its satirical force does
not vanish with the lapse of time.
For change. Kernan's Lyceum Theater
presented a show which was decorous as
well as entertaining. The Grand prospered
as usual, with polite vaudeville, and the
Bjou put forward its customary frank
disclaimer of any Chesterfieldian Intentions
whatsoever
The shadows cast before by the an
nouncements for next week and the near
future are of dignified end promising pro-
portions. ''Sapho" and The Sign Of the
Cross are Immediately at hand not to
mention Ching Ling Foo who has clinched
his reputation wizard by drawing
$1,000 a week and expenses. Closely fol-
lowing are Mrs. Fisks Becky Sharp"
Stuart Robson's "Oliver Goldsmith" and
VIM. H. Cranes new and successful play
1t looked for time as IL the course of
modern plays which Mr.. George Peabody
Eustis inaugurated some time since with
John Blair as the principal actor, were
to be interrupted by Mr.. Bair's detection