Evening star., 1900-10-06
MUSIC

N00l
Her Majesty" a new play, with sump-
tuous production, was the feature of the
week just closing. 1t proved to be an odd
mixture Of refined literature and melodra-
matte bombast. In its more intellectual
passages 1t was graceful and appealing, but
in its sensationalism 1t was often crude.
Yet none Of the crudities were such
as might not easily be effaced by the
cooperation Of author and stage manager.
Some Of the rough places in evidence on
Monday night disappeared before the week
was out; others Of considerable significance
did not. The ease with which the young
women pushed open window and walked
in and out a guard room provoked smile
from an eminent army officer who saw the
play. The off-hand manner in which two
anarchists parade into the throne room and
make themselves quite at home in the first
act presents another incongruity. An in
terested spectators inquired during the
entr'a acte:
that palace?
That's easily explained" answered an
attache Of the company. This is VIM. A.
Brady's show, and Brady let 'em tn."
This same VIM A. Brady is a remarkable
man. He IL himself an actor and played
melodramatio heroes with enormous vigor.
He made money as the pugilist Corbetts
manager, and has exploited all kinds Of
entertainment with success. He Is tire
less worker. The audience on Monday night
was not aware Of the fact that he was per-
sonally on the stage. toiling as hard as
any man on the pay roll. The tattered
member Of the mob with the white bands
tied around his calves who rushed up and
down the stage sword in hand and led the
easy-chair manager. and If Her Majesty"
Is not success 1t will not be for lack of
energy or pecuniary liberality.
Manager Frederick G. Berger has at last
completed the full roster Of the ladies and
gentlemen who will constitute his comedy
company this winter at the Lafayette Square
Opera House, taking possession Of it's new
home on the evening Of Monday, October
o. Heading the list is the name Of Miss
Blanche Bates, whose assistance has been
enlisted to inaugurate the comedy season
aGspiciously. Miss Bates Is no stranger to
Washington, for she endeared herself to
theatergoers OF this city by her excellent
work with the Frawlcy Company at the
Columbia Theater two seasons ago. Miss
Bates will not be the permanent leading
lady OF the Lafayette organization, how
ever, as she Is under contract to appear in
a New York production in December. BY
arrangement with her manager. David Be-
lascO, she has been secured for a special
engagement of six weeks only. and when
circumstances compel her retirement she
will be succeeded by the permanent leading
lady Of the company, Miss Percy Haswell.
The engagement of Miss Bates Is beneficial
to every one concerned. She gives strength
to the company for the first six weeks of
m moi
pany outside of New York could hope to
retain permanently. Then, too, Miss Has
well Is under contract with Otis Skinner
and must play with him until late in No
vember. Immediately after leaving him she
will come to Washington to rehearse and
occupy her permanent position when Miss
Bates leaves.
Eugene Ormond. last season leading man
with Ada Rehan, has been signed as lead
Ing man Of the company. In the ingenue
selected Mr.. Berger thinks that he has
strong drawing card. The young woman
who is expected to make quite little stir
in Washington theatricals is Miss Hortense
Nielsen. younger sister Of the well-knOwn
Operatioe prima donna. She comes to
washington as a result OF the efforts
of her sister. Alice Nielsen. who
induced Mr.. Berger to give her a private
her on the spot. The younger Nielsen
bears striking resemblance to her csle-
brated sister, the only difference Of pro-
nounced character being that Hortense is
three seasons in Denver and San Francisco
and one season was spent on the road out
west. She has never appeared in the east.
Alice Nielsen believes that a stock COM
pany offers the best advantages to young
actress anxious to advance herself SO she
personally assisted in securing the engage
ment Of her sister. AS Hortense Nielsen Is
young and pretty and has made quite a
reputation In the west great things are an
ticipated Of her in Washington.
The other players engaged give evidence
that this Is to be one Of the strongest of
stock. companies. Mrs. Louise Thorndyke
Boucicault, the gifted actress and former
wife of Dion Boucicault, the playwright,
has been engaged for the parts technically
known as second leading lady roles. John
7. Sullivan. the polished player. who has
been seen in Washington in many notable
companies. has been engaged second
leading man and for heavy roles. Walter
Craven, author and actor, has been
gagged to play character parts and for
heavy work. Charles Wyngate will assume
the light comedy parts, and will also have
straight serious parts subordinate to those
Of Mr.. Ormond. John DAILY Murphy, who
made quite a hit in Denver last summer,
will play Juveniles and light comedy parts.
Robert Rogers will have charge of the low
comedy parts. Frederick Sullivan will be
assistant stage manager and will also play
eccentric roles.
Miss Katherine Field. who will play juve-
nile parts. and Miss Louise Macintosh,
who will play grand danes and character
parts. About fifteen extra ladies and gen.
tlemen, for small parts as required, will
also be engaged. and a number Of talented
Washington girls, who are anxious to adopt
the stage as a profession, will probably be
included in this list. Mr.. Walter Clark
Bellows. as announced several weeks ago,
will have full charge of the stage and the
new productions. Mr. John Slammer OF
Baltimore has been engaged as scenic ar
tist, with two assistants; and two large
paint frames. with an iron bridge fifty feet
long, are now being built in the theater.
New scenery will be painted for each pro-
duction. The play for the opening week,
commencing two weeks from next Monday,
will probably be 1.-The Dancing Girl"
Tim Murphy. who is soon 20 appear in this
city was at one time a government en-
ploye in Washington. He held a position
in the patent Office. and 1t was his business
to draw those interesting pictures OF haT-
rows. plows, electric clocks. submarine
boats and things Of that sort that appear
In the Patent Office Gazette.
Murphy would probably have kept his
place in the department to this day had It