Evening star., 1900-01-20

and the act essays to reflect Thackeray's
own spirit of comedy in situation and dia-
logue. Then the play moves to Brussels.
where at the ball given by the Duchess of
Richmond Becky figures characteristically.
Thence the main figures move to Curzon
street. London. where, Becky having in
s:nuated herself into society. employs
act pictures the changed conditions of
Becky at Pumpernickel. where in shabby
genteel guise she associates with persons
quite different from those that frequented
the Curzon street domicile. Becky Sharp
has many elements that interest. The sec
ond act is said to illustrate the great ball
as such an event never before has been
illustrated on the stage showing as it does
the exciting change that comes over all
when the sinister echoes of the guns at
Waterloo are heard. Another important
scene is that making the climax of the
third act where Rawdon Crawley, escaped
from arrest, returns Unexpectedly to dis
cover the intrigue of Becky and the Mar
quis of Steyne- And the last act. by many
thought to be the most artistic of the dra-
ma, shows Becky in the natural environ
ment of an adventures. The cast of
gustuS Cook, Robert V. Ferguson, Charles
Plunkett. Maurice Barrymore, Mrs. Fiske.
Zenaide Williams and Ida Waterman.
COLUMBIA THEATER.-The new com
edy success. ''Oliver Goldsmith from the
pen of augustus Thomas. will have it,
initial washington presentation al tnt
hands of Stuart Robson and his al-star
company at The Columbia Theatcr Monday
night. The engagement is for one week.
with the usual Thursday and Saturday
matinees, and relying on the excellent pre-
!iminary sale of seats and boxes which has
been in progress for the last few days il
is entirely safe to predict that a series of
brilliant and fashionable audiences will wit
ness the exploitation of Mr.. Thomas play
here.
Mr. Robson is to he congratulated on the
company which Re has succeeded in sur
rounding himself with the present tour.
David Garrick will be presented by MIR.
Henry e DiXcy: DR.. Samuel johnson will
he portrayed by that old actor Henry A.
Weaver sr.: Edmund Burke will be enacted
by Walter Hale. while Boswell and Ken
rick will be portrayed by Ogden Stevens
and Beaumont Smith, respectively. Mrs
Featherstone will be presented by thai ad-
mIrable actress, Jeffreys Lewis. while Cath
crime and Mary Horneck will have for their
prototypes Ellen Mortimer and Florence
Rockwell. Miss Rockwell is said TO be
meeting with great success in her portraya!
of this character.
One of the most interesting scenes in
''Oliver Goldsmith occurs in the last act,
where Boswell, the famous biographer Of
DR.. Samuel Johnson, offers Goldsmith a
pension of three hundred pounds a year.
providing that he will write certain arti-
Cles against American independence. BoS-
well being the representative of Lord North
on this occasion. Molly Goldsmith refuses
me OlItF, Hucl 10 the uelgHl Oh MS lTltllu.
Edmund Burke. who is calling on him a
the time. There are many historical bits
like this interspersed in Mr.. Thomas play,
which lend dramatic interest throughout.
For instance, the second act shows the
stage of the Covent Garden Theater. Lon
don, where rehearsal for She Stoops to
Conquer, Goldsmiths immortal comedy, is
about to be given. Mr.. Coleman. the man
ager of the theayer at that time, has used
every endcavor to keep the play off the
stage, declaring that he thinks it will fail
of success, and il is only after David Car
rick jumps into the breach. guaranteeing
the expenses for the week and personally
conducting the rehearsalS, that the thick
headed Coleman is appeased.
From the eulogistic criticisms that have
been printed about .Oliver Goldsmith since
its inception there can be little doubt that
its reception Will be in the nature of
ovation.
NDW NATIONAL THEATER.-The new
Crane play this season and the one which
the comedian is to present at the National
Theator on Monday is called "A Rich
Mans Son and is the work of Michael
Morton, whose sister, Martha Morton, fur
nished Mr.. Crane with a number of his sue
cesses. 1t is founded on a German comedy.
When the plot opens one cannot but feel
that the OLD problem OF wealth and the
power of the rich is to be spread out and
threshed anew. In the frs place. there is
young man fresh from Paris, who
breaches socialism and talks of ameliorat-
ing the condition of the poor, and there is
the rich old man, his father who corbats
his arguments. But the play is not prob
lem one in the strict sense of the word.
The young man is like many Of his class
impractical. He is full of theories, and has
never been face to face with concrete con-
ditions. If it were not for the love he bears
him, his father would kick him out of
doors and let him how he would get
along without the aid of his money. Things
come to such pass that something must
be done with the lad, and plan is sug-
t.AI ha got taS Sfn of
poverty. The old man puts 1t in operatio
and from then on the humor flows very
rapidly. The young man is reduced to such
straits that he has to part with portion
of his wardrobe to buy food, and in
short time he is compelled to agree that
there Is no romance in poverty. and that it
is no disgrace to be rich mans SON One
Of the commendabie things about the play
is said to be the fact that it gives into Mr..
Cranes hands very amusing character to
portray. AS old Peter Dibdin he is a type
of the rough and ready American business
man, painfully short on education, long
on common sense and the posseSsor of a
warm heart. Mr.. Courtleigh will be the
SOcialiStic son, and Miss HaSWel will be
his sensible little sister Mr. Ingersoll
plays a young man under the influence of
his mother. Mr.. Sampson, amusing old
sponge who lives on his friends and Mr..
Jackson, little chap who lives in terror of
his shrewish wife. The others in the cast
include Miss Selene Johnson, Miss Sandol
Millken, Miss Evelyn Carter, George F.
will play "A Rich Mans Som Monday
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and We'd
nesday matinee. And on Friday. Saturday
and Saturday matinee "A Virginia Court
ship will be revived.
GRAND OPERA HOUSE-Minnie Palm
er, My Sweetheart for next week is ex-
pected to draw an extraordinary attendance
BECAUSE of her great popularity here. When
she was constantly before the American
public Miss Palmers popularity was equal
to that of Lotta and Maggie Mitchell and
her WinSome musical comedy work made her
hosts of friends. Some years ago she went
to England and there jumped at once into
public favor and remained a prime favorite
until her return here recently. Miss Palmer
viii present for the first time in Washing
ton her famous London specially entitled
Rose Pompon, laughable comedieILa Ia
that affords her fine opportunity for sing
iEg, dancing and acting. She has capable
support. Genaro and Bailey, who were to
have come here some time ago, will pesi-
lively appear also. They are the orieina-
tors of the grotesque form of cake walk
Both are fine singers and dancers The
Golden Trio will dispense all sorts Of nlelri-
ment in act of the Joe OFT and Al
Leach order, which Is much liked by Wash
iEgtonians. Stephens and Taylor, well
known entertainers, will give their latest