Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-05


to enjoy it through the Interpretation of
one of the best trained and most scholarly
of American actors. Mr.. Warde claims
consideration not only as an interpreter,
but producer. The stage owes to him
several dramas which it could i'll afford to
lose.
AT the New National Theater Mrs. Lang
try exhibited theatric culture in another
phase-that of extreme literary polish Mr..
Grundy's play is a masterpiece of diction.
He turns phrase with the daintiest grace
imaginable and gauges the relative values
of his materials nicely that what in an
ordinary play would be but transient
episode stands out by contrast as a
strong situation. Mrs. Langtry is ex-
tremely sensitive about the comments
on the title of her play. This is
shown by the fact that she permits a SUBJ
ordinate member of her company to APP
proach newspapers with his own editorial
effusions on the chastity of the much-suS-
pected title. This tacit encouragement by
a star. Of personal importance in her sup
porting company is unusual. The subject of
what words are proper and what are not
is one which Mrs. Langtry might feel some
delicacy about discussing. So 1t may be as
sumed that in taking up the topic she has
chosen to do so with feminine discretion,
using a man of her company, so to speak,
title or its use should be undertaken is
worthy of note. That the management on
finding it hailed with disapproval wherever
displayed should have retained it, when
mere stroke of the pen would have changed
it, can be explained only on the theory that
it is considered too valuable an asset to be
dispensed with. To advertise a study in
vice is to appeal directly to prurient Curl
osity, and this appea,, coupled with the
personal prominence of Mrs. Langtry, was
about all the production had to invite in
terest, until the sterling literary worth of
the comedy was made a matter of general
information. After all, it is a lucky produce
ton whose cupability is confined to a sin
gle word, even though that word happens
to be the title.
Yet the significance of single word. even
when that word is but monosyllable is
often deadly. Miss Olga Nethersole's man
agement lit seems almost sacriiege to sus-
scended to all this noisome gable by her
own impulse) has dwelt with great en-
phasis on the harshness of the word "lewd.'
Yet. as employed by man of studious hab-
its, its purport might be wholly innocent.
A man who had enlarged his vocabu-
larry to a degree of elasticity which would
permit him to fully appreciate the earliest
English In Its colloquial spirit might en-
counter the word ''lewd'' and recall no
other equivalent than ignorant" or be
longing to the laity," for such. strange to
say, was the original significance of this
combination of four letters There is not
much Use in trying to fall back on the
pristine innocence of a word. Its vital,
current significance is what counts. And a
euphuism once degraded to the vernacu!ar
achieves disreputabiity at an astonishing
rate of speed.
The persistence with which Miss Neither
sole is pursuing apologies is likely to cause
a of
who admire her art. These clashes in the
race for fame are always distressing to one
who takes all he hears seriously The de-
Tense of womans reputation however
assalled. must inspire a certain chivalrous
respect excepting under one condition, and
tEat condition arises when considerations
OF notorlety take precedence of the desire
Tor moral and social Vindication. Those
who believe Miss Nethersole is stung to
renewed resentments by the fear that she
will actually be considered lewd woman
must mt their caps In honest admira ton;
those VINO suspect that she is merely reluc-
tant to relinquish source of advertise
merit, well, they may keep their caps on
and remain silent.
The patronage Of polite vaudeville was
very heavy. the chief feature being THE
Littlest GIRL in which some exquisite
touches OF sentiment and pretty stage pic
lures are made to apologize for some dreary
stretches of talk.
.s tbis I'm n"1g e oeen some saeh production
made response "WorSs '1 Uoras mmen ne :,
The fact that Sothern ia to NAV ua,,Iat..
may revive popular interest In that drama
The prediction that he viii NAV =. ~ Iii
needs no very shrewd p,,ess;pn 7. =, ~
most invitine roia for 30 aotos - ~ q
grace and the abiIitv 70 49, ,, " personai
Robert ManfelI has nIayed "IJa Wis. sen y ~;
PLAYED II we'll. hut Tho schtavaraan. "a, anu any.
sufiice 70 estabiish hin as shaI oiu hot
actor AAi' as Shahespearlan
..,rbe t1rs,,o,,. $780,.
,nartia ~ W. Aoaaa.o,, 49, 80 .il s'ate VI
was sIvar o,ar ~ dar,sna.. .''e ..iile which
surcease of sorrow for the neonia ,,,he
might have gone to see the farce-comedv,
The Academy makes no announcement for
next week.
Next week Daniel Frohman.s stock co,,-
pany will present a comedy in a vein tho,
seems characteristic of the best Frobman
traditions A,d for tho Voc, ~ -,
be fiIied with rnns;c WJ,th 1ot o ,iS 81 WIN
at the coI,mbia S.riIin ~ hr'[iud IN opera
New Grand and nunher Of ' sn,o a. ..le
also dancers at tho othar bousas iseeeiS'
The devotion of the I,afavetta to j, ua.;,
of hiph-cIass vaudex,iIla is not r. he aosn,s*
ed as an outline of future nol;cv Of H.
house. p0"N' VI 'Ne