Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-11-24

\AUSlC

/ 10p in the shade in box office prosperity.
/ There is a temptation to speak right out
| and say ha, Sherlock Holmes is bader-
| DASH Bat that true and trustworthy friend,
! Mr.. Webster who made the dictionary says
/ " 'halderdash' is a case of onomatopoeia =
| and il seems unwarrantable 10 thus stigma
I tie without long and serious reflection
! play which gave so many people genuine
! enjoyment. Ii is a specimen Of play-mak-
/ ing, not of play-writing. Your lover or
/ ep.grams cannot find a good line in the
! piece. In point of fact. by the time the
! first act is half over he is likely TO be sit
| ting on the edge of his chair waiting with
| GREATNESS interest 10 if the hero Will
| get safely out of his predicament ana
| no: caring what is said. AS one acute OBJ
server remarked, the best parts of the dia-
4 loguc are me SllenCeS. There IS no reason
| abe fear for his safety, but there is the
| perennial feeling that perchance me author
! of a melodrama ia go ng to change MS MIMI
/ this once and forget 10 rescue the hero in
! The nick of time. Il never happenS-put
| this remote possibility is The source OF I'M
/ limited and delicious suspense of Whlch the
! public loves to partake at prices rang ny
/ all the way from ten, twenty and thirty
TO Two dollars for the best seats. 1t Is
/ good wholesome enjoyment, unless the sug-
! gestion that an occasional hypodernic VI
| cocaine or morphia enables man 10 look
| dreamily interesting has bad effect on
! the minds of The young.
| The play was notable for some interest
! ing discoveries in physics and astronomy,
for which Mr. Gillette may claim exclusive
! credit According to common impression. a
| Light ed cigar would shoulder and be aim
med by ashes almost beyond perception
! a few seconds after being stuck in a creVlce
/ And the moonlight which is gently stream
/ ing a blue streak into dim and dark
| haunt of crime is beyond the controi OF
human purpose. 1t would be Impossible TO
out. oil of
| merely smashing a lantern. But no one OBJ
jects to these things. The illusions are per
| feet for the moment, and for the sake OF SO
much enjoyment as this play affords there
| are few who would not say with all their
| hearts-"Proceed. Mr.. Gillette; help your
self to the moon. If necessary do what you
! please with the entire solar system
Denman Thompson took the opposite
course to that of Sherlock Holmes, and re-
duced prices. Crowded houses were the
rule.
Those persons who perceive in the m
| creasing naugntIness of modern plays
| growing evidence of the decay OF the
| Drama are prone to use the large audiences
| Invariably attracted by the magnetic qua
| ties of The Cd Homestead" as the basis
for arguments in behalf of the enthrone-
ment of the good and the Punishment OF
the bad in the temple theatrical. Such
advocates declare, and truly, that in this
| substantial age the managers receipts
| have more effect upon his choice of attrac-
tons than anything in the way of sent-
! mcnt, and ask, accordingly. why the pure,
if it draws as well, should not replace the
| prurient? There is one important factor i'll
the problem which such elucdators appear
10 have lost sight Of and that is that the
theater is dependent upon a regular
| c.ientage of customers for support as a de-
| Iartment store or any other mercantile es-
tablshment. This is the Class that man
| ayers must cater to. Its tastes must o2
| considered and watched closely in order 10
| change the dramatic viands served when
one menu loses its appetizing inspiration
Just now the tendency Of this important
constituency. sad as 1t may seem. is TO-
ward the risque. Naughtiness on the stage,
however is very much it Is in children,
amusing and tolerable until 1t becomes
habitual and therefore bad. Then in both
it requires rebuke certain and severe. and
is as certain to get what 1t deserves.
A comparison of the people attending
The Old Homestead this week with those
who grinned through the Star and Gar
ter" last week showed radical d differ
ence in characteristics as one could lind
in the better Classes of our complex Amer
lean civilization. The Star and Garter
crowds were the regular theatergoers, and
another name next week. THE Old Home.
stead throngs were the home folks who
care for the theater only when they are
sure they will be entertained and never
offended Another play on THE Old Home
stead order. however. next week the
week after wouiu not draw a tenth OF
them. But al would pour out to see The
Christian" and fight with the regulars TO:
places in line to get seats, because such d
play appeals to all regardless of their habit
NJ nnIr iron Y1NaT eli arnd
therefore. there is little basis for the feai
that the drama is going straight and swift
! iy to the demnition bow vows Of decay
! The tree theatrical is much like all OF
those grea. old monarchs of the forest
with a broken limb here. a rotting bougt
there an ungracefal branches at inter
walls, but the heart is healthy and strong
and the sap of genius that gives 1t being
will keep it vigorous and sturdy.
There were many ways by which the sell
dcm-theater goer could be recognized dur.
Ing the engagement of Denman Thompson
For instance, regular patrons of the Co
lumbia will use the main entrance as al
, exit. Monday night almost the entire audi
ence went out on 18th street. and so few
used the F street entrance that Manager
Luckett, who was standing in the lobby
went back into the house to inquire where
, the big audience had gone. One of the
patrons stepped up to usher with the
coupons gaining Tor seats ., and 3. Ht
said:
Il suppose the ticket seller made mis-
take in not placing together but woui(
you be so kind to do So
Without telling the patron that the seat:
We're really side by side. the usher PLACED
the party together and was profusely
thanked.
The numerous will you pleases," ant
thank yous were reminders to the usher
that there were new patrons present.
The large audiences that greeted 9TH,
Old Homestead" led to suggestion t,
Denman Thompson. that it might be
pecunary advantage to put the Orchestr;
under the stage and sell the space.
Well said Thompson. slow OF speech
in real life. he is the stage III
tell you l regard the music as being prett.
near important In this play as til,
, actors. The audience pay to hear the must
, clans perform as well as to hear the actor
talk. There never was but one time wheI
] consented ~ put the orchestra under tn,
, stage; that was when the manager of TIL
theater in Il small town had been playin,
; In hard luck and really needed the money
You tell the management of this theater
haf fI,.,,, all.