The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-25
THINGS THEATRICAL.

George H. Broadhurst's Angio-Amsrican
/ success. why Smith Left Home will be
/ presented next week at the Columbia
| Theatre The company engaged to inter-
| pref the farce is said to be an excellent
one. including such well-known players
as Maclyn Arbucl,le, Fred W. Peters. NJ. b.
| Snyder. Hans Roberts Dan Mason. Bran
don Douglas Mrs. E. A. Eberle. Rose Sny-
der. Gertrude Roosevelt Blanche Carlyle.
! Anita Bridger, and inimitable Mrs. Annie
Yeamans. all of whom appeared both dur
ing the five months run OF the piece at the
Strand. in London. and during the four
months engagement at the Madison
Square, in New York.
why Smith Left Home" is among the
cleanest offerings of the contemporary
stage. II involves no shady" characters,
and the production is free from the dis
pleasing vulgarity notable in much latter
day dramatic humor. 10 moves swiftly
without recourse TO mere horseplay. The
effort Of the author has not been toward
making his audience feel that they are
witnessing an offering constructed for a
barroom level of intelligence. Smith"
doesn't leave home until the comedy is fin
ished. and then he makes the1 move that
he may enjoy his honeymoon. safe from the
interruptions of his ''intlawH relatives.
His wife's aunt and her husband have
visited him The aunt Is a shrew and the
husband a dapper little Freedman who
hirts. \ German count has seen Smiths
aged sister with his spouse and has fallen
in love with the younger woman, whom he
has taken to be Miss Smith He has pro-
posed for her hand to her husband. The
ensuing complications are elaborated by
the fact that an old major loves the real
Miss Smith. Meanwhile, Smith has been
caught kissing maid. the embrace being
due to the aforesaid maid wearing one of
Mrs. Smiths dresses. Mrs. Smiths brother,
with his bride has forced himself upon
the family and has been introduced as an
Italian music teacher. The deluded man
has seen his helpmeet with her arms
around the supposed instructor, and trou-
bles of other natures have followed UP to
the point at which, finding nothing else
10 do. Smith finally does leave home.
For some months, while the piece has
been completing its long run at the Ca
sino. the local theatre orchestras have
been utilizing the score of THE Singing
Cir during intermissions. They who
have listened when Victor Herbert's latest
effort has been played have discovered
that the melodies are simply delicious, one
oou6 III lnt
fact that. II Sousa is The March King"
this composer of such works as THE |
Serenade' and The Wizard OF the Nile
has a perfect right TO be called Emperor
of the Waltz" New York Philadelphia, |
and Baltimore critics all have passed on |
the many charms of the piece in question, |
with the result that the business in the /
three cities has been enormous Stan
islaus STANCE. the librettist. is said to /
have furnished the star of the presenting |
Observation-Disclosures Alice Nielsen is
the star-with book that is laughable, /
at times, and enjoyable always. but that /
never descends to the level of the must
cal farces which recently have come to
be termed comic operas" or Miss Mel
sen. by the way, there is little to be re-
marked in advance. The majority of |
Washington amusement lovers know that |
she is as chic and clever, as dainty and
delightful as the most captious could wish
AS usual this year she is surrounded by
a promising company. among the members
of which are Eugene Cowles. Lucille
Saunders. Richie Ling. Joseph Herbert,
John Slayin, and Joseph Cawthorn. The
Singing Girl will be done next week at
the National Theatre.