Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-24
COMING ATTRACTIONS.

COLUMBIA THEATER.-Richard Mans.
heid begins his engagement at the Column
Dla on Monday evening. He is ACCOMPANIED
by the same company as last season, num-
hertng over 100 players. Monday, Wed
nesday, Thursday evenings and at the Sat
urday matinee the great actor will for
the first time in this city be seen in new
character and a new play in the success
full dramatization Of Jessie Fothergilrs
charming story, THE First Violin" With
none Of the pretentiousness to an epic that
distinguishes 'Cyrano," THE First Violin
is spoken Of as play which goes more
directly to the heart and to the understand
Ing. The book has had a wide circulation.
1t is. perhaps, no exaggeration to class 1t
as one of the most extensively read books
OF this generation. It's sweet wholesome
romance. the delightful comedy of its con-
trasted characters. the charm Of it's musi-
cal atmosphere. all endear 1t as a story to
lovers of fiction. All these elements have
been seized upon by the dramatist to re-
fleet the spirit Of the original. The novel
was dramatfzed by J. I. C. Clarke. 1t is
a story of German nobleman who sacri-
fees his title to his honor, and tncognito
JOINS the symphony orchestra of a small
town, rising directly by reason IF his gifts
as V1rtuoso to the position of first violin.
In this town of Elberthal he finds a young
English girl who has come thither to study
music. The love IS mutual, but her pride
VIII not permit her to give natural freedom
to her love for mere violinist in the or
chestra. How he suffered under his star
crossed fate, his magnansmity, his fidelity.
his ultimate justification are the elemental
lines of an absorbing story
Mr.. Mansfield plays Eugen Courvoisier
with scarcely any dependence on the
makeup box. He will be seen simply as
Mansfield. So long has he obliterafed per-
as 1t were, will be relished as a novelty
On Tuesday evening at 7:45 the full
strength of the enormous company, sup
plemented by a large corps Of extra people,
rryfh fv, fha q
"Cyrano de Bergerac." Friday evening will
be the occasion of Mr.. Mansfeld's only ap-
pearance here this year as Beau Brum-
MEL" Saturday. the farewell night Of the
engagement, will see the celebrated actor
as the mysterious dual personality, "Dr.
Jekyll and Mr. HYDE"
NEW NATIONAL THEATER.-Henry
Miller plays an engagement at the New
National Theater. beginning Monday night.
when he will appear in Charles Frohman's
new production. THE Only Way a drama
tization of Dickens famous novel. "A Tale
of Two Cities" by Freeman Wills. Mr..
Miller has always been a great personal
favorite in this city. and he returns to
Washington this season under the most aus
picious conditions since he first began his
career as star. The production Of 1.-The
Only Way" in New York city was double
success. both star and play sharing univer-
sal laudation, duplicating the distinction
which the dramatization received in Lon
don when produced there last season
1t ran in the English capital for
more than a year. In New York its
engagement was curtailed to three months,
because Mr.. Frohman was unable to OBJ
tain a theater suitable for its continuance.
fie controls half dozen or more of New
York's Theaters but they were occupied by
ether successes. whose runs it was not de-
sired to interrupt at that time. Mr.. Miller
had, a great task before him to realize that
splendid herb of fiction. Sydney Carton. To
have succeeded in such a complex character
is a splendid assurance Of Mr.. Miller's abil-
ity, and makes convincing the statement
that has been repeated far and wide that
this is the best effort OF his career. That
the play is fine type Of the ennobling
drama there seems to be no doubt. Not an
expression of dissent was made either in
England or this country as to its being a
Is the first dramatic version CT the story
that appears to have given universal safis-