Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-03
MUSIC

tropical conditions as prevailed the week
before with "Oliver Goldsmith" Becky
Sharp" and Crane all in the field, was al
most inevitable But the managers made
hay while the sun shone, and it was fine
crop. Alice Nielsen and the good company
with her were, of course, well received.
The investment represented by such an
organization as this Is so heavy that
failure to do business would be serious
calamity. The list of names on the pay
roll would make respectable census re-
port for a township in some parts OF the
country, and the amount paid in salaries
each week would put the treasury OF said
township in an immediate condition of
prosperity. The comic opera approaches
the circus In its magnitude and indeed In
some other respects more and more close
iy every season. Yet, there are two or three
lyrics in THE Singing Girl which tend to
substantiate the impression created by
Francis Wilson'S "Cyrano and 1.-THE
Rounders;" namely, that Harry B. Smiths
music hall writing has improved the char
acter of his literary work instead OF de-
tracing from it. AS he natures his lines
take on a certain spontaniety which is es-
sential if the verse is to be appreciated in
dependently of the music, and which his
early rhymIng conspiouousy lacked Some
sAASAA
way.
"why Smith Left Home proved one Of
those mysteries Of farce which puzzle the
theatric wiseacres. That it possessed clev-
ernesS goes without saying, for Mr.. George
Broadhurst has demonstrated. beyond
doubt his ability to move an audience to
New York theater, at 50 seat, received
only fair patronage here. 1t is good.
wholesome farce, with enough in it to pass
for evenings entertainment, as such
things NOWADAYS Snfte of the high
average Of merit in the cast generally and
in the distinct emfnence of Mr.. Arbuckle as
near being the star of the performance.
Mrs. Yeamans is Md enough to take her
knitting in haud, hbk over the tops Of her
glasses and, resting from active endeavor,
tell the preSeH generation how people used
to act when she was a girl. But the idea
of her resigntug hsEself to any such placid
proceeding ~preposterous. She Is one of
those people who have learned to laugh
uine humor which conquers even the tyran-
ny of time and causes each departing year
to make q gallant salutation to her art and
leave no further record. A trick mule
could not have been funnier than Mrs.
Yeamans was and a Bernhard could not
have been more consistent and discriminate
ing in interpreting the human quality of a
character. Mr.. Broadhurst has done wisely
enough in cutting himself off from all cares
Charles Frohman. Successful and satisfy
ing as the late Broadhurst farces have been
from popular standpoint, he has never
done anything quite so worthy of recogni-
ton in the literature of comedy as his
early play, 1.-The Wrong MI. Wright"
The severely legitimate drama was repre-
sented by the japanese players at the La
fayette Square Opera House. The gentle
man who came out and seemed to be cry
ing bitterly at the top of his voice is one
of the leading singers of his country, and
comes from family of celebrated vocalists.
There is no doubt about the ability of this
band of players: and the gentlemaniy hero
impersonators of this country who pride
themselves their workmanship might
blush at seeing the stage combats present.
ed by these accomplished orientals. Despite
the strangeness of the surroundings, the
performance carried the mind back to
palmy-day stories of actors who played
Yacco, the leading lady, who is as pretty as
cherry blossom, is the first of her country
women to appear on the stage in the COM
pany of men. In Japan such procedure
would be in violation of the most sacred
dramatic traditions. But with the spirit
of progress characteristic of her nation,
when in America she does as the Ameri-
cans. The japanese drama is built on the
severe lines of classcism. An accompany
ing song explains the action as it proceeds.
The manager of the company naively de-
Clared. Even If you understood what they
were singing. you wouldn't understand 1t.
But he added with enthusiasm, ''if you
were a Japanese-then You would under
stand" Which seems to sum the situation
in nut shell.
The nearest approach to English literary
drama" offered by the week was to be
found in vaudeville. With Miss Mabel
Maitland offering recitations in negro dia-
lect. and Miss Marie wainwright giving Rud-
yard Kiplings Absent Minded Beggar,"
it sounded like an edition de luxe of a
seminary commencement day. The Kip
ling recitation served to satisfy curiosity
own account. 1t deals with conditions
which are not American in their nature.
but it gave Miss wainwright opportunity
for some admirable elocution. and the pub
lie who "pay, pay. pay applauded as if
they had gotten full value for their money.
The New Grand had a prosperous week.
"A Wise Guy at the Academy showed
the comedy star in process of development.
The elaboration of a variety sketch into
three-act farce comedy Is an experiment
which has met with success in many in
stances Mr.. Hayes is said to have
pirations to play legitimate roles. And
possibly this ambition is no more extrava-
giant than that which led to the elabora-
ton of a comic sketch into an evenings
entertainment
Of the productions which received pre-
anhony is being r tns ' and
will soon bring Charles Evans. "Old
Hoss" Hoey's former partner. again to
notice a comedy star In the title role:
1t is a little tryingAto the nerves to find
an actress like Blan3h Bates subjected to
undergoing in eonnei fion with the stocking
episode Enterprise pf this description fits
nicely into the care of a song and dance
prima donna, but Nd ss Bates is an actress
Of more dignited q ality. 1.-The Children
OF the GhettoSis Making money on the
road, and The Princess Chic" has won
favorable comment in Boston, and is maxi
ing preparations for season at the Casino
in New York r'The> Choir Invisible is to
be taken up by the Liebler company next
season Another neN production is booked
for this city at an early date-Sarah Cowell
Lemoyne's "The Greatest Thing in the
World
Mrs. LeMoyte relates some amusing
stories of her first experiences on the stage
In A. NJ Palmer's famous Union Square
II remember the, Very morning that Sc
cured my first engagement. 1t was dis
NAL, drizzlng day. about as gloomy as one
could have chosen for making such ven-
ture; but / was ambitious young girl,
and a friend had secured an appointment
for me with Mr.. Palmer on this day, SO
would have kept 1t If it had literally rained
cats and dogs. Nevertheless. I must con-
Tess that 1 was not especially cheerful or
confident when / took the center of that
big, lonesome stage to recite my carefully
rehearsed selection to my severely critical
audience of one. Much to my surprise, Mr.