The Washington times., 1901-09-08

| to be given on a scale of splendor even
| hitherto unknown to these two German
| funmakers, while the company is the
! largest Klaw & Erlaneer have ever sur
rounded their stars with. Maurice Levi
has supplied some music that will un-
doubtedly become popular, and he has
! endeavored to duplicate his successes of
former years by uniting his famous "Reu-
ben and g Innocent Maid" in THE
| Wedding of Reuben and the Maid. The
result is quite successful although the
new song lacks the catchiness of its prede-
cessors. The Rogers Brothers shows are
not calculated tc tax the intellect, and
this years offering certainly does not diff
fer from any of the others of the Sc
ries. Here are several specimens of the
McNallv jokes with which the show is
plentlfully supplied:
IF you'll wait here you'll get job
assures Gus Rogers.
The pair of comedians are supposed to
be in the Democratic Club. of which the
absentee landlord of Tammany is the
recognized, if not the official, head.
"Yes?" responds Max" Rogers, with a
rising infection
Sure comes back Gus" Rogers. Dis
is der place where dey put der job up
Mine hrudder got splendid job. He's
der draft clerk in bank
What does Ee dor
He opens and shuts der winders"
Reciprocity iss: You gif a man some
l ing you am got Ter sonnet ing he uOn
need und amt got no uselessness for"
Il was measured for a jockey"
GU mean weighed.
No; | was ruled off.
1ss Lawson going to racer
Yes; in his own ocean,
Il am a dressing table of Information" ="
You mean bureau of imitation"
Such McNallyisms seem absolutely wit
less in cold type, but the Rogerses have
the knack of speaking the lines in such
manner as to make them appear really
clever and bright and nobody ever feels
ashamed to be caught laughing at them.
success is scored by Hattie Williams. who
was formerly chorus girl in "149z.'' but
who, of late years, has aspired to the
dramatic branch of her calling. Last sea-
son she was the leading parsonage in a
road company in that uninteresting
French farce, The Girl From Maxim's ="
In The Rogers Brothers in Washington"
Miss Williams makes the most substan-
tial hit of her career
Mr.. Hackett's worthy effort to startle
New Workers by showing them how Don
Caesar should be acted has been receiv-
ed with chill that even In these early
September days promises an early call
from other cities for a view of Victor
Mapes' play. Mr. Hackett. confident that
his performance would be of such impor-
tance that he would be enabled to remain
Wallack's Theatre for this period but
there is every reason to believe that local
theatregoefs"will have a chance to see
MIR. Hackstt's ~swaggerng Don Caesar
before Mr. FaVersham comes along with
his more successful play dealing with
the same parsonage.
The Times" reviewer, in speaking of
Mr.. Hackett's play, Don Caesars Re
Mr.. Mapes version Of the play is a toll
erably good working one. Ii has no spe-
cial distinction and it is without that
cleverness of dialogue which marks the
version On exhibition farther up Broad
way. 1t, however, provides at least one
episode of far greater excellence than any
in the other, namely, the strong scene be-
tween Don Caesar and his wife at the end
of the third act. But in other respects il
is neither better nor worse. 1t perhaps
fails to bring out the passion of Don Jose
for the Queen quite so clearly as the Du
Maurier version, and thus makes the plot
ter's motives less clear. But it will do
or, rather. ii would do-were the leading
role one suited to the best display of My.
Hacketts abilities.
Therein lies the fault Habitual play
goers have not now to learn that Mr..
Hackett is not a successful comedian. His
gayety is forced, his laughter is hysteri-
cal rather than infectious. his assumed
lightness of demeanor easily degenerates
into awkwardness, and his attempts at
airy elegance produce but cumbersome
swagger and some very bad elocution.
With these limitations at the foundation
of his technical equipment 1t is wonder
full that he should have selected the gay
and gallant. debonair, reckless, light
hearted Don Caesar for his part.
He was i'll at ease, indeed till he came
to the serious scene at the end of the
third act and then he was transformed
into an interesting personality. For he
has at least the outward aspect of earn
estness and his face and figure lend
themselves easily to the denotement Of
serious thoughts and emotions. 1t was
after this act that the audience elected
TO make its most jubilant demonstration,
and the actor was forced to deliver the
customary speech of thanks. But none
the less. thoughtful auditors must have
gone away at the end of the play with
the conviction that the part was ill-suit-
ed to Mr.. Hackett, and that he would ere
long be forced. If he desired to delight his
New York admirers, to seek some other
vehicle than Don Caesar de Bazan for
his art
In one of the scenes of Don Caesars
Return" the bullets are removed from
a number of muskets and several of the
New York critics Immediately pounced
upon Playwright Mapes and accused him
Of taking the idea from Gillette's Sc
cret Service" AS matter of fact
Gillette borrowed the idea from the old
time Don Caesar dc BaZan, and forgot
to mention the fact.
Miss Laura Thompson, a welI-known
Georgetown young woman, has decided to
enter upon stage career, and has Sc
lected Stuart Robson's company, playing
THE Henrietta" IN which to make her
first effort in the ranks of professional
dom Miss Thompson has had consdera-
BILE experience in local amateur theatri-
Gals and at one time during the past sea-
son was a member of the Lafayette Stock
Company, and in the bit of work entrust-
ed TO her evidenced unmistakable talent.
Miss Thompson's first appearance with
the Robson company viii occur in st.
Paul September 23. She will play Lady
Mary. one of the most important of the
numerous feminine roles in Bronson How
ards brilliant comedy.
Harry b. Smiths new musical comedy.
1.-THE Liberty Bellies " Will be presented
for the first time in this city at the CO.
Iumbia Theatre Monday evening, Sep
tember %. This piece is said to be written
| in Mr. Smiths most humorous vein.
The story is told in a prologue and two
acts. The scene of the prologue repre-
sents dormitory In young ladies' sem
mary In this portion of the entertain
ment the author has designed to create
| a great deal OF Innocent merriment by
/ we'll considered contrast of feminine
character in its formative period. In this
| incident sixteen young ladies appear as
students, ranging in age from fifteen to
| twenty years Mr. Smith adds to the
| comic interest in this scene by displaying
| the various temperaments and disposl-
| tions of the feminine character at It's
| most attractive period.