The Sunday globe., 1901-05-12
A RACY CRITICISM
OF things Theatrical by a Master
hand for Sunday Globe Readers.

"The Casino Girl" met with a fairly
cordial reception at the Natioual last
week.
1t is understood, however, that the
public is beginning to weary Of the ma
chine made comic opera, wherein three
or four farce comedians are employed
to fill in the spaces originally allotted to
vocalics.
Considering the money there is in it
for them, the conspicuous society of cap
able singers for light opera is remarka-
bic. The breed OF tenors is wholly ex-
tinct, baritones are a rarity, and contral-
tos, and sopranoe are fast becoming a
tradition. Alice Nelson is the solitary
example of a well-equipped soprano
singer and actress discovered in this
country, as far as the public knows, in
the last ten years. Managers are con-
stantly on still hunt foranother Lillian
Russell or a Jesse Bartlett Davis, but no
amount OF salt in hand enabled them to
capture such songster.
The result is that that the representa-
tives of the white catslogue of musical
comedies or burlesques are falling below
the standard of recent seasons.
Messrs. Al. Fort, James sullivan, Sam
Collins and Miss Carrie Perkins gave
most enjoyable performance in the
"Casno Girl" their work being careful,
Intelligent and artistic. Miss Ella
Snyder, in the leading role, is promis-
ing recruit for whom study and eXper-
ience may do much. Miss Katie Sey-
mour, from London, is versatile dancer
and nightly stepped into popular favor.
But why will a woman who can dance
so daintily attempt to sing so inetfect-
ually? The pony ballet is an excellent
feature of the programme, but the chorus
could hardly be classed with the punches
of beauty that Lederer was wont to
bestow upon his artistically bedecked
stage. Mr.. Forts magnificent basso
heard most effectively in the song of the
Diamond King, Act II, atoned for the
general lack of lustre in the vocal scene
as interpreted, although Mr.. Fairleigh
sang or interpreted baritone Umonza
with unexpectedly good effect
Mr.. Fairleigh is a London acquisition,
replacing Cyril Scott in the role OF the
young Doctor who has followed the
Casino Girl from New York to Cairo.
He is deL dedly good looking, but his
utterance is too foggy tor comfort. Lon
don seems TO be addicted to most un-
ineligible dialect. At least it so strikes
pam 'HSohAhb ANU ASdhos
A performance of Browning's poem,
" In A Balcony" is to be given on Thurs
day evening at the National by Mrs.
lie Moyne, Miss May Robson and Mr..
Otis Skinner. Boston and New York
critics advise us that this is something
worth taking in" Washington society
Will probably accept the hint and fill the
boxes and stalls. 1t is well TO be posted
when something worth while is coming
along.
At the f street house Manager Luck lit
replaces THE Runaway Girl" with "The
Geisha," by all odds the best of Daly's
theatre series of imported musical COM
edies.
The interpreting company is equal TO
the demands of the composer and IL
brettist, and pleasing performance may
be anticipated. The summer scale Of
prices is calculated to insure full houses
throughout the season, which is likely to !
last until midsummer at least.
Mr.. George Lederer has, in the course
OF his managerial experience, had some |
clever birds in his cage, but one by one
they have flown away--sOme into per- |
manent matrim0ny, Others, like Pauline /
Hall and Lillian Russell, into vaude- |
vile, where salaries are larger and pos
sibly more eecure and where their indi |
Vldual efforts are comparatively easy |
and not exposed to criticism.
"The Magistrate is the attraction at
the Lay fette Square Theatre this week.
The success of "Miss Hobbs" at this
house last week was phenomenal. Man
ager Berger has every reason TO congrat-
ulate himself upon the popularity Of his
enterprise. The Lafayette Stock Com
pany is in every way worthy OF the
capital,
The Devils Daughter" makes her
Washington debut at the Academy this
week.
People who have had more or less ac-
quaintance with the Old Boy himself |
will be pleased, no doubt, TO meet another
member of that accomplished and inter- !
esting family,
La Petite Lucifer should excel In the |
Serpentine Dance.