Evening star., 1901-02-23

one, but it is to be regretted that Mr.. Hare
could not have made his farewell appear
ance in something more worthy of his
reputation as an Interpreter of wholesome
drama. Like Mr.. Crane in David Harum,'
MIR. Hare declined to step out of the char
acter so far as to make any verbal recog-
n-ion of the audiences complimentary
demonstrations 1t was true martyrdom to
act for in both cases it would doubtless
have been a relief to get out of the charac-
ter. Stuart Robson entertained no such
scruples. He made charmingly humorous
address to his audience, even though it was
necessary to forsake so alluring PERSONAL
ity as Oliver Goldsmith in order to do so.
After repeated cries of Speech
Speech at the end of the second act OF
She Stoops to Conquer the curtain rose
and disclosed Tony Lumpkin. otherwise Mr..
Stuart Robson, who in d delightfully."- con-
yersational tone, said: Il thank you for
your generous and hearty applause. l know
It was hearty because l could not hear the
ushers. j appreciate that an audience on
the first curtain call wishes to see the actor
outside of his playing part; on the second
call 1t wishes to see him as nearly as pos
sble himself, apart from others, and at the
third and speech-making recall they wish
To see what he can say for himself ana MS
art OF part ain Tree 10 SOiiicS7 tie'' NAAO
instant the curtain falls at the end OF an
act / am myself and leave the stage and
character together. tWaS this gentle MT
at David HarumO In fact, | am so wedded
TO this idea of leaving the stage to itself
that when | am a spectator. like one OF
yourselves in this audience. l seize the OPP
pOrtunity and l go out the very first time
the curtain drops. But l come back! Just
as / do now And while l appreciate all
this curtain recalling in each of its phases
so much. l cannot help being reminded OF
the story of a man, who. when gong 10 the
funeral of his wife, found himself IN a car
rage vis-a-vis with his mother-in-law, and
exclaimed. Alas! all the pleasure of this
occasion has been taken away. l take 1t,
however. that you understand, and l nave
been a married man too long rot TO ap-
preciate the fact that a curtain lecture
should be brief to be at its best as far as
The recipient Is concerned. 80 L conclude
mine with thanking you again.
The performance of she Stoops to Con-
tuer'' was a reminder that the writers of
classic English comedy did not feel that the
atmosphere of the play was DESTROYED by
personal acquaintance between auditor and
actor The epilogue provides for an aban-
donment by the players of their stage roles,
and in many cases proves one of the most
admirable episodes OF the evening. How
ever. the views of any actor who feels that
he sacrifices his art by a curtain speech
ought to be rigidly respected, as they al
ways are by Washington audiences, who,
having extended the complimentary invita-
ton bear no malice in case the player sees
fit to decline with thanks.
One OF the most remarkable performances
OF the season was that of "Cyrano de Ber-
gerac' by the Lafayette Square Stock Com
pany. The apology on the program, which
called attention to the magnitude Of the
undertaking the shortness of time allowed
for preparation and the scale Of prices, was
in excellent taste. but was not really essen
tial for the Offering at 80 cents of so ex-
tensive production represented bargain
OF which no ticket purchaser had right
10 complain. Mr.. Ormonde repeated the ex-
cellent impression which he made in his
previous venture into the classics az Or
lando in LAS You Like IT. There were pa
irons who did not hesitate TO prefer his
Mansfield. Mr.. Ormonde has at least one
advantage over Mr.. Mansfield in the pos
session of uniformly tntelligibe and
agreeable enunciation. His performance in
the last act Of the play a disappont-
ment to those who had expected 1t to prove
h climax to the meritorious work he had
done in preceding scenes. He did not de-
velop the intensity necessary to overcome
the physical grotesqueness OF the character.
and when he removed his high-crowned hat
from his bandaged brow looked more like
q Pilgrim father with a headache than a
heroic lover who has buried every gross
consideration of self-interest in an ideal
passion. This impression. however, was
only passing one-perhapS too small a
consideration to be worthy of mention, and
certainly not of sufficient Importance to
detract from the very substantial triumph
which Mr.. Ormonde achieved in one of the
most exacting characters which dramatic
poetry has produced.
Although the regular season cannot be re-
garded as on the wane. there is vastly more
than the usual amount of speculation at
this time Of year on the subject of summer
amusements.
A very radical departure in summer
amusements is in contemplation by the CO.
lumbia Theater, in connection with It's an
nual stock company program. The only
field which has not been covered Is that of
musical comedy. and this form of entertain
ment is now so much In vogue that 1t is
believed It could be inaugurSted with sue
cess. Such pieces as THE Laay Slavey,"
The Belle Of New York. Princess Bon
ME-" or those OF a more ambitious quality,
such as Wang" can be obtained and the
regular company could be supplemented by
special engagements OF comedians who have
made hits In particular roles. Negotiations
are now pending looking to an arrange
ment of this kind, and II they are carried
to the permanent conclusion now in pros
pect. Washington may look forward to q
series Of novel performances. d. W. Truss
whose name is conspicuously associateti
with successful musical ventures was in
the city this week with "A Runaway Girl"
and IL Is possible that he will be associated
Win Manager I-uckett IN the enterprise.
The National Theater preserves solemn
secrecy with reference to any ideas that its
MANAGEMENT may or may not entertain en-
the subject OF May and June theaIricals
William Morris has been ambitious for some
time to renew his acquaintance with Wash
ington audiences. and the plans definitely
announced by the other houses leaya the
National about the only one that would be.
available for him.
Mr.. Chase of the New Grand announces
that he has abandoned his intention to offer
comic opera this summer. He has been so
earnestly advised to the effect that comic
opera has been overdone that he will de-
Vote his theater TO polite vaudeville He
Will practically cut his present scale of
prices in half. The matinee scale will be 10
Is and 81 cents. At night there will be one
price, 2o cents. all over the house All seats
will be reserved Mr.. Chase does not prom
ise $1,000 head-liners. but he expresses the
utmost confidence in his ability to give n
typical but refined roof-garden program at
the prices mentioned.
The New Grand will be done all over for
the season. 1t will be entirely renovated
before then and hung with the fimsy hang
fngs and draperies and clothed in the i'm.
maculate linens that lend coolness to the
eye. Every exit will be thrown wide omen
and at each and around the iron platforms
ON the west side will be placed Japanese
shades and lanterns. The west landing Will
- kA1 IA.