Evening star., 1901-12-13
AMUsEMENTs.


NEW NATIONAL THEATER.-It is un-
fortunate that circumstances prevent
Washington from enjoying more than a
passing glimpse of the new play, '.Du
Barry" which, after several postponements,
was produced for the first time at the New
National Theater last night. 1t is a ven-
ture of whose success there can be no
doubt Before the second act was con-
cluded the audience had bestowed its un-
qualified approval, and this in the face OF
the fact that the playwright has relied
mainly upon subsequent scenes for the Ell
fectiveness of his work AS q historic pic
ture, or as study in morals, the play lays
but little claim to consideration, but as a
revelation of stage effects and a vehicle
for Mrs. Carter's intense personality, 1t Is
another Belasco masterpiece.
Seldom has first production evoked sucn
a constant display of enthusiasm. The
marvellous succession Of brilliant scenes on
the stage was followed with a series Of
ovations from the audience. Its production
here though an event of brief local interest,
promises to be a notable incident in the an
nails of the stage.
The performance is lavish display of the
resources of the modern theater Yet with
all it's lavishness it Is not diffuse. The
scenic magnificence, the immense assem-
blage of characters, the comedy and the
pathos are all focused upon single center
of interest-Du Barry. 1t is a stupendous
spectacle and despite its utter lack OF
rhetorical pretense the play is almost a
tragedy classic.
So many liberties have been taken with
the truth in the construction of plays that
there is little hope of securing serious at
tention to any protest against the impudent
perversion of facts indulged In for the sake
of sensational effect nor against the senti-
mentality with which the vulgar courtesan
is again surrounded. A further capitol
celebrity, in soliciting influence for a pet
scheme which was contrary to the United
States Constitution, ventured the query,
Whats the Constitution among friends?
With equal naivete the theatrical manager
asks, WHATS history among dramatists?
This representation of "Du Barry seeks
to make woman whose life has been
handed down as the essence of corruption
worthy to be canonized. She has been
made a present of all the virtues in the
calendar, and the dramatists picture is 50
vivid and so pleasing that the resentment
Is for the moment directed not toward the
real offender, but toward the historian,
whose honest scholarship gives the lie to
so fascinating picture.
However, the piece is not of sufficient
literary merit to involve any risk Of it's
perverting the Impressions of poSterity. Its
vitality depends on the stage settings,
which should be called architecture rather
than scenery, and on the magnificent emo
tional genius of Mrs. Leslie Carter. The
speeches are bare and blunt. There is no
effort to attain poetic intensity. An idea
is impressed by the reiteratfon of a single
word or phrase, and the actress Is left to
complete the impression by the force of her
own exuberant personal magnetism.
Mrs. Carters performance was a series
of triumphs. Instead Of limiting the de-
mands upon her to a single strong scene,
there is a succession Of dramatic crises,
which call for unstnted expenditure of
that nervous vitality which this woman
possesses in such inexhaustible stores. So
absolute has been the dependence on Mrs.
Carter that the merits or demerits Of the
CIR N Ia nf o1Tn oh,
difference. c. A. Stevenson has the role
of the King and Hamilton Revelle that of
Du Barry's lover.
Du Barry takes immediate rank as the
highest achievement of David Belasco's ca
reer as producer and of Mrs. Carters as
an actress.
MUSICAL ART SOCIETY CONCERT
The first concert Of the first season Of the
Musical Art Society, assisted by William
Worth Bailey, vioinist, given last evening
at the National Rifles Armory, was thor
oughly enjoyed by an assembage Of music
lovers unusually large in numbers. The
efforts of Mr. Bailey, who is blind, were re-
warded with enthusiastic applause. He pro-
ceeded to the hall direct from a railroad
station, having been travelling all day yes
terday, and not having had an opportunity
to partake of dinner. In a mastery man.
ner Mr.. Bailey rendered Mendelssohn's con-
certo in E minor, Vieuxtemps' ballade and
polonaise and other numbers, being accom-
panied on the piano by Mr.. E. NJ Shonert.
The several selections given by the society
included two cantatas part songs and other
compositions. Incidental solos were sung
by Mrs. Shade, Miss Simonds, Mrs. Wilson,
Mr.. Duffey, Mr.. Hensey, Mr.. Rench and Mr..
Roberts. The Musical Art Society is made
up of Mr.. Otto Torney Simon, conductor;
Mrs. Otto Torney Simon and Mr.. D. G.
Pfeiffer. pianists, and Mrs. Ralph P. Barn
ard, Mrs Fannie .AtLee Gage, Miss Lillian
HALEY, Mrs. Anna Craig Hills Miss A.
Rosalie Holberg, Mrs. Ivy Herriott Shade.
Miss Eleanore U. Simonds Miss Edna Scott
Smith, Mrs. w. L. Wilson, Mr.. William j.
Caulf1eld, Mr.. John H. Duffey, Mr. Melville
D. Hensey, Mr.. Charles w. Moore, Mr..
Frank S. Pierce, Mr.. Horatio A. Rench Mr..
Charles F. Roberts and Mr.. Eugene E.
Stevens. The work of the society was of
high order and showed the evidence of care
full rehearsal by It's conductor, Mr.. Otto Tor
ney Simon.
belik fever, as an English writer called the
great enthusiasm over the young violinist
during the last London season, seems to
prevail also in America. His concerts in
New York and Boston during last week
were ovations such as have been given to
no other artist in years, with the possible
exception of Paderewski. The scene at his
opening concert in New York, when stu
dents and music lovers rushed down the
aisles and cheered him time and time
again. reminded one Of the hysterical dem
onstrations accorded to some great artists
in a foreign cline. Washington concert
goers are taking great interest in his COM
ing recital next Tuesday afternoon at the
Columbia Theater. The sales of seats and
boxes have been very large and the con-
cert will undoubtedly be the social and
musical event of the season.
ACCIDENT ON GRADE CROSSING.