Evening star., 1901-04-13
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MUSIC

The public was prompt and liberal In recog-
uIzing the merits of these attractions, and
Of The Moth and the Flame at the La
fayette Square. At Chase's the lions fol-
lowed the example of Bottom and roared
In q way that did any mans heart good to
hear them, and made the public cry, Let
them roar again. At the Academy little
Harry Blaney and a machine gun held the
stage and rent the atmosphere with laugh
ter and explosions. Across the Pacific is
an ideal example of it's peculiar style OF
play The probabilities are scattered to the
four winds. but the thrills are all there At
Kernau's a genuine novelty was introduced
in a basket ball game. which kept the audi
cnces interested night after night AS
viewed by expert eyes, the games may not
have aroused any especial admiration by
It's development of fine points, but it was
good bustling fun, and offered n display
of 1.-THE agility by no means displeasing.
The BijOu had one of the standbys of bur
Iesque in the May Howard show. with May
herself the reigning influence. And the
observing deniZens of the front row agree
that May does not look a week nearer
autumn than she did years ago. She is one
of the sturdiest spring blossoms that ever
adorned the gardens of burlesque. The list
of attractions beginning with the legiti-
mate and ending with the variety, was a
thoroughly credtable one, the attraction
in each case being well adjusted to the tenn
permanent of the theaters especial patron
age.
Next week affords hope of merit and gives
positive assurance of variety. 1t will be
interesting to see John Drew q melo-
dramatic hero. and to those who saw 1.-The
Princess Chic at its original production
here some years ago It will be matter or
curiosity as well. no doubt, as enjoyment
to see how a piece which was then so
frigidly received was built out into the un-
cquivoCal success which it now stands
The Bankers Daughter bids time turn
backward i'll it's flight by decade or 50,
carrying the spectator into the day when
Bronson Howard, instead of possessing
name to conjure with. was taking his
chances like any unknown playwright.
The Beilows-Long organization is rapidly
nearing the close OF its season at the La
fayette Square. The stock company Idea
had uphill work for time When tho new
management was given charge of the pro-
ductions it was reported to be losing in
the neighborhood of $1,000 a week The
tide has been turned, however. and the Bel
lows-Long organization has completed ar
rangements to conduct the stock company
at this house next season.
Late at night, when the glamour and
gaiety have completely forsaken the the
alter and when the thoroughfares in the vi
cinity of the White House have been aban-
doned to the tactturn policeman and the
Convivial night liner, a light still fingers In
one of the windows of the Lafayette Square
Theater. 1t is window in the forward
part of the building away up by the roof.
r,Iara this 9
and. without the assistance of an expert
enced guide, inaccessible. 1t is the study
room of the stock company's interchangeable
stage director. Walter Clarke Bellows.
When Percy Haswell comes the stage,
the women say isn't she sweet. When
Eugene Ormonde appears, his lines are
fairly stifled by the applause of the sus-
ceptibIe feminine; for Mr.. Ormonde has be-
yond question achieved the dangerous dis
tinction of the matinee idol. John 7. Sui
livan Is no less favored, and he comes In
for a share of vigorous handclapping from
those who enjoy the touches of the old
school which dignity his scholarly methods
And so 1t goes. almost through the entire
cast For applause. like the rain, appears
at times to fall alike on the just and the
unjust But there is one man who never
gets a hand; the man who sits up o. nights
editing manuscripts. who has learned to
speak in gentle tones because he long since
discovered the futility OF objuration who
calculates effects so that actors may receive
ovations In due season, and who stands
ready to bear the blame If the applause is
not forthcoming-in short, the stage di-
rector. His portraits adorn no Autographs
and II is only on the final night of a sea-
son. when farewells are being said and ac-
acknowledgements are being made. that the
audience is awakened to a desire to see him
personally.
To reach Mr.. Bellows Is not an easy mat
ter, as almost every stage aspirant in
Washington can testify. Once encountered
he is an experience well worth the trip sky
ward in reluctant and dungeon-like ele-
vator. which stops at the property room at
the top of the theater This room Is
place of perpetual twilight, filed with pa
piermache shields and queer accouter-
ments. as II the romping warriors who
adorn the curtain OF the theater made 1t
their headquarters In the dim hours after
the play is over when the gaping stage
below stares blankIy at the grinning tiers
OF empty chairs Far across this spectral
apartment glimmers Il light. 1t is the lair
OF Bellows
The stage director of the Lafayette Stock
Company IL one of the last men in the
world who would be pointed out as men,
a!lty he has to an intense degree, but 1t is
that OF the sincere literary worker. There
Is not a suggestion of artifciality either in
appearance or manner. figure of Casslus-
IKE thinness unwinds itself from a desk
chair Alert eyes, set in face of unusual
paior. look into those of the visitor, and
the slender fingers develop an astonishing
muscularity in the handshake. A few
strokes of the scissors would bring the red
beard he wears to point. and convey the
Impression that he had gotten himself up
TO look like the accepted picture of Shake
speare- few minutes conversation is suf-
hcient to dspel all suspicion that such an
anectation would be possible.
To repeat all that Mr.. Bellows can say
about plays that have come under his
handling would occupy columns of space.
viii be glad to return to Denver" he
said, for We are able to do work there
winch. with the limited time at our dis
posal, we could not undertake here As
the season progressed got our resources
better In hand. and 1 am pleased to note
that the manifestations of approval have
correspondingly increased. Next season
we Will be able to proceed with the conf
dence which attends enterprise which
mas passed the experimental stage and es-