Evening star., 1901-12-28

S$S~e
Holiday history repeated itself at the
Washington theaters this week. Christmas
matinees were light at the higher-priced
theaters. and overfowing at the houses
whose prices were more closely adjusted to
the popular purse. James K. Hacketts s
Don Caesar play had been awaited with
interest and his admirers were as enthus-
fastic as usual The Four Cohans broke
out of vaudeville into the Columbia Thea
ter. These players have appeared in New
York at 81 for the best seat; 50 there is no
use III trying to hint that they not
great. But Washington did not like them.
THE Governors Son has plot like puz-
gle in the back of a popular ma gazine. and
the chorus waniers or and off the stage as
II it had gotten lost and felt that it had
to go somewhere. The costuming had a
backward turn-bac kwa rd-o oh-tims in thy
flight quality which needed only a large lady
with a metallic uniform and a sword to
complete the picture. There is d large
amount of material in the production, but
a woeful lack of taste is displayed in the
manner Of its handling.
Hazel Kirke' was a pleasant re-linis-
eence of the past as done by the Bellows
Stock Company. Another old play is Sc
lected for next week, the encoura cement
from patrons evidently being chiefly in the
direction Of the standard domestic drama.
Hazel Kirke'' was very rest full. Chase's got
back in TO the vaudeville running very COM
fortably. and the Academy had a vigorous,
old-fashiOned melodrama. Kernan's had a
good week with variety.
The literary branch OF theatrical endeavor
is not, as might be supposed, chiefly con-
fined TO the authorship of the plays in
which the actors appear Indeed. the stage
manager is often more potent than the lit
erary worker in a new play, and some
times. as in the case OF David Belasco, he
monopolizes the entire transaction. and
contents himself with only such dialogue
as is necessary to make the situation
clearly understood. depending on the emo
tional strength of the player to do the rest
That his dependence is. so far as popular
success is concerned. well placed, Is at
tested by the recent production Of "Du
Barry"
But the man who writes about the play
who sends broadcast to the newspapers of
the country well-prepared descriptions of
the attraction-requires a huency of pen
and delicate choice of words which easily
leads him into more serious efforts than
the composition Of perfunctory laudations
OF his attraction AS a result of this ten
Gency a number of books have appeared
this winter from the pens of men who are
usually engaged in keeping the public re-
minded Of the greatness of others while
they linger in the background. One such
book is from the pen OF E. D. Price who
Is one of the most accomplished contrib
utors TO the theatrical literature of the day
he has made a study of both the theater
and the newspaper Office. and has acquired
G rather cultivated, a versatility which
enables him in his work for the VA Brady
enterprises to adapt his style to the re-
ouirements of the most ffippant or the most
matter-of-fact publication. His Letters of
hhdred's Mother 20 Mildred" recently pub
lished. Is distinctly in his lighter vein. II
takes most uncompromisingly adverse
view of stage morals. and Is as coidly Gym
ical in the theories it suggests as ,t Is
warmly humorous in its mode of express
Ing them 1t is made up OF series OF
papers originally contributed to the New
York Telegraph, the leading sporting pub
hcation Of the country. and is admirable
for the nicely with which the style is ad-
)usted to the taste of the clientele for
which it was intended.
Another contribution 10 the theatrico-lit-
erary output is that of Charming Pollock,
VINO also Is a member of W. A. Brady's
forces Mr.. Pollock is well known in this
citS' where his critical pungencies won
MIN both enmiiy and admiration. His book.
Behold the Man." has been met with both
praise and abuse Its theme is a danger
Gus one-that OF the passion play at Ober-
hn Nj,
The Scarlet Letter.. in that the principaI
male Character is held in honor by his
friends. While woman is made to bear
the whole burden Of his guilt, TIE climax
OF the story Is his discovery as the wo-
mans betrayer at the moment when he In
ABOUT 10 be elevated to the most sacred
honor that his townspeopIe can bestow.
Ihe book Is a bold venture. and has been
the subject OF some very decided comment,
eoth complimentary and otherwise
torse Payton also has gotten out book
about himself He does not figure as the
author Mr.. Payton is the whole show.
Washington does not know Corse PAXTON.
lie hVes IN Brooklyn. He runs a theater
there. is the principal member of the COM
pany. the principal man in the box Office.
and forestalts the critics by going before
ne thinks OF II. The book is a modest lit
ue volume. bound IN rermilIion paper with
oiack and yellow trimmings, and with
large portrait Of Corse Payton on the first
page. II contains a number of anecdotes
and illustrations. II Is strictly Corse Pay
tonesque-and therefore interesting 10 the
theatrical profession.
y
The Bijou inausurated novel expert
nent yesterday afternoon. and gave a spe-
ciai matinee at which smoking was forbid
den, and to which ladies' were particularly
invited. The result was q larger feminine
attendance than the theater has seen IN
years, and the audience was one Of the
most enthusiastic that II has ever enter
tained. Lafayette expressed the apprecia-
uon OF the management for the encourage
meH with which II had met In It's efforts
70 present-high-claSs and unobjectionable
SHOWS, and announced that the Friday