Evening star., 1901-11-12
AMUsEMENTs.

IHEAItE-H was the
funniest thing ever saw, enthusiastically
declared one lady as the audience prepared
to depart after the final descent of the
curtain last evening at the Columbia Thea
ter. Pretty good show" commented the
wearer of a Tuxedo coat to his male COM
panion as they moved with the throng
along the north aisle. A middle-aged ma
tron was heard to remark to another mem
Der of a theater party, We'll l certainly
shall let John join the Masons now" The
coming of Are You a Mason?" had evil
IDENTIFY cast decidedly favorable shadow
before it, for the Columbia Theater was
crowded to the walls by the time the or
chestra had concluded the overture. That
the audience was pleased may be made ap-
parent by reciting that it was necessary
to raise the curtain fully half dozen times
upon the finish of the second act in order
to cause cessation Of the applause. The
simplest and best description of Are You
a Mason?" is that it is a farce, pure and
simple. In adapting it from the German
Leo Ditrichstein has worked along the
lines that call to mind pleasant recollec-
tions of his success In placing "A1 On
Account Of Eliza" before the public. While
not SO ambitious as and in an entirely diff
ferent strain from Ditrichstein's "The Last
Appeal" presented here earlier in the sea-
son for the first time, Are You a Mason?"
is happy effort. 1t is interpreted by
thoroughly competent cast, headed by Dit
richstein himself, and including John c.
Rice, Thomas A. Wise, Esther Tittell, Sally
Cohen and others, The farce deals with
young married man who has promised his
wife that he will become a member Of the
FreemaSOnS, her deSide in the matter being
prompted by the fact that her father holds
high office in a Masonic lodge, having been
a member thereof for a score of years.
While his wife is away from home the
young husband has a gay time, seldom
turning to his home prior to or ) o'clock
In the morning. One night he is taken
INTO custody on charge of disorderly con-
duct. Upon the homecoming of the wife
the maid servant OrOmnt1V the
transgressions to her She takes her hus-
band to task. He excuses his conduct by
declaring that he had Joined a Masonic
organization and his absence from home
was made necessary by attendance upon
the sessions of the lodge. Upon this lapse
from from the truth the complications begin
o. supposed high Masonic standing appears
on the scene. 1t develops that the old
gentleman is, in reality, not Mason, but
has been masquerading as one for twenty
years in order to explain his periodical alb
sences from his family circle. Both the
young husband and his father-n-law are
continually In hot water, each fearing the
otner will discover his ignorance of Ma
sonry But, of course, matters are finally
Strengthened out, and after nearly three
hours of hearty laughter the finis is reach
ed in manner satisfactory to every one
on and off the stage
NEW NATIONAL THEATER.-Last
night was selected by Joseph jefferson as
tradiction of certain reports that he in
tended to retire from the stage. Instead
OF music by the orchestra after the first
act there was a speech by Mr. Jefferson
a very graceful speech and one which the
audience had insisted upon. Drifting on
from the customary thanks for so much ap-
preciation. the comedian referred to the
fact that he had played in this city thirty
three or thirty-four years ago; very likely
to the parents and grandparents Of some
OF those now before him. He stated that
SO SO long as ne was greeted by such assem-
biages as that before him he had no idea
oil retiring. He referred to DR. Johnsou's
remark, superfiuous lags the veteran on
the nh; -, stage, and deprecated the vanity
self upon an audience after his usefulness
was past; he realized that the time would
come when he must retire, which he hoped
10 40 with proper grace. He spoke in good
natured satire of an interviewer who had
seized upon his failure to recollect the
town ne had played in at certain date. as
an evidence of failing intellect, and whose
article next morning was an intimation 70
now ~ 4''iA
Mr.. Jeffersons reception in his familiar
role or Rip Van Winkle' was in every
way cordial one. The audience was Of
nperal proportions and the applause fire.
quent and sincere. The manner of produc-
ing the piece makes IT almost as much an
anachronlsm as was Rip himself when he
appeared, after the lapse of twenty years,
IN the Catskill village. The go-as-you-
please lightning, the intelligent thunder
which crashed only when its cue was given:
the Introduction of German folk songs in
the incidental music to give Dutch atmos-
paere' and the pleasant little family party
ti oil, cast OF characters combined to
take the auditor back to the days
when single actor carried the pIay
ana when tons Of special scenery and
liberal salary list were not nee
esSary adJuncts of a stellar career "Rfn,
mas been played so often by Mr. jefferson,
ana the popular response to his efforts has
been SO liberal that there are few words
Oh comment to be added to those which
nave peen penned from generation to GEN
Grafton. Mr.. Jefferson is held In high es-
TEEN by large circle of admirers and Inc
caarm en- OF a highly polished Interpretation
of the principal role compensates to a Iarea
degree for the glaring deficiencies in The
supporting company There is much in
KIP Van Winkle which does not satisfy
the heart. ~ 'oo~u
Il, LAFAYETTE SQUARE THEATER-
THE Sporting Duchess" a modern dro,',
In four acts, by Sir Augustus Harris Cecil
Raleigh and Henry Hamilton, was present
ed before large audience at the Lafavetto
last night 1t is A multitudinous play as TO
scenes and incidents, abounding in tbo.o
things which mark the old English maIoI
Drama ana make 1T dear to the heart of
the lover of quick action. The selection
OF me sporting Duchess" for productions
at this time is a seasonable one II bnS
the atmosphere of the fall when life t,,rns
to out-of-doors. 1t breathes of the traclo
and aeld, the springy turf and the bounding
steed, the yelp of the pack and the hue
and cry. The fall race meet in this civ
makes it especially appropriate
II deals with stirring events and its dra
matte pictures are drawn with more force
than finish. It's human interest is of less
prominence than that which centers in the
tax of the paddock, the excitement of tho
betting ring and the intensity of the necl-
and-neck finish The staging of the pro-
duction is highly elaborate and the finish
and detail of its working out mark II nc
the distinct achievement of the Lafayette's
present season.
The handling of horses In a theatrical
production is always a problem Their he
haVlor is an unguessable quantity. I3ut
last night there was nothing to seriously
mar the realism Of the great DERBY y rrhe
animals got off in good order and succeeded
IN hnishing In style without tearing down
several yards of grand stand or demolisl-
ing acres of distant woodland, an accident
which too often befalls the circI1mscrihed
environment of stage race course The
story of the play is not new nor striking
Dukes and duchesses forgather with iocE.
eys and trainers, crack whips against their
rlding boots and call for brandy and soda.
II