The times., 1901-05-26

of parts to study. I want roles that will
make me think. think, think. They are
the Kind that help one, do one good and
broaden ones art If that old way of put
ting 1t may be employed. l cannot say
what those parts will be. but l under
stand that William Gillette's clever play,
secret Service, is underlined for an ear
Iy production, and I'm sure that | shall
IKE to play Captain Thorne. Now didn't
tell you the story of my life but you
Know how important lights and soft rnu-
SIC are to a narrative of that kind, so III
postpone that until some future day y
Manager Herman is we'll satisfied with
the results of the season at Kernan's Ly-
ceum. which last night closed its doors
until the reopening, early in August He
asserts that his business in Washington
which the Presidential election affects as
much as It does other cities, has been
better than in Baltimore which boasts of
one less theatre and larger population.
His patrons have witnessed most of the
leading buTlesque combinations, with sew
eral straight" speciality shows. and in q
season of forty-two weeks forty distinct
attractions have been presented, besides
two shows that played satisfactory re-
of the season fifty-odd burlesque organi-
cations on the road, but several were pos
itively inferior, while others succumbed 10
reVerSeS. OF the whole NUMBER Manager
Kernans selections constituted, with one
or two exceptions, the best in the Held OIL
burlesque, though, in the superabundance
of attractions time could not be FOUND lot
several combinations which had been an
nual visitors to this house. Manager ker-
nan is not slow to recognize the INFERIOR
ity of an attraction and to guard against
its repetition, but also recognizes the TACT
that the burlesque combination belongs
to the variety stage and that TINS Helu
has it's limitations, especially as reedrus
ideal productions designed rather Tor the
edification of the connoiSseur than the
amusement of the multitude.
The variety stage has been given UP 10
burlesque until 1t is a question "hether
patrons of this --rt of entertainment nave
NOT been surfeited. Now and then
straight speciality show has not only re-
lieved the monotony, but swelled the the-
yeyors in this field has been to present
burIesoue good, bad, and indifferent,
with strenuous regularity, ana there Is
sameness in the performances that rops
them of the merit of attractiveness. IL
has not been long since specially shows,
with now and then a novelty, were tfe
rule on the variety stage, out tne col-
stant demand for specially artlstS III
vaudeville houses discourages the return
to a policy which might, in point OF COM
petition, prove disastrous. Burlesque, IL
1t has not seen it's best days on the va
riety stage, does not appear to be the
potent attraction it formerly was. 1t has
uuquestionably been overdone, TOO many
organizations have been put forth without
regard to the law of supply ana demand
and regardless OF the quallty OF talent.
At the best the burleSque organization mas
been cheap imitation of more AMBITIOUS
productions Astute managers who nave
supplied the variety stage for years real
ize the situation, and more than one mas
taken steps to impar to future entertain
ments the characteristics of farce-comedy
rather than burlesque, though such a de-
parture IL il becomes general, VIII re
ouire a better class of artists than have
been seen in the past several seasons.
Manager Herman has had some OF these
truths dawn upon him, and has taken the
precautiOn to protect himself against IN
ferior shows.
The Empire circuit, with which his
Lyceum Washington: Monumental, Bal
timore. and Lafayette Square, Bunalo, are
connected, recently took stand against
inferior attractions and barred out sew
eral combinations which in the past sea-
son failed to provide the entertaInIneIts
they promised. Not only does the Lyceum
share the advantages of this combination
against the poorer class of attractions,
but the monopoly in the booking of the
recognized burlesQue shows. 1t cannot
be denied that the Empire circuit, con-
stituting ten weeks, or one-quarter OF an
entire season, is combination which
travelling managers not only respect Out
welcome, and the pressure it brings to
bear can hardly fail to have a salutary
effect on all burlesque attractions.
Manager Herman feels no little gratih-
cation over the new theatrical regulations
of the District Commissioners in the in
terest of public decency, and he is con-
fident that no attraction having the en-
dorsement of the Empire circuit will have
an Objectionable feature.
Il am he says, in hearty sympathy
with the new District regulations, and l
desire to say that the rules in all my
houses for years have called for perform
ances free from Objectionable features.
The only disappointments have met with
in this respect, in my many years of eX-
perience, l attribute to the individual per-
for hn he ell
of experimenting with lines or business
intended TO be smart. 1t is a growing
habit on the variety stage, on which there
is much license, and while / do not shirk
my responsibility as manager. l must
say the burden of the responsibility should
rest on the individual performer, and
hope the Commissioners viii not fail to
make an example of every offender, as
/ shall certainly do. | want nothing in
my house calculated to displease my pa
irons. 1t is they who support me, and
ii Is they whom / seek to please, and the
substantial appreciation with which my
sweeping reduction In prices has met con-
vinces me that ] have their support and
know how to cater TO them"
Henrietta Crosman celebrated her 150th
New York appearance in Mistress Nell
at Wallacks Theatre Monday night last
before the largest audience that has
greeted her since she began starring in
George G. Hazeltons $ merry play. This
is considered a remarkable achievement
for an actress who last October had to
make a sort of felt-slipper entrance into
GOtham's reputation factory, and on her
tiptoes at that. These $50 performances
have been divided between three thea
tres. the Biiou, Savoy, and Wallack S,
and in this Miss Gresham occupies
ords, 6 the history of the New York
stage does not contain a case in which
one star he's appeared in one play and
part in one season at three different
described as a triumph, without offending
the language of accuracy. and her fnan-
cial reward has been of the largest.
Miss Crosman has the added unique dis
tinction of never having had an adverse
criticism of her performance. She viii
remain with Mistress Nell' at Wallack
Theatre for only two weeks more, and
even then her third metropolitan engage
ment will have extended far beyond the
time at which most other theatres have
closed their doors for the summer
Miss Hortense Nielsen, a sister of the
comic opera prima donna, and who was
q member of the Lafayette Stock Com
pany during the early part of the season,
is preparing to star on her own account.
Miss Nielsen writes to The Times from
Chicago that her tour will begin June
l. The territory to be covered will
include the lake cities and the repertoire
will comprise a specially prepared version
of Under Two Flags in which Miss
Nielsen will, Of course, play Cigarette. A
new play entitled Because / Love You
and THE Pearl of Savoy" will be used.
Col. Fritz Boone will be the manager
of the company, which will have Mary
Nielsen. another sister, as ingenue, and
James H. Lewis as stage manager.
James l.. Herman, of Baltimore and
Washington, is general manager of the
Lafayette Square Theatre. Buffalo, N. Y,
which is connected with the Empire cir
cuit and which will open for the season