Evening star., 1901-02-09
WUSlC

| ness point OF view fully duplcated itS loi-
| mer success. The absence of Arthur For
! rest from the cast is a source of disap-
pontment to those who saw the original
| production, and, indeed. the entire perform
ance as it goes now seems more of com
| mercial venture than an artistic presenta-
| tion. The play has established itself and
| it will probably go down the line, like
| ''Unce Toms Cabin" each company
| little less satisfactory than its predecessor.
Joseph Haworth's acting was of course ad-
mirabe. 1t is seldom that Mr.. Haworths
| work is anything else. But Ninicius cannot
be the entire performance. Mr.. Lyons re-
mains with the company as Nero, but the
erratic Caesar depends much on the suav-
ity of Petronus to lend effective contrast
to his fits of rage, and the actor who played
PetroniuS this week was not familiar with
its fine points. The departure of Mr. For
rest from the cast was due to that dread
influence in the theatrical world, profess
slonal jealousy. Mr.. Stange might have
foreseen in writing two such strong parts
as Vincus and Petronius for the same cast
of characters that there would be clash.
But authors care not for such things, es-
pecially good authors. They pen line
| speeches lavishly through the dramatic per-
| sonae. and then grind their teeth with inef-
| fectual rage when the stage manager cuts
| them out because the actor cannot make
them score. He totally disregards the fact
| dressing room. 1t is difficult for the unini-
| tiated to understand the Importance at
| taching to the star dressing room. In the
average playhouse it Is far from being
| luxurious apartment. In some instances it
| looks more like woodshed than an abode
| of mimic queens and princes. But the en-
mites it has caused are beyond calculation.
| Mr. Forrest desired to assume the
| role of Petronus, but he demanded large
| amount of money. a very large amount.
| and the star dressing room. The cash might
| have been arranged for, but the process of
| eviction was too formidable for Mr.. Whit
| ney to undertake. So "Quo Vadis'' came
| to Washington with Mr.. Haworth regning
in almost solitary artistic splendor. Mr..
| Haworth leaves the company in a very
short time, to produce his new play. 'Rob-
| ert of Sicily" at the Herald Square Thea
| ter. New York. He is very enthusiastic
over the new piece, which he regards as
work.
Foxy Quiller' was much enjoyed by mu-
| sic lovers. The strength of the opera is
| mainly in its ensembles. although there Is
no gainsaying the attractions of Mr.. Sykes
| comedy and Miss Bertram's voice and vi
vacity. Adolph link too, varies the monot-
ony of large-szed comedians New York
| did not commend Foxy Quiller'' highly
In fact, the commentators appeared to take
a positive dislike to it. But 1t played a very
| prosperous season in Philadelphia, and its
r.
| ity on the road
The Lafayette Square is the center of
many rumors. A New York publication is
to the effect that the reign of Walter Clark
Bellows will come to a close April q. when
Mr.. Berger will introduce another stock
company with Frank keenan, as the strong
| quantity. Mr.. Bellows is to conduct a sum-
mer stock company in Denver and II is NOT
known whether Miss HaswelI will remain
with this company join Mr.. Bellows
western organization.
The Lafayette Theater has decided to
give its patrons, as far as possible, a hand
In selecting the plays to be produced at the
| house by the stock company. The system
| Will be 1naugurated this week. when the
| distribution Of a little souvenir folder will
| be commenced. One page of the little book
| let carries list Of about twenty plays
that the management has under considera-
ton Tor production, and the patrons of the
| house are invited to write their choice from
this list on slip of paper, together with
| their names and addresses and leave the
| ballot at the box Office after the perform
ance. These votes will be counted and the
| subsequent productions governed thereby.
| Folders containing portraits of the various
members Of the company will be issued
| each week. One thing that has led to this
| move Is the large number Of letters re-
eeived making suggestions as to the policy
| of the house. Nearly all of these commu-
| nications are sent in the best spirit and
they are accepted in the same way by the
| management as an evidence of interest on
the part of the patrons of the house. 1t is
| interesting to note the wide divergence of
| opinion among the writer's as to what the
Washington public prefers. One wants
| straight melodrama each week; another So
tafn do, ir1 JnIx~
some emphasis because there have been no
Shakespearean revivals. One well-meaning
but evidently inexperienced correspondent
suggested that the company should put
standard opera every few weeks, pointing
out that the musical speciality introduced
| in ''In MiZZoura' proved the ability Of the
company in this line of work. There have
! been good many requests for plays that
1t would be impossible for the house to Sc
| cure at any price, and in this connection
| Mr.. Berger. in talking Of the matter, ex-
planned what the average theater-goer
| does not seem to understand. that the pro-
| duction Of popular plays by a stock COM
pany is largely matter of royalties. which
| cut very large figure in the current ex-
penses Of the house. 1t is not possible for
the management to buy copy of play
| for so cents at secondhand book store
and transfer 1t to his stage. The rights to
all Of the popular plays are held by indi
| vidual authors and managers, and pro-
| tected by copyright. The royalties exacted
run from 500 to $500 or over for a weeks
| use. The week and half of THE Great
Ruby cost the Lafayette $500 in royalties
alone. Other new plays. for instance,
Miss Hobbs and "The Tyranny Of Tears"
| cannot be had for stock purposes at any
| price. The effort of the house, however, is
to give its patrons what they want so far
| as possible. and the voting plan Is to be
tried with the hope that it will give good
| results.
Four plays. new to New York. were pre-
sented in the big metropolis during the
past week. Two of them had their original
presentations. while the remainder have
been fairly successful in other cities. Henry
Miller. in "Richard Savage" and Ethel
| Barrymore, in Captain Jinks of the Horse
| Marines" made their bows Monday night.
| The formers success was Of the mild kind,
but the latter was accorded an enthusiast
| tic reception, the play being most favor
| ably criticised, while the clever acting of
| Miss Barrymore called for unstinted ap-
| proval.
Tuesday night Blanche Bates, in ''Under
| Two Flags" was seen for the first time
| and another success OF the most pro-
| nounced type was recorded. The play it.
| self was treated kindly. the clever handi-
LIZ III