Evening star., 1901-04-30
ANU SENENTS.

LAFAYETTE SQUARE THEATER-It
was good to hear the orchestra in tho
Lafayette Square Theater last night A
sense of reminiscent paImy-day respecta-
bility pervaded the being of the auditor
as he listened, perhaps for the first time
in years, to the pizzicato. which indicates
the foot falls of an approaching villain. the
tremolo. which betokeus awful suspense,
and the crash chord, which shows that the
situation has broken loose in dead earnest
and that something vigorous in the way OF
action is about to enSue. "RosedaIe" is
distinctly an old fashioned play. Some of
the episodes employed seem very artifi-
cial and the necessity of doing something
to keep the audiences interested while the
stage hands are at work on another scene
Is at times palpaby disclosed. But the
play has sterling merits, for which the
change of custom in theatric writing cam
rot destroy our respect. There may be
temptation to poke fun at the inconsequen-
tfal detail obtruded here and there but 1t
is like rdiculing the manner in which
some antique parsonage was dressed when
the artist preserved his likeness as an
honored heirloom. The known worth of
the subject is too great to allow fippancy
more than passing smile at the oddity OF
its embellishments. In that elder day the
little fripperies of word-play and prorract-
ed small part comedy were the evidences
OF a dramatic beau ideal. And even now
they have advantages. For instance they
introduced Mr.. Rogers in little mono
1cgue scene, whore he developed unsus-
pectcd capabilities in a pas de seul and
gave Il good picture of the country squire,
who is too old to dance, but who will not
own up to it. Several other good bits of
work We're thus developed in passing, but
scarcely enough to compensate for the
delay in the action which they We're sup
posed to conceal. Perhaps players were
different in those days. Perhaps the old
timer speaks truly when he says that in
that era. such roles could be made attrac-
tive because they could be well cast that
acting not then mere trade, but a
lofty privilege for which genius often
rificed a supper. And then again, the pres
ent lapse of interest may be due to the
education year by year of audiences 1t
would be a good theme for debating So
ciety.
The part of Elliott Grey was played by
John T. Sullivan. The younger generation
has heard, many a time, how Lester Wall
lack and Lawrence Barrett used to play
Elliott Grey. But the majority of those
who will See Mr.. Sullivan will not be in
position to make any comparisons, and will
be content to accept him as heroic lover
a fine soldier and a gentleman from his
head to his-no, not quite to his heels; from
his mead TO the price tag at the hem CT his
dressing gown. 1t must be admitted that
no real gentleman would wear a price tag
on his dressing gown. The circumstance
would hardly be worthy of mention If it
had not served to emphasize Mr.. Sullivan'S
success IN the role. The small
white slip haunted him through entire
scene, but the prolonged twitterings of
feminine amusement finally subsided. ard
Mr.. Sullvans work asserted itself for it's
honest value. Little incongruities have so
often served to wreck an entire evenings
performance that it is worthy of record
that Mr.. Sullivan triumphed brilliantly and
completely over a price tag. The scene in
which he studies the Lord Bateman song
with Rosa Leigh was especially good Miss
Haswell's recent accident prevented her
appearance. and this part was assumed by
Minnie Radcliffe, who was fortunately
familiar with the lines and who came from
New York to appear in the piece. Her per-
formance was graceful and spirited and
won much approval. decided hit was
scored by Thomas Coleman as Miles Nc
kenna, the character villain of the play
Mr.. Coleman handles the dialect of the Eng
lish gipsy like man who has studied his
subject and knows what he is about He
gave really fine impersonation of a st trong
and picturesque role.
Few of your old-time plays We're regarded
as complete without comic "old maid"
When "Rosedale' was written feminnity
had not reached this bfurcated epoch when
many people, far from deterring her by
ridicule. are tempted to applaud and en-
courage the woman who has declined to
add to the nations matrimonial conaplica-
tions, Miss Mcintosh, with true heroisn
sacrificed considerations of personal ap-
pearance for art s sake, and interpret ed the
humorous possibilities of the part in a way
Of the evening. Wright Kramer played the
young lover with discretion. William Sey-
mour, the new stage director, scored a most
creditable first night production. good
weeks business is assured "Rosedale" he
cause, in addition to advantages it has in
the way of intrinsic interest, it comes yery
near being the only dramatic attraction In
town.
CHASE'S NEW GRAND.-With Keith's
&ssemblage OF merry makers, who consti-
tnte what he is pleased to term "A Grand
Spectacular Production holding over from
last week, and with THE Girl With the
Auburn Hair as new feature, another
alluring entertainment is afforded the pa
irons of Chase's this week. An audience
that took possession of the entire seating
capacity of the house last evening en-
| toyed the drill, the dance and the pageant
as thoroughly as though they were being
presented for the first time, and attested
| its pleasure by demanding that the cur
/ tain be raised on the tableaux time and
again. The Girl With the Auburn Hair"