The Washington times., 1901-09-22

| music. and not always finding it in thos,
theatres that are run merely com
tnerciai specuiations, they stay away alto
| gether. | recently heard a wen n-knowr
| lawyer discussing this very subject. !
am very fond of the theatre. he said
out / rarely go nowadays because / car
never be. sure what am going to see
DAILY had his shortcomings. but. on tbs
whole. things were well done there and
worth seeing. no matter what the bill
was. But some of the present theatres
seem to have no policy whatever, and fol
anyone who does not keep in close touch
with dramatic affairs il is not until ht
has bought his seat and sat through q
meaningless performance that does no.
appeal to him in any way that he dis-
covers he has wasted an evening
This man" went on air. Fiske. simply
expressed what hundreds of New YORKER
think These people, the backbone Ct the
community, love the drama, but they want
a theatre where they teel they can al
ways be sure of finding certain stand
ard of plays and a. certain standard OF
acting. All our productions VIII aim for
a high artistic plane and our players have
been carefully selected. We are not mere
SPECTATORS in theatrical goods. but pro-
ducers. with some thought of the higher
purpose of the drama apart from the box
office. We shall give greater encourage
ment to native dramatists. for we have
found that Mrs. Fiske has been most sue
cessful with homemade plays.
The first production at the Manhattan
will be play made by Mrs Anne Craw-
ford F1exner. from the novel Miranda
of the Balcony by A. h. w. Mason. The
company will include J. f. Dodson, r. V.
Ferguson. Robert T. Haines. Max Fig
man, and Annie Irish.
There is a good deal of talk of James
X. Hackett and his wife, Mary Manner
ing. exchanging plays by which each sets
great store. and from which in the present
state of public taste with regard to the
drama, great deal as to profit is rea-
sonably expected.
1t is thought the dramatization of the
move 'Graustark." held for Miss Man
nering's use. would be a better medium
for Mr. Haciett: and that the play to
be made from THE Crisis secured by
Mr.. Hackett, would provide feminine
star with opportunities superior to those
offered masculine star.
e. ]. Connolly, who plays the role of the
Cohoes reformer in THE Belle of New
York" made many acquaintances while in
London with the musical piece two years
ago. Mr. Connolly was in Chicago with
The Belle company last week and meeting
a Britisher who has always manifested
a fondness for the drama, Connolly OBJ
served:
Il see our friend Guy Standing who
used to be with the Empire Theatre COM
pany is now with Drew"
Pardon me- said the Englishman. but
your grammar is beastly. You should say
he has now withdrawn"
The seventh season of the Pittsburg
Orchestra will consist of eighteen evening
and eighteen afternoon concerts, covering
a period of five months. The expenses of
the orchestra are guaranteed by seventy
men of Pittsburg. Last
seasons expenditures were about sS0000,
of which the guarantors paid but a small
Victor Herbert will remain in Pittsburg
as conductor of the orgs nization, whose
advanced artistic position is evidence of
his ability. The seasons programmes will
include many novelties, among them a
new orchestral suite by Mr.. Herbert and
the suite Die Brautschau," by Fritz
Stahlberg. a member of the orchestra.
Among the works of native American
composers TO be performed are Chad
wick's B fiat symphony and .'Melpomene''
overture, Macdowells indian suite
Harry Rowe Shelly's Santa Claus" over
ture. the new orchestral suite founded on
Jn Oriental subject by Henry Hadley. and
Henry Holden Huss' pianoforte concerto.
.hc osanoforte part to be played by Mr.
, A partial list of the soloists includes
Harold Bauer, Fannie Bloomfield Zeigler,
Jessie Shay, pianists: Madame Schumann-
Heink, Suzanne Adams. Lillian Blauvelt,
Louise Homer, Mr. Campanari, Plunkett
Greene, singers; Fritz Kreisler Luigi Won
<units. Jean Gerardy and Henri Merck.
nstrumentalists.
The orchestra will be heard in New
FORK. Baltimore, Washington, Syracuse,
Roche ester, Toronto, Cleveland, Columbus,
chicago. Milwaukee and Louisville. Prior
o the opening of the Pittsburg season the
orchestra viii be heard for a period of
hree weeks. beginning Monday. October
4, at the Pan-American Exposition.
Irene Bentley. a Washington young
woman who has been a member of the
'asino companies for the last five or six
seasons and who has finally attained to
he proud position of chief feminine sup
'ort to Francis Wilson in The Strollers,''
contributes story of her experiences to
he current number of The Theatre"
diss Bentley says:
In adopting stage career one is usual /
y told to begin at the bottom of the |
adder but in six years / have seen hun |
Ireds begin at the bottom of that |
anne ladder and-to be Hibernian-they I
ave been descending ever since. 1t is
likely that the stage is unique in the fa- I
,ilities it offers for progressing back
ward; and it is pitiable indeed to look
,ver the ranks and see the many who (
lave "A beautiful future behind them I
\ well-known singer recently advised /
Toung women, if they wished to go on the I
tage, not to begin in the chorus. This
very pleasant-sounding advice, but |
is about as practical as to say don't
,e poor, or whatever you do, be sure to
'e successful
Where is young aspirant to begin if
ot in the chorus? There is Just one thing
"a he singer q ll 2
he chorus ranks; that is a remarkable /
oice. If girl has voice far above the |
she may get bit of solo or be
allowed to prance on and say, (
Here comes the Prince or Who is this
tranger approaching? As rule the pos
essor of beautiful voices are just the
mes who need chorus training to give
hem familiarity with the stage; and even
hen aspirants have good voices they
eem to find themselves in the chorus.
1iss Russell, Miss Glaser, and Miss May,
re examples. Miss Mary's advancement
;as rapid, for she had the good luck to
ave Mr.. kerker discover her voice, and
er beauty and charm enabled her to
eep the place she won. Nearly all the
singers of light opera and mus
,al comedy have had chorus training,
nd / think, perhaps, the actor who
'rote Shakespeare's plays may have
ad this In mind when he wrote Sweet
re the uses of adversely. The exper-
noes of working up in the profession
re full of bitterness, profitable if one has
trength of purpose, but absolutely |
-usmng if one is easily discouraged.
Possibly my own experiences may con-
ain a hint to some of the ambitious +
oung women who are tripping on with
he rest of the villagers. When circum-
tances made II necessary for me to earn |
living for myself and Others | asked |
manager for an engagement. | had
layed leading characters in the perform .
noes Of a well-known Washington club,
nd had had an amateurs success. New |
rtheleSs the best i could get WAS n | )
hance in the chorus. If one chances to | !
ave any ideas or any first vague gleam-
lgs of intellect, the chorus is the place !
have them blighted. You are not ex- I