The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-21

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but which on account OF their popularity
have not been seen sontside of the me-
tropolis. They are 1.-THE Climbers, in
which Amelia Bingham appears at the
Lane" which William A. Brady has pre-
scented at his Manhattan Theatre with
more than ordinary suecess. Both Ihe
Climbers and Lowers Lane are from
the pen of Clyde Fitch who this season
has turned out more Profitable dramatic
material than any other native writer Tor
the stage. In Philadelphia last week MIR.
Brady produced for the first time play
based on the life of Betsy Ross, famed
as the maker of the first American nag.
In the titular role is seen Phoebe Davis,
recalled for her admirable Interpretation
of Anna Moore, the heroine in Way
Down East" Reports from the early per
formances of Betsy Ross are to the
effect that it is WHAT'S termed in theat-
rical parlance as winner. Mr. Brady
has also given New Workers. an important
revival of Uncle Toms Cabin which
has been eminently successful.
IN the Frohman group of stars are in
oludcd Maude Adams, Annie Russell. VIII
liam Gillette, John Drew, Mrs. Carter,
Ethel Barrymore. Edna May, w; H.
Crane, and, until very recently, Julia
Marlowe. Miss Adams most important
work was seen this season in Il Aiglon,
in which she appeared to better advan-
tage than in any of the plays in which
she has yet been starred Mrs. Carter s
popularity in 'Iaza" has been sufficient
to carry the Belasco adaptation success
fully through third year, and 1t is with
the greatest reluctance this remarkable
actress rclinquishes the role in favor of
her new part, 'DuBarry," which she Will
show next season. Fo;- the first time in
his career as a Frohman star, John Drew
is reputed to have lost money. Last year
IL became evident that his manager would
have to get some offering that would re-
juvenate this brilliant actor-essentially
light comedian, however. it should be
remembered-and a dramatiZation of that
wonderfully stirring tale, Richard Car
vel, was secured. At first prosperity
seemed to follow Mr.. Drew, but toward
the end of his metropolitan engagement
half-nlled houses We're the rule and not
the exception. His local engagement last
week was anything but a great financial
success. while artisticaliy it was much in
the nature of failure. Annie Russell,
fitted to T in "A Royal Family" ran
well throughout the year at the Lyceum,
New York. and she achieved a distinct
Gillette retained his Sherlock Holmes
for this year and has been eminently
successful so far as money returns are
concerned, while there are a great many
intelligent persons who confess to liking
the play, melodrama of the most lurid
type. And now comes the announcement
that next year Mr. Gillette will be seen
in Hamlet"
During the year Mr.. Frohman launched
as star Ethel Barrymore. whose prin-
cipal claims to stellar honors were the
facts that she is the neice of John Drew,
in whose company she formerly appeared,
and that she is very extensively engage
ed-to-be-married young lady. If the news
paper announcements are to be believed.
Miss Barrymore was fitted with play
from the Clyde Fitch factory, entitled
Captain links of the Horse Marines"
and she has been received very favorably
in New York. Mr.. Frohman has also pre-
sented dramatized version of the Mary
Johnston story ITO Have and to Hold
with not much success, however. and after
a few weeks at the Knickerbocker Thea
ire. New York. 1t was sent on a tour.
Self and Lady proved to be so bad that
Mr.. Frohman was compelled to take 1t off
after three weeks trial. The Little
Napoleon of managers has also been
guilty. of presenting several farces of
French extraction, but they have failed
to draw. and consequently have been
shortlived. The experience of this season
should be sufficient evidence to the man
agerial mind that the American public is
heartily sick of the French farces in which
marital iniidelity usually forms the chief
theme. Mr.. Frohman ventured once more
into the field of musical comedy after
half-dozen of unsuccessful ventures, and
in THE Girl From Up There of which
a Washington audic rce had the first view
presented Miss Edna May, surrounded by
a company of exceptional strength, so far
as names go, in ones of the most unlikely
stage. II was kept going at the Herald
Square Theatre New York. for several
months at a loss. principally for the bene-
fit that might result in Advertising for the
London engagement which is Just about to
The firm of Liebler & Co. closely ap-
proaches Charles Frohman in the mat
ter of Importance as stage producers. AT
the head of the Liebler list of stars is
Viola Allen, who was this season fur
nished with stage version of Marion
Crawford's novel, In the Palace of the
King" which she used with much success
on the road, and later In New York where
she has made one of the real hits of the
year. In James A. Herne and his Sag
Harbor." the Lieblers have another
winner. while James ONeil, in his
production of Monte Girls
to, presented this year on a more
elaborate scale than ever. has brought
his managers. Henry +. Dixey was
tried as "A star in a version Of Dr. Mitch
ellis story, THE Adventures of Fran
COTS" but the result WIS disastrous. and
after an engagement of two weeks in
Philadelphia the play was withdrawn and
Dixey returned to vaudeville Mrs. Lee
Moyne, popular in Washington on account
IF her splendid work in THE Greatest
his excellent play during the year. and
has been greeted wherever she has APP
peared outside of New York by large
gatherings. "Unleavened Bread" which
closed it's season in this city few weeks
ago, was product of the Lieblcrs and
was one of the most artistic performances
IF recent years. The company was an ex-
,eptionally able one, while the dramatiza-
ion Of Judge Grants book was a note
worthy specimen of transferring a story
rom between covers to the footlights
But the performance was evidently too |
good for the populace and as a box office |
attraction 1t was a decided failure, not
the fact that all who wit |
lessed the play went into raptures over |
[. and the work of the presenting or |
sanization. The Liebers make the impor- |
ant announcement that this spring they !
Will present Otis Skinner. Mrs LeMoyne. |
md Miss Eleanor Robson, famous for her |
excellent work as Bonita I'm Arizona" |
lere last year, and her this seasons F1os- |
he Williams in "UnleaVened Bread" in !
3rownings In Balcony Lost |
River" was also staged by the Liebler /
company, and while successful as a pop |
attraction. it did not appeal |
o the patrons of the syndicate houses. |
md it was taken off the boards after an |
existence of a few months.
To Judge by the record of this wear.
omic opera seems to be in a bad way for |
'uch prominent attractions as the Ros-
onians and Frank Daniels have gone
through the season with old pieces while |
francis Wilson had to resort to an opera /
hat he had had in his possession for four
IT five years and which was passed over
n favor of Half a King" "Cyrano de
Anna Held. too. used "Papa's Wife" for
second year, while grand opera in Eng
ish was given fair trial and proved un-
popular
New stars such as Lulu Glaser and Je-
ONE Sykes appeared in the comic opera
ornament, and while Miss Chaser lasted
few months. Mr.. Skyes, in the De Koven-
ninth Foxy CUTLER" has proceeded tri-
on his way. making money
nd much fame. Jefferson De Angels has
ad an Indifferent sort of a success in "A
loyal Rogue. THE Rose OF Persia"
With an English company. the recollection
+ which gives one the shudders, even at
his late day, withered and fell by the
yayside in this city last fall. although
Is music was tuneful and in MANY WAYS
etter than much that Sir Arthur Sullivan