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

Here the ability of the director shows it
sell; he must be genius for this line of
| work, II 1t be effective. Some directors
can WELD a graceful baton during n per-
| iormance, but the past master is SPLEEN
did choral organizer and he must also aid
F, the principals with his interpretations of
| the score, for his reading of the composer
| should be considered ex cathedra. The
| public at large is generally familiar with
| tors and Arditi, Mancennelli, Damrosch.
and others are masters to conjure with.
| but of the comic opera directors but little
| IS known Probably one Of the most IA
! nllilar faces at the directors desk is 5. L.
| Studley, of the Bostonians. His clear cut
| features and erect bearing would never be
! IorEotten when once fixed in the mind
| ana he has had most rema rkable career
| for even musical directors are credited
| with being erratic and unstable.
| FOR seventeen years he has interpreted
the the scores of the Boston Ideals and the
| 'Bostonians,' and his skillful and kindly
manipulation has aided host OF singers
Before him in stately review have sung
Phillips. Stone, Timer, DeLussan. Hunt
| ington. ID Arville. Davis. Bertram, Mel
| sen, and other famous prima donnas. and
| from many of them he has cherished
mementos- During this time-for nearly
| two decades-he has never missed a per-
Torrance or rehearsal-a remarkable rec
ord; and under his baton have been mar
Ishaled the efforts of every American
composer of reputation. Although Mr..
| Studley is but forty, his public career hav-
| ing been begun so early, there is general
| ly surprise expressed at the statement
| and good joke is told on him by some
admirer who had heard him conduct years
| before and recently wanted to know If
| ne was the son of the Studley of the old
Boston ldeals' Sam: as he Is popu-
| Early known, received his musical educa-
| ton in Boston, and for a while was cele-
brated organist of the Hub. He was Of
| fered his baton by Miss Ober and has re-
manned in this position ever since. becom-
! ing famous as the foremost director in the
country in the light opera field A great
| many of the songs upon which certain
authors have received credit and royalty,
Mr.. Studley has composed, his fidelity and
extreme modesty preventing him from re-
ceiving the recognition which is his due.
Manager Berger of the Lafayette The
atre was seen last night by representa-
tive of The Times in reference to the sum-
mer stock season, which will be inaugu-
| rated next Monday night. The company
will include many members of the pres
emit organization. among them Miss Percy
Haswell. who remains as leading woman,
and Mr. and Mrs Robert Rogers Uouise
Mackintosh). John T. Sullivan will play
leading roles for three weeks, after which
he will go to Denver for the summer. He
will be succeeded in the Berger company
by Edwin Arden, Well-known actor,
who was last seen locally as Metternich
In the Maude Adams production of IL Aig-
lon" Frederick Sullivan will remain for
|
ant stage manager. He will join the Dem
yer company for the summer and has re-
ceived fiattering offer from Mr. Berger
to support Sol Smith Russell next year
The new members of the company will be
t. l.. Coleman, who will play second lead
ing business; Wright Kramer, who will
replace Charles Wyngate in the Juvenile
roles, and Horace Newman, who will sue
coed John Daily Murphy Clara Emory
will be the ingenue, Effie Darling the
second leading woman, and Violet KIM
ball has been engaged for utility parts
All of these young women are Washing
tonians. Later in the season Charles
Stanley will join the company. Mr..
Stanley will be remembered for his clever
portrayals of old men with the Columbia
Theatre stock company last summer.
William Seymour. the new stage mana
ger. is so well known that an Introduction
seems almost unnecessary. Suffice it to
say that he staged the big production OF
Romeo and Juliet" for Margaret Mather
and also the one made by Julia Arthur.
He was responsible for the elaborate pro-
duction given the Shakespearean play by
Charles Frohman last year when Maude
Adams appeared as Juliet, so great re-
suits may be expected when Mr. Seymour
puts the classic on at the Lafayette next
month.
Mr.. Berger. in speaking of his company.
said: We have not decided upon the
length of the season That viii depend on
the public. As long as the people want
the organization it Will remain. The same
scale of productions as has marked the
winter season will prevail and everything
Will be done to make the season a pros
porous one. Plays will be selected from
recent successes. many of which have
never been done in stock. such as Miss
Hobbs and Because She Loved Him So
We shall oDen with 'ROsedale, a royalty
play, and that reminds me that / do not
know to whom We are paying the roy
atty"
The patrons of the Academy of Music
Il
prised at the dramatic talent displayed by
Bob Fitzsimmons, whose THE Honest
Blacksmith" was witnessed by large au-
diences. "Fitz" has never been consid-
cred in the light of disciple of Thespis,
hence his work was all the more in the
nature of a surprise. One of the most
relshed bits of his Performance is the
singing of a song, which he does to give
the villain of the piece-and he is a most
wonderful sort of a villain, too-the idea
that the big fellow is in no condition to
win prizefght. Fitz therefore Stimulates
drunkenness to Illustrate the scoundrels
plans. The scene in which he sings the
song shows a number of convivial COM
panions, to whom the fighter remarks:
SHAY, but I'm drunk, amt l? Eth? |
Whash that? / shay I'm drefly drunk |
and to prove it / going to sing song |
wouldn't think of singing song if wash |
shober. Ever hear me sing a song? You |
tell you all about my troublesh when L |
get drunk
And then Fitz proceeds to MARBLE, some |
thing after the following fashion:
a man always thinks that he's having great
fun-when he's full.
He parts with his senses and likewise his mon
when he's full
His health he endangers and loses his friends;
He does foolish things that he never intends;
When barrooms closed slowly homeward he
wends-when he's full.
In commenting upon the fighters quick |
wit F'itzsimmons' manager the other night |
at the Academy of Music related what he |
averred was a true incident, the occasion |
played by The Honest Blacksmith COM
pany this season. FitZsimmons wasn't any |
too sure of his abilities as vocalist. al |
though he was all right in the bag punch |
ing scene and the sparring match with |
Ed Dunkhorst. On the opening night he |
got through with the first verse in great |
shape, and the applause at the conclusion |
of the verse was tremendous. In fact, |
it was so unexpected that F'itz completely |
forgot the rest of the song and after the |
orchestra had played the introduction
three times the tighter-actor turned
around to his stage companions and said:
"Thash all; I'm too drunk TO sing any
more"
THE Runaway Girl" undoubtedly the
most popular musical comedy that ever
cam. to this country from London, will
be the first Offering Of the musical stock
that will occupy the Columbia
Theatre this spring, commencing May g.
Manager Luckett is in New York City
looking after the details of the engage
ment and supervising the selection OF
the company, and in a communication
10 The Times ventures the assertion that
the organization will be one of the very
hest that has ever appeared in this city.
1t will contain many names that are IA