Evening star., 1901-12-07

: RlEz'y |'||I'|''|||
No one who has admired the picturesque
and complete vilIainy of Francois Villon can
contemplate Justin H. McCarthy's play IF
/ Were King anything but an imperti-
nence. Villon. could ne be reincarnated,
would assuredly address an insulting bal
lade to the people interested in this feeble
conspiracy TO Hisrepresent him as sweet
and amiable candidate for placid domes
ITCHY. Mr.. Sotnern. with rara and ire
pro&chable art, has taken the dirty cut
throat washed his face, combed his hair
put a clean shirt on him and, behold a gen
tleman, Even in the roles ruGeSt moments
it is not Viilon at all. 1t is Mr.. Sothern in
disguise. 1t would be dangerous to picture
the poet whose name appears in the cast
of characters. as the wild beast which.
according to all accounts, he was Bot
tom had the right idea when he rehearsed
his little troupe in The Midsummer Night s
Dream" There is not a more fearful wild
fowl thar your lion living; the actor must
name his name and let his face be seem in
order that the ladies shall not be frightened
How far an author or the actor under
whose direction he to a greater or less ex-
tent works has a right to go in such bio
graphic garbling is a question. To picture
Villou as the man of exalted moral quail
ties that he is in this play is no less an alb
surdity than it would be to bring Judge JET
freyS upon the scene as a worthy magis-
trate like our own Judge Kimbal. for in
stance or TO endow Lucretia Borgia with
the kindly and sincere qualities of dear
Susan B. Anthony. Yet if Villon had been
depicted in his true colors. there might
have been thunders of protest against the
introduction of such a character on the
stage.
Except for the effort to palm off the prin-
cipal character as a portrait of Villon the
play is admirable. 1t has literary quality.
as fine as it is unusual. When an author
can venture as Mr. Mccarthy does, upon
such hyperboe as Il am so happy that my
forehead scrapes the heavens and scat
ters the stars in gold dust at my feet he
may claim hOnors as n true poet. The
phraseology combines elegance with power
and Mr. Sothern's portrayal of the role is
worthy of the man whom many students
of the stage regard the chief hope of
future American drama.
Louis Mann offered his Irresistible dialect
In play which is curious combination
OF farce and melodrama- Mr.. Mann makes
TO secret of his ambitions to be recognized
as a serious actor He is earnest in his
assumptions and speaks of himself in a
way that would be egotistic in man who
was less earnest. He has made the pub
lie laugh So often that there was alert
ness to find humor in some of his most
49,.
gled with sincere applause has irritated
him. and in fit of exasperation after one
of his performances this week he ex-
claimed:
I'll show them yet, I'll prove to them
that I am one of the greatest character
actors this country has ever seem
Louis Mann holds the season record for a
short speech After the second act of THE
Red KIoof'' at Monday nights perform
ance he was called back to the stage half
a dozen times. Finally the shouts for a
speech compelled him to make some re-
sponse He remained at the back of the
stage halted a little. and then said hes-
tatingiy. Ladies and Geneltmen: There are
still two acts more. So.' dropping into the
yernacular Of his part. watts de usse?'
The Lafayette secured abundant and ap-
ity." Mr. Bellows is proceeding on the plan
of giving the patrons VIDE variety of en-
tertainment from romance to comedy, ans
the versatility displayed by the organiza-
tior is remarkable
Chases Theater presented Pete Daley il
sketch which looked as if it might have
been the remains of Champagne Charley.
the play by Augustus Thomas, In which ne
started. but did not finish. 1t was an anus
ing affair and the remainder of the bill
contained a number of inviting features
Next week Chase's steps into the legitimate
field with the assurance that polite vaude-
VILE is still to be the standard menu of the
season
The story of the understudy who steps in
and makes hit is an old one. A conspieu-
Gus heroine of such an episode TINS season
is Marie Drofnah. with the company IN
which Charles b. Hanford Is starring as
Petruchio in Tanning of the Shrew-
Helen Grautley who has played the part
so well as to make it doubtful whether a
cornpetent successor could be found, was
i'll and Miss Drofnah undertook the role of
Katherine Her success was very pro-
uounced and is especially interesting to
Washington because Drofnah is in reality
'.Hanford'' spelled backward, and Is the
stage name of the popular shakespearean
actors wife.
The coming week is to be one of rare In
terest in this city. The business compiica-
tions which compel Henrietta CrOsman to
appear in theater not ordinarily devoted
10 the legitimate drama enhance the Gu
riosity concerning her merry play, which
has set the country talking and made
George C. Hazelton of this city, who wrote
il. a national celebrity. Mr.. Perley s
.Chaperons' will supply musical comedy
to those who yearn for light and unpreten
tious entertainment: and the yearnins
seems Unsuitable. Washington Is to enjoy
a first night of paramount importance
1t is seldom that a Washington theater
does not open its doors on Monday night
1.-The Climbers did not attempt to open
until Tuesday. Mrs. Leslie Carters initial
performance of DuBarry viii be POSTPONED
still later into the week In order to insure a