The Washington times., 1901-10-27

Z
she came back, and of course that would
/ never do in the world
THE days when it was thought desira-
ble to surround star with a company of
inferior players in order that By compari-
son he might shine more brightly. and
when scenic environment was given very
little attention, are passed. says Charles
Dalton, who is to make his debut as a
star in Bertha Runkle's dramatization of
her novel, Tine Helmet Of Navarro at
the National Theatre next week. In
these days even the most minute detail
Of a big production is as carefully plan
ned and carried out as the most import
ant. 1t is the summing up OF the thou
sand and one little things that makes Il
harmonious whole. No good actor Will
suffer by comparison with other players
Of merit. A star, If he be worthy of the
name does not need to be followed about
the stage by a imelight, always flling
the centre Of the picture while his com
panons form only kind of animated
BACKGROUND In The Helmet Of Ma
varre' there are several very strong parts
that might be blue penciled, perhaps, by
some actors, fearing that other individual
successes in the company might detract
from their own. To my mind, however,
the more strong parts and the more good
work done by others the more favorable
viii be the opinion of the audience-the
people who Will go to see the play ana
not to see me alone.
..Of course We are all going to do our
best and | hope my friends will be pleased
with my Interpretation OF the rolc OF
Etienne. Mr.. Greet has certainly done
everything that money could do to make
this production success. Some ol New
York y best scenic artists are now at work
on five very heavy sets OF scenery men,
/ am told, will cost in the neighborhood
of Sc coo Madam Seidel has designed some
most beautiful costumes and Dazian is
reproducing them with "A total disregard
for cost. As for the company one mas only
to look over the names of the people en-
gagged to see that II is one of the strong
est organizations of the season. SheTi-
dan Block retired from Mansilelds com
pany to accept this engag cement; Rose
Fytinge. who has been in retirement for
some time was so pleased with the part
Of the Princess De Retz that she decided
to return to the stage again. Grace ELI
son Eleanor Barry and Eleanor Brown
ing are 50 well known that their names
need only be mentioned. and the same
may be said Of many others. There Will
be over fifty people in the company to say
nothing of a big force of supernumeraries
All this is in favor of Ii success, but un-
fortunately / am rot the one TO decide
whether or not the performance VIII be
what everyone connected with the com
pany SAYS il will be. The people who
make a business of writing or producing
or acting plays are not always the best
critics-stranRe as it may seem. II ~ the
public that settles the fate OF a play or
a player"
The promptness with which Washing
toaians embrace innovations that tend to
their comfort and convenience Is evil
denced by the list Of applications for the
reservation and delivery Of tickets now
on file at r Arthur Smiths ticket SER
vice. l3g7 + Street. The system of filing
orders for tickets by mail or phone. and
having them delivered to offices or resi-
q .nccs ohviates the loss of time and in
attendant upon standing in
line The small service charge Of ten
cents induces many to avail themselves
of this opportunity to obtain desirable To-
cations.
Much iHsistence is placed on the fact
that Mansfeld's latest success. Beau
caire." is not dramatization Of Booth
novelette,, Monsieur Beau
caire" though the same set Of characters
appear in comedy and book, and much
the same sequence Of incident. This
sounds naradoxicaL
About twenty years ago ". S. Gilbert
published an article in a london maga-
zine. giving some good advice about play
writing, based upon his personal ex-
perence He urged the aspiring dram
ltist 10 write the plot of his play first
in the form Of story, with much care |
as he could command. Then when the |
story was revised and perfected he could |
recast ii in dramatic form. Probably Mr. !
Harrington never saw this article and |
vet " "Beaucaire' IS an example of what !,
may be done by following Mr. Giibcrt's |
ldYIce.
Mr. Harrington is said to have begun !
he story as the scenario for "A play II |
grew under his hands. and when he had |
ihished u H. FOUND that with little re-
ouching II made admirable novelette, |
He offered IL TO a publisher who issued i
| in appropriately attractive form. with
he instantaneous popularity that Is well
Lnown.
When the author came to write the play
In which he has had some assistance from