The Washington times., 1901-09-15

warm treatment of antique oak WainScot,
deep red panels, and bronze doors and
cornices the cornice being supported by
dramatic masks. A domed arch of
bronze springs from the Cornice, its pam
els being flied with opaleseent glass,
through which light is diffused from elec-
trio lamps concealed above.
The theatre lobby walls are covered
with green striped velour. with festoons
of drapery around the frieze, and there is
a bronzed paneled ceiling. Over the man
tel facing the stairway is the portrait of
Mrs. Efske by Jongers, and the stairway
and subsidiary spaces are adorned with
pictures that contribute to an atmosphere
of elegance. Throughout the theatre
wherever possible silk velour draperies,
with cords and taSSels, take the place OF
doors and give the boxes and passage
ways Il luxurious appearance. On the
sounding board above the proscenium
arch as 4 mural painting by Frank +.
Gates, and the sprandels over the upper
tier of boxes are adorned with other
paintings descriptive of the drama. These
are Illuminated by special lights conceal
ed. and the whole lighting system in fact
Is novel. By distribution the glare usual
in theatres is eliminated. Instead of the
conventional chandelier the ceiling lights
are grouped in several large CoronaS
around the ventilating opening. which
usually is unsightly and thus is hidden.
Tho balcony and gallery fronts have
lights growing out of their decorations
that present the appearance of flowers
with delicate pink and green petals. The
rear of the auditorium is lighted by torch
balcony by groups of wall torches
The whole theatre is heavily carpeted
IN green, and a carpet will extend out
over the sidewalk to the curb during per-
formances. A new stage with every
known appliance for lighting, etc, mod
ern dressing rooms with all conveniences,
and every device and cars for fire protec-
ton briefly sum up the notable improve
ments made in the Manhattan by its new
manager.
hA fpnt
to the players best fitted to support her
1t is difficult to recall more efficient
cast than that employed in the produc-
ton of THE Climbers" which the
actress manager will present for the first
time in this city at the National Theatre
IN October. Robert Edeson, Frank
Carew, Ethel Winthrop, Minnie Dupree.
Madse Carr Cooke, Bijou Fernandez and
Miss bingham are d combination difficult
70 equal.
To her skill in the selection of her COM
pany Miss Bingham owes the success
which enabled her to continue .The
Climbers at the Biiou Theatre for 20O
nights. She was the first woman to at
tempt management in New York in re-
Gent years. and she has now established
herself as Americas only actress
manager.
Polite vaudeville should have its most
satisfactory and successful period this
season," said P. B. Chase, of Chase's
Theatre, yesterday, when interviewed by
a Times man In the great rush which
was made to its standard last season."
ne continued, there naturally erept in
among the rest some poor acts The |
managers were not long in spotting these.
however. The weeding-out process has |
been accomplished and the offerings which |
VIII be made this season will include only |
Inc known quantities and the very best |
qualitieS. Bills of evenly balanced merit |
viii be the rule. with novelties In the |
supremacy. The top-heavy programmes |
person who now has a place on a vaude- |
vile bill must have the required talent |
ana ambition The vaudeville providers |
VINO are the most energetic and up-to-date
are those who are now in control of the
SITUATION, and the result will be. believe
the most enjoyable vaudeville offerings
,l ine people Of Washington have ever
II would indeed be an migrate" con-
tintled Mr. Chase, IF 1 did not at this
time- In opening my fourth season here,
ton to the Washington playgoers for the |
ready responses. they have made to all
the efforts / have put forth. l have en-
aeayored to cooperate with my patrons
TO feel their wants in advance and give |
70 them the very best things produced in
this country or. imported from London or
the Continent. The Washington people
are delightful class to deal with and to |
cater to. A man must but be acquainted 1
with the high ideas of life and of living
which the people here as rule maintain.
TO tell Just what they desire in the thea :
trical line. They want the best and only
the best. They are indeed quick to APP
preciate that which is meritorious and are
equally rapid in repudiating that which
does not come up to their standard. The
success of my house, | feel, has been due
to my cooperation with the patrons.
haze always tried to make them feel
that this theatre is their home-a home |
enterprise and institution throughout-and |
10 give them all the luxuries and con-
veniences which they are used to and
which they should have of right
During the coming season Chases
Theatre will continue to be the hospitable |
place il has been in the past. In the eff |
fort TO increase the enjoyment of the
heatregoers here | have arranged for an | !
augmented orchestra Under the direc- | ,
ion of AL Strauss the organization will be ! /
heard in concerts each afternoon and | )
svening preceding the performance. Here ! !
.ofore only an overture has been rem 3
3ered. In the future the concert will be-
gin from fifteen TO twenty minutes be-
Iormances will begin, however. at the
'ame hours as heretofore-2:15 in the
afternoon and Sic in the evening"
Stephen Phillips is more in demand as ,
dramatist at this moment than even /
.rthur Wing Pinero. At no time in this {
generation, il not indeed in this half cen I
ury, have poetic plays of modern making =.
cen so much sought. Should the author /
( "Herod'' and ''Paolo and Francesca" S
AIRY both his pending ventures to both I
tage and literary success he can credit
imself with having almost alone chang {
the current OF the drama
When Mr.. Phillips began to write for ]
he stage he was told that the day of | i
tiff poetic discourse had gone from the | /
heatre forever, yielding to the more
exible and the more human prose.
,eauty of diction and grandeur OF pas ,
ion, even when they were the adorn- /,
tents of action and of situations Of dra- !
,atic power. he was informed, were not v
sufficient offset to the mechanics OF
oetry. "Paolo and Francesca" did not .
ute stifie the cries, for 1t was declared :
ut when ..Herod'' proved an acting as :
-eil as a reading play, there was a pro- :
ounced veering of sentiment. :
If anything. Mr.. Phillips is now too )
opuIar. and it IS evident that he is being :
ampted by the urgent market to be too !
rolific of plays. Certainly two plays of |
ne calibre of "Herod" cannot be COM !
osed in a single year. Yet that is what =
lay going TO Z. s. Willard, as the means
launching that actor at a London the
tire Of his own twelve months hence, | ,
nd the other becoming the property Of =
uiia Marlowe.
For she sake OF Miss Marlowe. the ac- y
-ess best qualified Of any before the d
merican public for a noble, poetic and | =
,agic role, il is to be hoped that no has a
Is made play will be sent to her. The | a
lbject tentatively chosen. that OF Joan | T.
Arc, should yield itself grandly TO Mr.. ! v
illlips' treatment, and IL would be too | -
ad to have the work of literary sculp-
Iring marred by hurried blows. Miss
IarloTe and the playwright consulted ca
bout the topic and even in some degree n
le plot and there seems to be little | a
oubt that the unfortunate heroine of =,
xrrsl h.. |