Evening star., 1901-10-15
AMUsEMENTs.

are people who dislike violets, who regard
roses as commonplace, who esteem music
but slightly and who contemplate pictures
with disdain. 1t must be assumed that in
a world displaying such variety of taste
there are people who are not moved to ad-
miration of the winsome personality of
Julia Marlowe. However, these dssenters
from an overwhelming verdict of admira-
ton, if they exist at all. considerably re-
frain from intruding their views. At the
performance of when Knighthood Was in
Flower" last night there were only loyal
partisans. The speech fiend was on hand
and after the third act Miss Marlowe said:
.'On behalf of Mr. Major, the author; Mr..
kester, the dramatist, and the company, L
tnank you. 1t seems quite ordinary in
type But 1t was none the less charming
and appropriately delivered speech. But
without word in it on behalf Of herself
it was little like Hamlet minus the title
role. For Mr.. kester's dramatization, ex-
cellent as it is, owes it's success entirely
to the performance of Miss Marlowe Mr.
Major novel has been thoroughly discussed
as book. Its merits or demerits are not
essential topics in connection with con-
slderatton Of the play. The story has a
good, solid foundation of historic interest,
and the manner of it's telling has unques-
tionably appealed to many readers. Mr..
kesters dramatization Is a work of obvious
care and discernment. and he must be
credited with having selected and combined
with great skill the best that is In the book
in the way of dramatic episode and char
acter portrayal. There is a fascination in
being introduced to so many historic per-
sonages under informal circumstances.
King Henry VII! ceases to be the blood
thirsty Bluebeard so insistentIy pictured
by the historians. The play serves as
reminder that bad as he may have been,
he was human, and must have had at least
occasional relapses into common decency.
The play catches him while he is young
He has not had time to become the hard
ened sinner whom, a part of an early
education, we dutifully and unreservedly
abhor. Only an occasion dominated by the
spirit Of an irreverent madeap like Mary
Tudor could have the courage thus to f1out
tradition. The performance of the part
OF Henry VIII by Charles Harbury was a
very capable one, and for this reason some
thlng of contrast. 1t Is agreeable to meet
with Anne Boleyn and Jane Seymour out
SIDE the sinister atmosphere with which
history has surrounded them. VIII Som
ers, the jester, occasionally fits across the
stage. and there is throughout the piece
grateful feeling that the scenes Of that
period have been restored with intelligence
as well as a regard for romantic effect Miss
Marlowe's thanks to the audience on behalf
OF the company were courtesy, pure and
simple, for the work of the subordinate
members members did not as rule invite especial
without rivalry. She made as loyable a
vixen as ever showered epithets and as
pretty make-beieve boy as ever eloped
with lover in stage life. There Is much
that is clever in the writing Of the play.
put 1t is strongest in it's pictorial quality
Nothing has been left undone in providing
scenery and costumes. The stage was a
power OF beauty in the first act and the
characters throughout the piece looked as
II they had stepped from an edition de luxe
pack of playing cards, with the knayes
very much In majority. There is no at
with the subject, and despite the deficien-
cles In the minor characterizat tions the
production is one of rare merit and extraor-
dinary charm.
LAFAYETTE SQUARE OPERA HOUSE
In the sanguinary category of war nlavs
Bronson Howard's Shenandoah" stands
OUT as one of the most pleasing bits of com
m:ngled humor and pathos given to the
stage. There are thrilling enough incidents
during the course of the four acts. but
there is throughout willingness to omit
the narrowing details, albeit death scene
IN IN Ihe third act wants little in the way
of melancholy impressiveness. That third
act, by the way, is the most strenuous of
all, including, as 1t does, the retreat of
the Union army along the road to Win
chester e and the famous ride of Sheridan
to the rescue. Last night his pace augured
Ill Tor the panic-stricken soldiery "Shen-
andoah' served to introduce to a very large.
a very demonstrative, a very expectant
and finally very much pleased audience at
the Lafayette the new Bellows Stock Com
pany. Mr Bellows organization last year
had most successful season at the I,afay
ette, and II the enthusiastic inauguration 4
last evening be dependable guide the COM
ing dramatic months will be terms Of new
triumphs. While the production was dis
appointingly weak in spots, it sufficed to
develop the full strength of the stock com
pany and to impress the audience that the
organization as 1t now stands is perhaps
the most effective and the most pleas sing
which Mr.. Bellows has yet presented Ali
of the crucial points in a company which
styles OF the drama seem particularly well
fortified and especially in the new mem
bers OF the cast does there appear graft
Tying element of personal magnetism Last
night the veteran members Of the company
We'd with their newer associates in the en-
thusiastic applause which was so lavishly
bestowed John T. Sullivan, Frederic Sulli-
van, Charles Wyngate and Katherine Field
were the old favorites in the cast and their
appearance on the stage, especially Wyn-
gates, always called for handclappings
Il Inc important new players were White
Whittlesy. the leading man; Harry Corson
Clarke, the comedian; Lillian Lawrence,
the leading lady, and Antoinette Walker
the ingenue Each one of these scored an
Individual hit and their work was of a
character to deserve the MANY commitments
they received at the hands of the audience,
Mr.. Whittlesy is a man Of fine stage pres
ence magnificent physique and a voice
OF pleasing melloWness. He is thorouehlv
at home on the stage, is graceful in his
acting and seems to possess about all the
requisites for his trying positions. 1t seems
assured that what he does will be well
done. Miss Lawrence is no stranger to
Washington. Her art is probably at its zen
ith at present. She has many fine uual-
ties on her side and an especially good store
Of dramatic strength when the occasion re-
qulres. Her work will be watched with in
terest. Harry Corson Clarke is another
player well known for his stock work in
Washington, and there is hardly a better
character comedian on the stage today.
Clarke fits in wherever he is placed and
will be valued member Of the organiza-
tion. Little Antoinette Walker completely
won the heart of the audience She is
graceful and pretty. a clinging little girl,
who Is sure to prove favorite John T.
Sullivan is badly cast this week, and his
debut was not altogether pleasing to his
admirers. Mr.. Sullivan as Juvenile maxi
ing love to the ingenue is not all that can
be desired from this actor. Frederic SulIi-
van as an old general is bit too youthful
but clever withal. His "Ahems" are too
gruf. Charles Wyngate as a player of
straight parts has not profited by his west
ern campaign.
CHASE'S NEW GRAND.-Regular pa
irons of vaudeville need not be told of
the excellent bill presented at Chase's New
Grand this week by Hyde's Comedians. |