The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-12-31
THE PLAYER FOLK.


cynie reverts darkly to the English re-
sentiment Of American play offerings.
On this subject one of London's most
prominent players, now appearing in this
country with much success. said: ssThe
idea that the English public has any feel
ing in the matter is absolute rot Per-
haps few actors resent American sue
cesses in London because their pockets
are affected; and a few newspapers may
oppose what they term the American in
vasion' for the palpable reason that they
seek to gain popularity by this patriotic
dodge; but the public cares nothing what
ever about it, The public wants good
plays and whether they come from Amer
lea or Timbuctoo makes no diTere nee.
They viii so to see what pIeases them.
and they viii stay away from what doesn't
please them, and their choice is placei on
purely selfish grounds. At the present
time William Gillette and Are You a
Mason?' are two of the biggest successes
in London. and both are American. Fur
thermore. II is not forgotten in London
that America has been one of the best
customers that English play Erights and
actors have ever known, and even the
temporarily aggrieved ones would hest
tate to bring about strained relations with
such liberal buyers Of their export goods.
Mr.. La ShelIe has announced nrac-
tleaIiy the whole of the London cast for
Arizona II includes Theodore Roberts.
vincent SeFranO, William Harcourt. To-
seph kilgouT, Edgar SeIwyn. William Har-
worth. George OFDonneH. Stephen French.
Olive May, Alice Chandler and Eleanor
Willin
It is Mr. La sheIie's intention to give
special afternoon performance of 'sArf-
zena at some New York theatre with
the London cast. Just before the organiza-
ton sails, which viii not only give New
Workers an opportunity to see this favor
tie play exactly as performed at the AdeI-
phi, London, but viii enable patriotic
Americans 10 give a distinctly native
product rousing send-of-
Charles HaBtrey. the Bo1--or actor,
who is now delighting New York audi
ences with his Message from Mars" is
not only good actor, but very keen
business man During the run Of The
Bonnie Brier Bush. at the Republic The
atre- New York, Mr. Hawtrey saw the
play and Immediately securef an option
on it for London presentation. Negotia-
tons have just been brought to salts
factory conclusion. and the MacLaren play
viii be presented at Mr. Hawtrey's Lon
don theatre by a special company early
next season
So impressed was Mr. Hawtrey by the
production OF this drama that he has or
and VIII also take over the original stage
manager. John Stapleton. to make the
production in order that no detail Of he
American performance will be omitted
Mr. Hawtrey believes The Bonnie Brier
Bush" VIII make an unquesGonable sue
cess, not only IN London, but throughout
Great Britain
IN The Unwelcome Mrs Hatch" in
which Mrs. Fiske is successfully appear
ing at Manhattan Theatre, New York.
notable scenic invention is employed The
scenes OF any considerable depth that
require the representation Of an expanse
Of sky or distance have heretofore lack
ed Illusion because of the use OF what
are known as borders" These have been
painted to represent sky. or q perspective,
and placed a few feet apart TO I'll in the
depth Of the stage It has been impos-
sible to light these borders, % they would
appear to melt into each other, the sharp
outlines OF each showing. and thus de-
stroying to the spectator the appearance
of space or distance.
To overcome this fatal defect in stage
pictures Harrison Grey Fiske, manager
of the Manhattan. devised an immense
framework sustaining canvas upon which
the sky or landscape is painted to rise
from the back OF the stage from behind a
'set piece at an angle Of 5 degrees, the
landscape OF sky extending to the hori-
ZOC, being paicted on the latter. Begin
ming at the top OF the setpiece the sky
piece extends Upward TO a great height.
gradually curvi1g over the stage and
forming a dome the highest part OF which
ends in, and is hidden by, the branches
and foliage of trees.
This device had much to GO with the
effectiveness of the desert scene in Mi
also witnessed in the Central Park scene
IN '@Fhe UnweIcome Mrs Hatch" It is
one OF the devices that have tended TO at
tracz attention TO the material perfec-
lions of the productions al the Manhat-
tan.
Two of the important performers in
Charles Frohman's Sweet and Twenty"
presented for the first time In this coun-
try last night at the Madison Square
Theatre. New York, were Mr. and Mrs
Sydney Drew.
The Drews have for number Of years
been among the headline attractions of
vaudeville and their sketch, when Two
Hearts are Won has been very popular
Their last appearance on the regular
stage was as members OF q company sup
porting Mrs John Drew in repertoire of
classical comedies.
Sydney Drew at one time figured that
he possessed sufficient ability to follow
III the footsteps of his more distinguished
ard talented brother, John, but few
weeks Of playing to empty houses soon
shattered this idea, and in conjunction
with his wife, Gladys Rankin, he took
to the shelter of the vaudevilIes
All Of the Washington Theatres will
give special New Year matinees tomor-
row.
Griggs in Ene Senate.