Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-05-14
ANU SEMENTS.

COLUMBIA THEATER. - The second
week of the Columbias season of musical
comedy was opened last night with a pro-
duction of THE Geisha" The prospects.
measured by the well-illed and gladstone
stage, and a corresoondingly well-flled and
gladstone auditorium, are decidedly auspi-
cious. The Geisha' has been popular in
Washington since its first presentation and
deservedly SO, for not since the "Mikado"
has there appeared more pleasing musi-
cal production of this class. With its en-
trancing melodies, its beautiful setting and
the general air of daintiness, THE Geisha"
furnishes three hours Of unalloyed delight.
Throughout the production there runs q
trace of humor, never so broad as to become
more than mere shadow of burlesque.
The opera was effectively presented last
night. The chorus well trained and
the work of the orchestra was excellent
The scenic effects were handled to advan-
tage and the costuming of the play added
to its beauty. Miss Elgie Bowen as o Mi
mosa San, made a most bewitching Geisha
Her voice and figure seem suited to- the
accepted Interpretation of the character of
a Geisha girl. Last night Miss Bowen cap
tivated the audience with her song The
Pearl of ASIA, and won four encores
John Park as Reggie Fairfax showed him
self the possessor of a good voice and suf-
ficient self-possession to aid in carrying
along some of the less confident members
of the support. Paula EdWardes as Molly
Seamore received several encOres for her
clever acting and dancing and for her gem
uine and eferVeScent humor. Henry Nor
man, as the Marquis Imari, and Joseph
Ccnyers, as Wun Hi, the Chinaman, car
ried the principal comedy roles and Sc
cured a liberal share of laughs. Grace
Belmont, as the dashing French girl, with
out whom no musical comedy Is complete
was a sprightly and amusing parsonage
In some respects this production of The
Geisha'' Is a more ambitious one than has
been previously given here. Both Miss
oil nd Do RI hn1
have not been customarily included in pre-
sensations of the piece. These numbers
Were among the lyrics more literally IA
vored with applause. The lateness Of the
hour showed an over-amiable intention on
the part of the management to assure
| value received in quantity well as in
! quality.
IAFAYE TTE SQUARE OPERA HOUSE
| The reconstructed Lafayette Square Stock
| Company last evening produced Pinero' 8
| The Magistrate" Those who attend the
| performances of the stock company regu-
| larly have acquired the habit of leaving
| the theater well satisfied, and last evening
| proved no emphatic exception to the rule,
although from artistic standpoint the
! work of the organization was somewhat
| lacking. The Magistrate" farce in four
| acts. is by the author of such well-known
| successes as Sweet Lavender The Anna
, IONS and "Trelawney of the Wells" ana
| is thoroughly humorous. 1t tells of q
| widow of thirty years with son nine
| teen years of age. In contracting a sec
| ond matrimonial alliance she reduces her
| age five years, and in consequence finds 1t
| necessary to have her son masquerade as
| a lad of fourteen. This family skeleton in
| due season leaves its cupboard and finally
| crumbles, but before doing gives rise
| to all sorts of complications. Minnie Rad
| cliffe. the new leading lady of the stock
! company, has very little to do, the brunt
| of the work falling to Louise Macintosh
| who looks after the part Of the widow
| u n married again m q hla m
| SO familiar to the admirers of the COM
| pany. Robert Rogers, in the character OF
| the stepfather of the youth whose age is
| turned back, had an exacting role and with
! the exception of the first act, maintained
| the standard he has heretofore established
William Seymour, the stage director. made