Evening star., 1902-01-21
AMUSEMENTS. A

typical John Drew audience that assembled
at the New National Theater last night;
an audience that could appreciate epigrams
and that did not demand live horses or
practical saw-mills. Mr.. Drew's play. 'The
Second in Command" does not treat him as
well as so important a parsonage as the
star has right to expect. In fact, 1t
rather Sights him in the matter of heroics,
and gives a preponderance or the oppor-
tunities to Guy Standing, who fmperson-
ates a character of equal Importance IN the
story and one which has the advantage of
being loved by the heroine. Mr.. Drew
plays the part of a confirmed self-sacrlficer,
and the playwright, Robert Marshall, has
shown less adroitness in preserving con-
sistent maBliness in the stellar role than he
has in developing some very ingenious COM
plications in the love story. In order to Sc
cure the situations (which develop with
striking effect at due intervals the author
has sacrificed his characters. Mr.. Stand
fng's role of the colonel is the only one OF
Importance that Is consistently admirable.
Mr.. Standing looked the part very hand
somely and played it in the Straightforward
fashion which is characteristic of him. He
seldom rises to great heights by obvious
personal endeavor; and yet when the situa-
ton gives his part especial prominence he
always manages to fill the picture.
Mr.. Drew is at disadvantage in the play
because the author has compelled him to do
so many -Drew-like things. He is
normally pattern Of propriety as well as
a beau ideal of chivairy. Matrons take
their sons and young married women their
husbands to see John Drew, in order to
show them how to behave in company. The
character he portrays In "The Second in
Command at times comes dangerously
near being-for the lack of a softer word
cad The story is the old one-two bosom
friends fall in love with the same woman.
Does she love you?" asks the colonel,
who is in reality the object Of the lady s
unaHerable devotion.
And John Drew, who has received only
- <r;1,
to him, even after they are married,
catches his breath and says:
Yes" 1t is this monosyllable that
wrecks the stars chance to be the real
hero of the piece. 1t was shock to see
so time-tried a pattern of lofty sincerity
nursing golden opportunity to step for
ward and say, Il cannot tell a lie" And in
the last act, where Mr.. Drew only asks that
he may be present at the supreme moment
when the two people whose lives he has
almost wrecked come to bhssful under
standing, he displays a philosophy which
has not been equa1ed since our old friend
Koko in THE Mikado" begged Nanki Poo
to kiss the bride whom he had surrendered
in order that he might get used to it by
degrees.
But 1t is privilege to sit in a comfort
able theater, and see the soldiers parade.
The stage is brilliant with military uni
forms, and they are handsomely worn.
There IS sufficiency of smart dialogue,
and The Second in Command" while 1t
may not bear analysis as study in senti-
ment, constitutes very agreeable even
ing's diversion The principal feminine role
was taken by Ida Conquest, who meets its
rather severe exactions in an entirely
credtable manner.
COLUMBIA THEATER. - Augustus
Thomas Arizona" which made it's thiro
appearance in Washington at the Columbia
last night, was received with almost as
much enthusiasm as attended it's initial pro-
dnctiOn
hours and a half-the four acts OF the
drama are presented with unusual expedi-
tion-the house-ful1 watched fntently the
development of plot with which a large
proportion must have been quite familiar.
1t was an unaffected tribute to one OF the
most generally excellent dramatic perform
ances seen in Washington for many day.
In anticipation of London presentation,
Messrs. Kirk La Shelle and Fred R. HAM
line have reorganized the cast which Great
ed the play. Vincent Serrano has been
succeeded by Dustin Farnum. Frank Cam
peau has followed Edgar Selwyn. Olive
Mays old role as the ingenue of the play
has been given to Grace Elliston, recently
the leading lady of THE Helmet of Ma
varre." William Hazelton appears as Cap
tain Hodgman. But ]. W. Cope, Frazer
Coulter, and one or two of the cast VINO
Appear in minor roles remain to insure in
the new production much Of the quality
which marked the old.
Opinions will probabl differ as to the
of these changes. But the production as
whole is so even, so generally meritorious,
as to excite the wide approval of client
age surfeited with the offerings of star"
and an indifferent supporting company.
There Is an almost sensual pleasure in a
dramatic performance without single
weak spot, and 1t was that effect which
excited the unrestrained applause Of last
night and invested Arizona" with an al
most living interest. The stage settings
are fully adequate. The costuming is so
obviously correct as to inspire instantane-
Gus confidence. But the greatest credit
rests with the cast and Mr.. Thomas TO
the man who knows the Rio Grande and
Arizona country at all, one glance at Mr..
Campeau's "Greaser" Interpretation OF
Tony Mostano" will call forth more rem
Photographs Mr.. Cope realizes the ran
ger through and through. He could almost
pass muster in Texas. Dustin Farnum's
Lieutenant Denton" is a very pleasing and
restrained hero Interpretation. Mr.. Halle
ton is still the villain of the modern drama
with melodramatic tendencies, but the
over-emphasis Of his lines and statuesuue-
ness of his attitudes are not so marked
as to spoil the stage pictures. The femt-
nine roles are all wen taken. The
judgment Of last nights audience WELDED
the most unlimited favor to Miss Elliston.
In her the modern stage has a heroine who
is neither hOyden nor q statue The.
playwright has done his part well. He
has provided for an impersonation which
associates a rare degree of personal charm
with thoroughly natural dignity, girlish vi
vacity, spontaneity of speech and true wo-
manlinesS. "
LAFAYETTE SQUARE OPERA HOIIsE
There were strange On-goings at the Ia
fayette Square last night. When the cnr
tain rose for the first act there was the
erstwhile polished, villain John T. Sullivan
In a black frock coat and brief sidewhiskers
OF the same hue, waving his arms frantfcaIv
about, giving pugilistic pantomimes, racing
about the stage and talking volumes In a
second intended to be deliriously comic and
1nordinately jealous of katherine Clinton
who was billed as his second wife. Mr.
Sullivan played the second husband in n
way that should make any young woman
having thoughts of a future matrimonial
alliance with a widower quake in her dain-
ty boots. Then there was White Whi+tIesv
earnest and convincing in the past. playins
the reckless youth whose wardrobe was
represented by pawn tickets and whose or
tanglements with the feminine heart were
constantly keeping the house in an uproar
Next came Charley Wyngate, matinee idol
and handsome man, all rugged up in high
water trousers. checked in brown and a
red wig, looking for all the world like
"Grimesy, my boy In that classic farce
The Cellar Door, AS If this were NOT
enough, on came Fred Sullivan as a hrolx,n