Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-06

ington with the Singing Boys from Ha-
| wall. persuaded to stay after the Fan
American. then cruelty deceived and de-
frauded. homesick beyond all telling, hop
ing against hope to earn enough to go
home to their beloved islands. Kamakee
and little keluna are included in the en-.
| gagement of these sweet singing children OF
! our new islands. whose race Is passing
swiftly as a shadow at sunset.
Washington has had few opportunities
! to see the plays Of Hendrix Ibsen. Either
/ because of choice Of subject or manner
| Of treatment, Ibsen's plays are caviare TO
! the general public, and the multitude at
| large finds them very dull indeed. The great
| theatrical managers cater to the mob, ana
since the mob doesn't understand Ibsen the
| mob gets the Rogers brothers and similar
| offerings which would amuse even dear
| blind man. But in every community there
are few people, not many, perhaps but
still an appreciative few, who believe that
| the theater is an institution which should
| have at least occasional opportunities to rank
as something more than mere music haii
A few intelligent actresses, like Mrs. Fiske,
Mrs. Campbell and one or two men whose
names could be counted on the fingers of
one hand. have the same idea. Mrs. Patrick
Campbell has the courage of her conyic-
ticns, and last season played Maeterlinck S
"Pelleas and Mellisande,' and BJornsens
Beyond Human Power" Maeterlinck,
Bjornsen, Sudermann (whose play. me
Joy of Living will be given next week
by Mrs. Pat), Hauptmann and IbSen, all
belong to the modern realistic school which
is the product of the twentieth century in
tellectual awakening of northern Europe.
Ibsen is probably the leader OF the cult.
Plainly put, the 1bsen cult, and his theory
is the same as that of the other modern
realists, is that the only way to change
| modern conditions which are wrong is to
present the truth to society in such a forci-
BILE way that society will have to institute
reforms. The theater is chosen because the
theater reaches the people as no other med
ium can.
The first Ibsen play ever presented in
Washington was "a Dolls House." given
by Beatrice Cameron CMrs. Richard Mans
field at special matinee at Chase's Thea
ter, then the Grand Opera House, in the
season of '92-'g3. shortly after the lbsen
sun first appeared on the European horizon.
Mansfield was playing an engagement here
then, and he allowed his wife, who was
then his leading lady. to appear at the mid
week matinee in "A Dolls House. This
was the first great success Ibsen produced
though 1t was his fifth play, and was not
written until the philosopher was nearly
sixty years cid. 1t is protest against the
marriage law which makes the husband
the absolute master.
1t is not recorded that "A Dolls House
played to large receipts.
Another Ibsen play was 'Hedda Gabler.
which Blanche Bates played at the Latay
cite two years ago, with a special cast re-
cruited from the Bellows stock company
Hedda represents the opposite extreme
from Nora, the wife in the dolls house
Hedda is a free thinker, type of advanced
woman, who has impractical theories on a
new adjustment of the social system, and
failing to convince others of the sound ness
Of her views, bored to death with ennui at
being abe to do nothing, and prosecuted
by an elderly roue. kills herself
The Master Builder" was given by
Florence Kahn and the special players sup
porting John Blair, who visited Washington
two seasons ago. The play was the most
poetic of the lbsen plays, but the least I'M
derstood. To this day there are some who
do not understand its symbolism The mas
ter builder Is an architect who seeks to
build higher than ever man buided before
to attain the heights. wayward elf of a
cir! is his inspiration-r1ucll as Rautender-
lein inspires the bell maker in THE Sunken
Bell" to which, indeed, the play bears
resemblance The master builder climbs
too high, ambition makes him pre-
sumptuous in the face of heaven and he is
dashed to his death from the highest steeple
he has erected
The latest Ibsen offering in Washington
will be Ghosts" which Mary Shaw and Il
special cast will present at the Column ia
next Tuesday afternoon. In this play Ibser
has constructed a sequel to "A Dolls
House. Moralists have argued that no
uldtttI W nat happened Nora should. nave
remained with her husband in the dolls
house. Ibsen has answered that argument
by having woman actually live her life
out with her husband. In spite of wicked
ness and debauchery she remained with
him and concealed the truth from the
world. After his death the awful truth
makes itself known through the son. who
has inherited every atom of her husbands
wlckedness The catastrophe is a strong
moral lesson. Mary Shaw is known to be
highly intellectual actress and as a good
company has been engaged by Mr.. George
Fawcett an artistic performance may be
expected.
William Gillette Is a favorite with the
royal family of England. His acquaintance
ship began in Queen Victoria's jubilee year.
when he was playing Secret Service" in
London. Those who have seen the play
will remember that it contains many Amer
lean colloquisms which the British critics
strongly objected to at that time and which
were made the subject of much comment
by the press. One evening King Edward
VII. then Prince of Wales, attended the
play and at the end sent for Mr. Gillette
and congratulated him upon his success and
production. Mr.. Gillette, mindful of the
filings at him In the papers, thanked the
prince, and remarked that he was intensely
| gratified to know that his royal highness
was able to understand the American lam
| guage.
This pleased the prince. who, all the
world knows. loves anything bright, and he
paid Mr.. Gillette the honor of command
| ing him to a smoking concert and made
| considerable of him. This was repeated
| during Mr.. Gillette's engagement In TOO
| Much Johnson in London. The members
| of the royal family saw him frequently
but 1t was during the engagement of .Sher-
ioch Holmes that the distinct liking for
the American actor was made SO evident
The visit of royalty to a theater and the
ceremony attached thereto will probably
be very interesting to American readers
During Mr. Giliette's recent engagement
at the Lyceum Theater In London all the
| members of the royal family were present.
many of them several times The first to
come was the old Duke of Cambridge. who
appeared in private capacity, few days
before the year OF mourning for the late
Queen Victoria had expired This was
followed by the visit OF the Prince and
Princess of Wales with their suites Then
came the Duke of connaught the soldier.
prince who is so popular in England, and
the first day after the year of mourning
was up the king, accompanied by Queen