Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-19

~
Perhaps the most notable offering of the
week. not even excepting Henry Miller's
Irish accent or the performing seals, was
the Midsummer Nights Dream at the La
fayette Square. 1t was an ambitious IN
dertakng; one that could be carried out
with any hope of success only when back
ed by superior knowledge we'll as artistic
enthusiasm. A great many people realize
for the first time on seeing this pro-
duction that Shakespeare was a farce COM
edy writer of the first grade; that he could
write dialogue quite as funny John 1.
McNally's and lyrics quite as melifluous
as Harry B. Smiths The scenes in which
Bottom leads his uncouth band of players
through rehearsal and performance con-
stitute an exquisite satire on bad acting.
Some Of the people who have themselves
In front TO see 1t. The costuming reveals
a wealth of Amazon march talent which
was not hitherto suspected. The central
figure Of the cast. and obviously the in
SEPARATION of the enterprise, is Edmund
Lyons. as good an actor as Washington
has seen in many a day. Under his direc-
ton Shakespeare has come so far from
spelling ruin that the play will be put
on for two weeks instead of for only one.
::
Another visitation of ''Fiorodora" proved
to numerous patrons at the Columbia that
the cperetta has not improved in quality
nor deteriorated IN popularity. Obviously
there are pretty maidens at home in vast
abundance. for the supply is constant and
highly satisfactory. Mr.. Miller's Darcy
of the Guards had a good week and car
ried recollection back to the time when Mr..
Miller was wont to portray the lighter
moods
As usual at this season. the air is full of
rumors of theatrlc changes Mr.. Berger Of
the Lafayette has been in New York and
the policy of that theater for next season
is as yet underlined. Various projects are
under consideration in connection with 1t.
1t is not likely that this season will be car
ried as far into the summer as was that of
last year. The reports that Mr. Chase will
have theater on the site of the Hotel
Lawrence, and that theater will be built
for him in New York have not been denied.
Mr.. Wegefarth and Mr.. Schlesinger re-
turned from New York yesterday. The EN-
pire, having been placed on conservative
basis. series of popular price musical and
comedy attractions may be arranged for.
It is a race
Rostand intends to exploit the story OF
Joan Of Arc in a drama.
So do Sherwood and Denham
Sherwood and Denham will have the
advantage Of getting away first. for their
production occurs at the Academy of Music
next month.
The abundant opportunities for scenic dis
play offered by the theme have been taken
advantage of by the American producers
10 the fullest. but the fearful end of Joan
after her glorious martial triumphs for the
arms Of France afforded the medium for a
most impressive and awesOme scene ever
placed upon the stage. The burning of the
martyr is shown on the stage by device
whose realism has seldom been surpassed
T. ID. Long and his wife passed through
Washington last week, and renewed the &C
quaintanCes they made while connected
with the Lafayette Square Theater 1ney
have completed tour of the world and
have gone 10 prepare for the work of the
coming season at Elitchs Garden In Den
Yer, where they will be Joined later In the
summer by Walter Clarke Bellows who
VIII. as usual, act as stage manager Mr.
Long declares that while they were deeply
interested. the finest experience of the trip
was the sight of Sandy Hook at the close
Of the return voyage
Il was In Mexico Mo, once" said Eddie
G!rard, the rear end of Donelley and Girard
who made Natural Gas" the talk of his
day, but l have not been there since. l
had never before played in the city. as they
call II. although in reality it Is a town with
TWO hotels. a bar and long lane. which. ]
think. they call Broadway. 1 was then do
ing low comedy work and specialties with
the Kloster Komedy ko., each word spelled
with X We used the three KS as a
trademark those days, because it reminded
people of the Ku KIux Khan. and I think
when We got through with that town they
felt somewhat as il the Ku Klux Kan had
been there. There were fourteen members
OF the aggregation, including a dog and
myself You notice | put myself after the
dog, very much in vaudev vile programs
row, l sometimes follow dog acts 1t all
reminds me of those by-gone DAYS / think
the joint salary list was $50 and at 81 per
mead per week you can reckon what the
management paid for board. We al
ways stayed week in a town unless We
were driven out before that time Well. we
reached Mexico from a little place nearby
named Juanita, which We had left twelve
hours before, but as our train carried coal
10 all the houses along the line and was
also used as derrick to remove livestock
from the track, that accounts for the loup
haul. for which. however, We paid the short
rate. When the aggregation reached the
town We were met by the assembled citi.
Gems, who were lined up as If IT was a
state occasion and the troopers. ran the
gauntlet as usual As l got down with two
yalises, big box. the leading lady's dos
and few other things, l have forgotten
now, under my arm, L was met by fellow
who proceeded to put my eyesight into
eclipse by the way he was gotten I'D
That Is the impression / have now, but
don't remember all the details of his attire
except that he wore cream-colored cordu-
roy trousers, cut high, that is from the
feet, and a red vest that had seen better
days, probably on a Mississippi river boat