Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-08
ADJUSTMENTS.

COLUMBIA THEATER.-Thea alienation
from melodrama to comedy, which appears
to be the policy of the Columbia Theater's
summer company. brings The Butterflies
to the fore. The audience was, as usual,
lavish in its applause, each member of the
company coming in for reception at his
first appearance on the scene and meeting
with the heartiest and friendiest encour-
agement throughout the performance.
The Butterflies shows the company to
better advantage than any other piece it
has done. 1t is satirical comedy and dis
plays the vein of sparkling humor which
Henry Guy Carleton strikes every now and
then. And there is good, honest humanity
behind it to give basis of wholesome in
terest which the purely epigramatic play
can never possess.
Mr.. Arden was distinctly at his best last
evening. Well grounded as he is in the
technique of the stage--for his career ex-
tends well beyond the limitations which his
but scant compliment to say that he does
few things, If any, badly. The avoidance
of palpable errors is to be expected in an
actor of Mr.. Arden's experience. 1t is
rather remarkable that so light play as
The butterflies should have been the
means of calling attention to those positive
qualities of which Mr.. Arden has been so
sparing in his display. There was genu-
inc warmth of sentiment in the quieter
portions of his work while the more demon
ing and convincing ardor. His portrayal
of Frederick Ossian went we'll beyond that
negative merit which is content with avert
ing artistic mishap, and ventured success
fully into those assertions of personal force
which sometimes invite failure, even to the
well-disciplined actor, but which when sue
cessfSl score so brilliantly as to justify the
risk.
Every member Of the company met with
a share of appreciation. Emelie Melville
p nG "a a
of icy aristocracy, and Laura Nelson Hall
was sweetly sufficient as the daughter
whose happiness she so nearly wrecks
Wallace Worsely and Emil Hocn gave adj
spoiled son and the rich, uncultured. but
true-hearted father. w. H Post introduced
another of his highly successful character
bits, and Fenwick Leach succeeded in CIV
ing touch of interest and color even to
the role of the mute and impressive foot
man. Elsie Esmond as Mrs. Ossian had
little to do except to be pallid and pa
thetic. The soubrette role does not dis
play Jane Holly to especial advantage, al
though it is a very conspicuous one. Its
lines contain some of the quaintest and
most irresistible humor of the play and the
audience paid tribute to the authors clev-
erness by frequent laughs The Butter
flies produced by the Arden Stock Com
pany is one of the most attractive bits of
entertainment that the Columbia Theater
has offered in many a day.
CHASE'S THEATER.-The extended sea-
son at Chase's Theater is to be closed this
week with pcturesqueness and with a eli
max most pleasing to the audiences and
entirely gratifying to the management.
The Gilbert and Sullivan Japanese Comic
Opera, The Mikado," is the farewell offer
ing, and good Judgment was manifested in
selecting it. The work was success from
the time of its initial production across
the waters some years ago, and in this
city it has always been generously patron
lied The presentation this week at Chase's
is all that could reasonably be desired.
Generosity is apparent in the mounting
and in the costuming. in the numerical
strength of the company and in the casting
of the singers. Large audiences yesterday,
through almost continuous applause, placed
an indelible stamp of approval on the
entertainment. and the indications are that
crowded houses will be the rule the rest
of the week. The most pronounced hit,
perhaps. is made by William Broderick as
PoohBah. His Interpretation of the role
Of lord high everything else has genuine
JUNCTION. Fred Frear as Ko-Ko, the lord
high executiOner is active and funny.
The Flowers That Bloom in the Spring"
song, in the rendering of which Mr.. Frear
occupies the center of the stage, earned
encore after encore the comedian finally
being compelled to plead with the audience
to permit the opera to proceed. Grafton
Baker sings Nanki-Poo, the wandering
minstrel son of the mkado. Norma Kopp
has returned to the cast as Pitti-Sng.
Anna LIGHTER Yum-Yum sang and acted
well. The east further includes n. S. Burn
ham as the Mikado of Japan; Albert Wilder
as Nee-Ban, attendant TO the mikad0. and
May Lutz as Peep-Bo Even without the
adJuncts OF free ice cream and ices and
the use of ping pong tables without charge
The Mikado' at Chase's this week is a
decidedly successful hOt-weather attraction.