The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-04-23
THE PLAYER FOLK

Henry Hockey, Thomas Phillips, and
| Thomas FIodgeman.
During the stay OF the Clarke company
at the Columbia such popular farces as
Why Smith Left HoTe,'' What Did
/ Tomkins DEP in the Soup and several
others of q similar character viii be pre-
sented-
The production Of IN the Soup" will be
one Of the NEST interesting events of the
spring season It Is an English farce, the
| American rights to when are owned by
! the Schubert brothers, the managers OF
| the Herald Square and Casino TheateTs,
Of New York They have given Mr. Clarke
the privilege ef presenting the piece al
the Columbia in order that they might
set line Oh its worth for production at
! the Herald Square Theater in the fall.
IN the Soup has been immensely sue
CessfaI in England, wnere it has enjoyed
a full years run, and the prospects are
good that 1t viii Duplicate this popularity
| N The United States. as it is described as
al Encommoniy funny affair as faTceS 90
/ nowadays.
'.The Wild Rose the new Lederer pro
| duction, was given its first trial at the
Garriclz Theatre, Philadelphia, Monday
| night, and was voted an instantaneous
success. Some Of the Quaker City review
ers in their enthusiasm declared that it
would equal in popularity The Belle Of
New York"
Eddie Foy and Junie McCree are the
chief funmakers il the piece. NeCree is
known chiefly for his connection with
travelling burIesque companies of the sort
that visit Kernan's in Washington. He
was seen here last season at the Lyceuu
{
| ability as a creat9F of laughs, and the
prediction was then made in The Times
/ that he would make a name for himself
/ If he ever got as far in his career as
Broadway. Since last seen here McCFee
has been engaged IL entertaining the au-
dienccS at the New York theater under
the mana cement Of the Messrs. Sire, and
has proved one OF the abiest of their band
Of comedians
In The Wild Rose Marie Caf1ilI and
Irene Bentley ASSUME the chief feminine
parts.
A feature Of the performance is the fact
/ that the chorus does not represent a lot
Of typjcal merry maidens- They are for
the greater part recruits from the ranks
CT society Of the principal cities OF the
/ country.
! Washington is alleged to have provided
number OF these shining social lights of
The chorus, although the society reporters
have failed to note the fact that some Of
/ the most charming and popular bellies CT
the Capitals exclusive circles have aban-
doned the drawing-Toom for the dressing
room and the makeup box The society
reporters must have been very careless,
indeed, as the press agent Of The Wild
Rose is certain that at least seven of
the young woneS members Of his com
pany are Washington society bellies
These Lederer Society young women
nay be recruited from the same circle of
| local society as the ambitious Washing
ton girl who went 10 New York 10 pursue
a artistic career year OF so ago and
simply because her father was engaged
in the commemorate and honest pursuit
Of calling cut the departure of trains at
one Of the depots of the city, announced
that pater was prominent railroad d.
rector.
OF course. there are society bellies and
society bellies il the Capital City and
some OF the latter may be included IN the
chorus Of The Wild Rose
The life of the average member of a
theater orckester is not a very pleasant
one, no matter from which point it may
be viewed. Once IN very. very long
wnile the musicians are permitted to view
4 theatrical performance in which they
take much pleasure. but thinl, of the
numerous performances even you. gentle
reader, assert you would not visit again
were you paid for it.
The hard working musicians. however,
are compelled to remain at their posts of
duty no matter whether the show be good
! or bad
But every once in a while their prosafc
existence IS frightened and the dull gray
] OF their lives takes on a roster hue be-
cause Of some happening of no interest to
/ the audience, but which to the scraper Of
strings. the blower Of reeds, the tootsr of
bTasses CT the thumper Of sheepsl1iu is of
the greatest enjoyment, and makes his
/ presence at the theater a matter of some
! pleasure rather than task
! The 'FlOTOdOra" engagement has been
chalkad up in the memories of the Col
un'bia musicians IS one Of the most en-
Joyable Of the theatrical year, and prii1-
CipaIly on account OF the DictUFesqueness
/ Of the musical director Of the organfza-
tiGn. a young man E-fth a good knowledge
Of his work and spectacular idea OF the
Importance Of the gentleman who holds
the record of having welded The baton
daring some 500 Shades Of the SheItering
Palms and Tell Ae Pretty Maidens
II was ideally beautiful from The view
point Of The audience TO witness the or
chestTa leaders matchIess expanse Of
shirt front, q monocle that every once
IL while worked itself into position fer
I q Sh 2epiDS glimpse OF the pOiiOI VINO had
paid to see the performance and the air
Of condescensioR with which the band was
regarded.
All this, however, was nothing much out
Of the ordinary and the ''FIorodora' en-
gsgement would not 30 down in musical
history as the very apex of a season Of
pIecsUreable happenings had it not been
for an incident that happened during the
latter part of the week.
One Of Washingt6a'5 most noted women
the wife Of ElultI-milhona wilose
| family occupies q rather exalted social
position IN Chicago, London and India,
gave box party The display Of mag
/ nifcent gowns was TOO much entirely fer
odr. Musical Director. and marshaIing the
monocle into action, he turned to Sol
Minister and said:
Tell me, my good man, who is the
/ matronlg lady in the bex2'
| Ar. Minister replied: That Mrs So
and-so, the wife Of Mr. So-and-3o. The
Chicago millionaire, and mother of Lady
/ What's -her-naune, OF London and Cal
cut1a'
"Oh, yes;'' the gentleman of the baton
remarked, y thought I had met her some
where"
And If the Columbia orchestra did not
| do as good work as usual during the re-
mainder Of the 'sFIorodora" performance
that night they were quite exeus#bIe, for
even musicians must have an Opportunity