Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-01
ADJUSTMENTS.


LAFAYETTE SQUARE OPERA HOUSE.
THE Little Pilgrims" at the Lafayette
Square Opera House last night, proved in
some respects one of the most interesting
productions that the Bellows Stock Com
pany has had to offer. The performance
was far from being a perfect one, and the
time occupied in the presentation was so
long that there need be no hesitancy about
dropping doubtful material in revision of
the play. There is no ground for fear that
the public will complain of short measure.
There are some charming moments in the
piece; moments which more than compen-
safe for rather platitudinous array of
epigrams, some blunt melodrama and some
hazy pictures of how people act In the high
est English society.
The simplicity of childhood yields power
which conquerS all obstacles and sends the
auditor away with pleasant memories in
spite of certain crudities; crudities which
may be due either to inherent defects of
structure or to the difficulties which inev-
itably hang above first night. Not since
the days of Little Lord Fauntleroy" has
JuVenflity been so conspicuously exploited,
and instead of one youngster there are FIVE
The play Is fortunate in getting away from
the maWklsh sentimentality which so often
attaches to the infantile hero. These chill
dren are sturdy, self-reliant youngsters,
plainly of good stock, and although or
pudllS, sun unuer the projecting 1nnuence
OF a parental love which acted from the
most honest purposes and spoke from the
loftleSt standards of morality.
The boys are manly little chaps, chival-
rous toward their sisters and full of the
proper pride which prevents the confess
sion Of fear. The scene in which the lit
tlest one of all assumes the guardianship of
his sister, but little less tiny than himself,
has nothing to do with the action of the
story; but it is so pretty touch of nature
that it makes a first rate curtain climax.
The honorS of the evening were carried
off by Edmund Lyons, as the old Scot, the
old family servant. who is the beloved
companion Of the pilgrims, and by the chill
dren themselves. The part assigned to
White Whittlesey falls into situations
which do not show the character in the
advantageous light which it deserves. This
fault may be easily corrected and it doubt
less will be, for there Is no excuse for
considering the presentation last night,
lavish as 1t was In situations and scenic eff
fects as a conclusive Interpretation Of the
plays best possibilities.
1t is seldom that scenic effects Of so
realistic and elaborate a character are seen
In Washington. The storm scene, for in
stance, Is one Of the most striking exam
Piles of stage realism ever devised, and the
audience was held in fascination by the
sheer pictorial quality Of the scene. The
mechanical devices are an important fac
tor in the enterprise, and they would be
still more effective If their connection with
were more vital and less episode. But
the picture Of a wee tot bravely struggling
with an umbrella against an unruly blast
Is one that holds the Imagination, and
considered as a proposition distinct from
the drama itself, is more potent than many
silent canvass in an expensive art gal
lery.
The hand of the accomplished stage man
ager is plainly observable in this elab-
crate development Of detail. The process
sion Of children headed by the bag-piper,
the ponies, the organ man with the mon
key and other embellishments won round
after round Of applause. The fireworks
display proved refractory, but SO great was
the scenic abundance in other respects
that it would not have been missed, had
not a series of belated bombs insisted on
reminding the audience that something
was vainly endeavoring to materialize
The play ran unreasonably late last night,
fact that served to emphasize the impress
sion that THE Little Pilgrims We're not
having the smooth journey that they de-
served They were the all important fig
ures Of the cast. John T. Sullivan plays
an inexcusable villain and Frederic Sulli-
vans opportunities for good work were I'M
tently improved.
1.-THE Little Pilgrims" has splendid mate
rial in it, and great deal Of dross which
a Judicious course of refinement may easily
eliminate. The audience last night mani
tested keen interest; many people even
showing Willingness to sit up into the wee
sma' hours in order to follow the fortunes
of the tiny players who bid fair to win
their way into the hearts of the public as
no other Youngsters have done since
Bulge and Toddie' set the whole world
to reading "Heens Babies"
COLUMBIA THEATER. - Long before
the first note of the overture was played
at the Columbia last night the boys in the
gallery. legion of them, were whistling
THE Tale of a Kangaroo" while the more
Sed3te Of ha hal
cony were irresistibly hummng with them.
All were happy in anticipation Of hearing
the subtle melody again from it's original
source, amid the glitter and girls of 1.-The
Burgomaster." There are other catchy
tunes in the musical score, score Of
them, but "Oh, Moonbeam, Light and
Airy" the Kangaroo's plaintive love ditty,
seems to take first rank in popular favor
and holds its sway supreme. THE Burgo-
master comes this week an old friend,
and although the characters are in entirely
new hands, everything was familiar about
the old place. and the success of last
year is sure to be repeated. Standing room
last night was a luxury a great many peo-
pie were denied, for the Columbia was not
designed to hold half a city at time.
THE Burgomaster' evidences the fact that
with one season. The company this year Is
fully as capable as the first one sent out,
the 'grly chorus" SO extensively adver-
tised, proving to be a rare collection Of
tiny lot, with voices no larger than them
selves, and unless at least eighteen are
singing at the same time the audience is
uncertain to whether the number is
chorus or a pantomime But voices may
sometimes be dispensed with in favor Of
good looks, and here is an instance. Come
dy honors cluster about Her-r-r-r-r-rber-r-
r-r-rt CaWthOrr-r-r-rne, who has replaced
Richard Carroll as Peter Stuyvesant. 1t
seemed for time in the prologue as If a
wonderful roll of "r-rs' was Mr.. Cav
thorne's only claim as a comedian, but be-
fore the first act had progressed very far
he proved himself about clever and as
full of laugh-producing tricks as any light
opera fun-maker Of the day. He grew in
the favor of the audience perceptibly, and
at the finish was, in the parlance Of the
racing season, winner in gallop. Doodle,
as played by Edward J. Sanford becomes
lively bit of rotund Dutch-ware, and is full
of comedy. Edith Warrington, as Willie,
sings well and looks her part to high de-
gree of perfection. If she were little less
affected and made just wee bit less use
Of undeniably pretty eyes. she would in
deed be delightful. Harriet Standon, as
Ruth, the girl from Chicago, seems bit
new in the part, but has fresh, clear