Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-28

The weather has greatly favored the
c1ura geous managers who defied the sum
mer The Columbia Theater had q very
aIspicious opening. The stock company
there gave very enjoyable performance of
Lord Chumley" Mr.. Arden makes the
title role a breezy American type rather
than the highly polished if somewhat slow
creature of old world culture that Mr..
Snthern portrayed. Mr.. Arden's portrayal
was interesting and attractive in spite of
certain incongruities which may have been
caused by the limited opportunities for
study of the part. 1t Is asserted that Mr..
Arden never saw Sothern play the piece.
The Wizard of the Nile proved the best
OF the operate offerings a. Chase's Theater.
As Kibosh Mr.. Frear fully redeemed any
i'll impression he may have made as Caddy
Ia Erminie. He follows Frank Daniels
much more felicitOusly than Francis Will
son. The chorus work was notably good
and the opera has set standard which 1t
VIII be difficult to surpass.
James l.. Herman, who Is well known 10
Washington by his vaudeville and bur
Itsque enterprises. in which he is repre-
santad here by his brother, Hugh Herman,
ContemPlates some important additions to
his already extensive interests next season.
celebrated its first anniversary last week.
The Buffalo Enquirer. in speaking of Mr.
kerrau's past career and future intentions,
saws that he recently Joined Mr.. Stair in
the purchase of the Lafayette Theater
Washington. 1t is stated in Baltimore that
the new theater he is building there Is to
he run on similar plans to those of the
Lafayette here-that is. with the best class
Of ropular-priced dramas. comedies and
other shows. MI Kernan's Baltimore
building is to combine a hotel and theater
OF Franklin street near Howard. Mr.. Ker-
nan has long been identified with variety
enterprises. When the Lyceum Theater
was remOdeIed some years ago it was in
tended TO make ii a family theater. but the
idea was abandoned after a short season Of
expectancy. In the Lafayette Theater he
will have by booking with Mr.. Stair, a
more favorable opportunity to put his am
billions in this direction once more to the
test
Miss Anna LIGHTER, the new prima donna
II the opera company at Chase's Theater.
does not need TO declare allegiance to Ger
many to show that German blood is in her
veins. She is the typical frauiein, plump,
pretty and vivaciois. Her eyes are big.
luminous. brown Orbs that sparkle with
good nature, and her mouth though triie
large is ready pursed at ali times for a
hearty laugh. She is the embodiment Of
kindness and graeiousness. Miss LIGHTER
is native Of New York city and her mus
zeal education was acquired under the dis
tinguished direction of Glanini. the famous
teacher who lately returned to Italy to
spend the remainder of his days.
Miss LIGHTERS stage career only covers
L. R~-N 90
with the grand opera company directed by
Henry ". Savage and in It at the same
time was Lizzie McNichol. the Iamented
Washington contralto. with whom Miss
LIGHTER was associated for a year and a
half. Miss LIGHTER speaks in the most en-
deariEg terms of Miss McNichol. whom she
says was one of the loveliest of women and
destined TO a great operate career had she
lived
Miss LIGHTER has repertoire OF twenty
SIX grand operas and she confesses that she
has never dared count the number OF comic
operas. After her experience with the Say
age Company she was with Madam Tavary
and since then prima donna OF the Tav-
AIRY Opera House, San Francisco. where
hardly opera is put on that does not run
from four TO six weeks, making the work of
the prima donna decidedly less arduous
than il IS where the opera is changed
weekly.
Fortunately. I am a very quick study
said Miss LIGHTER in speaking OF learning
such a large repertoire. My memory is
very good. l had not looked at the part of
Airline in The Bohemian Girl since | sang
Il in Philadelphia three or four seasons ago
and only had to run over II three or four
times this week when ii all came back to
me. My part is a beautiful one and l love
TO sing 1t. i am proud OF my memory and
you viii find that II each week We We're To
put on one after another of all the operas
have sung | would have no greater diff
rculty in re-learning the part than / had
this time. Anyhow, I learned the part orig
flally in three days. Ny ear for music is
So good Why. 1 learned the prima donna
pdrt IN "Lohengrin' in four days and sang
90 oh