Evening star., 1902-08-02

'pTi~rS ana ue4lSnLS OF IDe year 1 lie COfu-
pany made its appearance but short while
after the first announcement was given of
its intended season. The name of Arden,
however. was one well calculated to take
the attention of the Washington pIaygoing
folk. For many years Mr.. Arden has been
iweU known by those who attend the thea
ter. His playing Of Metternich. with Maude
adams in L'AiglOn, made him new friends
and admirers by the score. To augment all
this he played a number of weeks with the
Bellows company at the Lafayette and be
came still better acquainted with the Wash
insyaa people.
The coming of Mr.. Arden therefore, at
th- head Of his own stock company aroused
nrw and keen interest The season has
been one of marked success, not alone from
tn standpoint Of the man behind the money
ir The box office but from the viewpoint Of
III SO who look for Cleverness and the artis-
Tie In stage productions. In the first place
the choice of plays has been happy one
throughout. They were plays which few
stock companies much older than the Ar
den organization would care TO lightly un-
derTdEe Mr. Arden, confident of his own
ability and his influence his associates,
went to work on these plays and gave to
his audiences a series of evenly balanced,
Carefully studied and weIl-payed pToduc-
tiuDs- \ conscientious and enthusiastic
player. fond Of his work and a decidedly
Versatile man, Mr.. Arden went into the
Immense labor attached 10 his new venture
with rare edgCrneSS. That he worked well
7 VS. testified Wednesday night, the evening
( of the benefit rendered him. The theater
was completely filed and the player was
gwen quite an ovation.
I Interest in the stock company did not
tceUJCr entirely in its head. however, for
h brought to Washington old friends of the
tLCa-srgoers already ranking as favorites.
and then introduced new players, who
quickly rose to marked favor The list OF
plays presented during the Arden season in
cluded Lord Chumley," Captain Swift
}"BuJ-eTfiies.' Jim the Penman,' Caste
Aud Carmen" The latter production, like
th- others. was complete in its details as to
(. .eCercry, costumes and all the other acces-
scries- Ii was a delightful surprise in many
Ways and a fitting conclusion to a very
happy season at the Luckett and Dwyer
play house.
The theatrical year of 1902 will occupy
its own unique place in the history of the
local stage as having provided a continuous
Chain Of amusement. The Columbia Thea
ter. which has had the distinction of pro-
longing the season far beyond the usual
GUNNER limits, closes tonight. This mark
3rg Of the end Of the old theatrical season,
however. will be Immediately followed by
the Inauguration of the new, for Monday
afternoon Kernans playhouse, freshly
painted and prim. will open It's doors for
deprived of some sort of theatrical enter
tainment for even a single night.
The opening of the season at Kernan's is
t. be quickly followed by the Academy, and
one week from Monday night the Stair play
'hVu>e az 9th and ID streets begins its sec
oEd year under the present management,
'TiJh d new melOdramatic romance called
PENNSYLVANIA The aC vance posters of
t.Penusylvania' indicate a very lively open
3uE, too. The local manager of the house
Will be W. H. Power, Washington theat-
riCaI man Of prominence. Mr.. Power has
managed number of successful opera, COM
pauies or the road and was al one tins with
sCreSJOn Clarke. He is well versed in all
things theatrical and will undoubtedly have
q very successful career at the Academy.
. The Columbia VIII remain closed for sew
eral weeks, during which time 1t will un-
-QtrgO the annual renovation and improve
'nent which all theaters must have from
zine 10 time. Much Of the delight of the
'renewal Of the theatrical year each fall is
,the freshness. the crispness of the play
,houses after their summer cleaning and re-
Sa.r
Actors are odd geniuses in their own pc
Eulidr way. This does not apply to their
playIug qualities alone, but to their nat
Eral method of grasping things and getting
On IN the world.
James Lackaye, brother of Wilton Lack
Aye and himself well-known player, was
3r town this week and talked of the COM
IN season He will play again the role
of The stern old father in York State
Fo.ks.' and was commenting on the fact
tha- the company would be composed of
the same players as last year practically
throughout the cast Of characters.
The manager Is having some trouble
HOout signing all the folks, however" he
SaId, for each one insists upon having
good - bstantIal increase of salary. You
3Til4 find this to be the case in every COM
pauy playing the same piece two years in
Succession"
Il was suggested that as every one in
the show might possibly not have made
"a great hit IL seemed a little strange
D. h.ris should hold out for an Increase
Yet they do continued Mr.. Lackaye.
You see this Is the way the players
2 hit figure that they are entitled to in
creaS"d compensation for going out again
!n the thankIess parts assigned them.
Thy feel they are jeoPardizing their repu-
tat.rns TO play part that doesn't make a
hit and they want more gold. Then those
who do make the hits. well. you can i'm
agiHe what their claims are. There you
have the logic Of it. Now what's the man
hger going to do about it?''
Considerable interest IS evinced In Paul
Armstrong; st. Ann" the play which IS
announced as the opening attraction at the
Columbia 1t will be presented for the
frst time during the week beginning Sep
.temDer !. st Ann" is romance of the
prtsaEt and depicts the artist-lIfe of New
York and London, two studios being among
the scenes. Somehow the piece seems to
I'D classification. 1t could scarcely be
CALI a problem play for the reason that
t. ending Is too happy. nor is it a melo-
drama for the situations are realistic and
the dialogue never overdrawn. II IS a story
pf love, the suffering which results from
.error and the ultimate triumph of right
Which should characterize every weII-order-
ed play. Ann is thL central figure in the
romance- She Is beautiful girl pure
piEtsd. but misguided, one who Yields 10
the uncOnyentiOnalIty OF her surroundings
HUT at0res fully for her error after she
has met a man whom she loves. The pIay
develops a fine point In ethics-that OF
The oman who feels that her nearest an
fprOach 10 virtue. after having fallen con-
Ssists in convincing her Wronger that she
Is hencefOrth nothing to him. An atmosphere
pf delightful Bohemianism envelops the
entire play. and while the central theme
Is serious, there are many truly humorous
EituatiOns and much dialogue of a genu-
ipely comic nature. The piece Is staged
Hnd presented under the personal super
Vision Of the author, Paul Armstrong, and