Evening star., 1902-02-22
CONGRATULATIONS
National Theater.


comedy Captain Jinks of the Horse
Marines. the coming week. witnessing
Captain Jinks' is like taking down from
some high library shelf volume of Godey's
Lady's Book of thirty years ago and in an
idle moment examining with a smile of en-
joyment and amusement the colored fashion
plates that preface each number and then,
in a spirit half Of curiosity and half OF in
terest, reading one of the romances the
book contains. The romance seems at first
a bit strange-the inspection of the fashion
plates having resulted in clothing the char
acters In the fantastic garb seen pictured
there: the atmosphere, the manners and the
speech seem peculiar, but the first chapter
stirs the curiosity and reading farther
the second chapter proves captivating. And
the spirit Of the times and the story being
caught the third and final division is en-
joyed TO the full. For it Is a sweet, Win
some story of light-hearted happiness
Clyde Fitch has told in this old magazine
play of his.
1t is story of stage life and love. but
Only as they are seen in their brighter,
their story book. aspect, with the giamor
and the charm all there. and none of the
sham ard vexations revealed. The play,
with Ethel Barrymore as Madame Tron-
toni, the beautiful and fascinating prima
donna, whose love story Mr.. Fitch has en-
veloped in an atmosphere of New York
life thirty years ago. ran at the Garrick
Theater two hundred nights There was
that about Captain Jinks' that held the
approval bestowed by the public imme-
diately upon it's production. Then, too,
there was a cordial acknowledgment Of
Miss Barrymore's inherited right to be ac-
cepted as an actress, and when she tr-
umphed in the principal role qualification
was sincere and praise freely bestowed.
Again this season Miss Barrymore appear
ed in the play In New York for three weeks,
and she could have kept on indefinitely, but
long-pending contracts could not be can
oaJlI I,nrn will hn =
tional Wednesday and Saturday.
Columbia Theater.
For an attraction of the Lenten season
Managers Luckett and Dwyer could hardly
present more appropriate and at the same
time appealing attraction than the whole
some "Old Homestead with the ever-wel-
come veteran, Denman Thompson, in his
portrayal of the sturdy, loyal, brave
hearted Joshua Whitcomb. 1t was stated in
the review Of The Star last year that "any
preacher could have been proud of having
for congregation such an assemblage as
that which crowded the Columbia Theater
to it's capacity on the opening night OF
Mr.. Thompson's engagement last season.
and which state of affairs continued
throughout the engagement. And it was
added that mo preacher, perhaps, could
have found better text than that con-
veyed by the sweet old play or have deliv-
cred more powerful sermon than Denman
thompson did In his famous portrayal Of
Joshua Whitcomb. Herein are contained
tributes to the qualities Of the star and
play which are acknowledged throughout
the length and breadth of the country, and
which are undoubtedly the chief factors in
its success. 1t was only recently that a
prominent divine of the south declared that
THE Old Homestead was a lesson for every
American family"
Mr.. Thompson is still the star OF the play.
and In presenting 1t this season he has en-
deavored to give better production, IL that
were possible than ever before, while still
clinging to the traditions that have made
the play famous. The scenery and accesso-
ries will be elaborate and characteristic
and viii include the pretty perspective of
the "Old Homestead" farm in summer an
Grace Church, New York, by moonlight
with its grand organ and choir of twenty
picked voices. and also the typical New
England farmhouse kitchen. where all the
quaint Swanzey folks gather by Uncle
Josh's blazing fireplace to welcome home
the prodigai son. In addition Mr.. Thomp-
son promises an excellent company, includ-
Ing the always pleasing double quartet of
men with the hoe" who will be heard in
some new and effective numbers. Mr
ThompsOns engagement Is for one week
with the usual Thursday and Saturday
matinees. The advance sale already indi-
Gates that the popular scale of prices Is an
preciated by the theatergoing public
Chase's Theater.
Chase's bill for next week comprises Ezra
oil