Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-13
MUSIC

indeed, a luxury TO encounter al l4o'S -
citing incidents and blood-curdling climaxes
as first impressions. for Mr.. Sherlock
Holmes. like most types that possess o
touch of morbidity or sensationalism, is
more fascinating on first acquaintance than
as a familiar companion. The emphatic
success Mr.. Gillette obtains in producing
the requisite thrills for a melodramatic en-
tertainment without wholly sacrificing the
more artistic qualities must, however. COM
mand loyal and unbounded admiration.
Mr.. Gillette's ambition, as at present an
nounced is to give a production of Hamlet
which will establish him as an interpreter
Of the classics. The enterprise Will De
hailed with satisfaction not only by MT.
Gillettes personal admirers, who are legion,
but by the numerous students of the stage
who enjoy any intelligent effort to produce
the really great plays in English literature
There is not a doubt that Mr.. Gillette S
Hamlet will be in many respects delishtfai.
The character intricate as it is in its -1ch-
ness of PSYCHOLOGICAL thought, is not one In
which many actors have failed Indeed,
the famous aphorism of the Kentuckian
concerning whisky, has been modihed, anu
il is asserted that all Hamlets are GOOD,
but some are much better than others.
Mr.. Gillette has come to affect somewhat
cold and even harsh method of enumeration
due no doubt to his effort to produce the
icy cynicism of the conventional story
book detective. The mannerisms which ave
asserting themselves in his work would not
tend to encourage expectations for his
Hamlet, but a man with so keen a percep-
ton of stage proprieties may reasonably be
expected to perceive for himself ana &c
correct any such tendencies.
i =
Mrs Patrick Campbell has produced
series of plays which demonstrate now
circumlocution and ingenious industry tc
avoid calling a spade by it's common name
can elude the vigilance of the moralists
The performances of Duse did not suffice
to harden us to point where 10y OF Llv-
ing" could be accepted without at least a
grimace. Buses plays possessed moral
advantage over this production in that they
were performed in Italian, and, therefore,
were but scantily understood. There is nc
mistaking the story of the principal play IN
Mrs. Campbells repertoire. And there vas
no mistaking the interest and seeming ap-
prevail with which it was followed by an
audience which contained many people who
represent good society Mrs. Campball's
company includes Frederick Kerr who was
with Mrs. Langtry as leading man IN
play called THE Degenerates." Mr.. Kerr
distinguished himself by posing as Mrs
Iangtrys champion in the attacks when
her play invited from people who objected
to the title as appealing 10 prurient curl
osity From Mrs. Langtry's "Degenerates'
to Mrs Campbells joy of Living is out
OF the frying pan into the fire. 1t would
be interesting to see what a woman of Mrs
Campbelrs undoubted talents would do with
some strong chara cter of less soInber moral
quality than that of her present list Of
plays. She is unquestionably capable of
brilliant achievements in worthier field.
x
At the Lafayette Square Theater Brandon
lyman presented a play of his own com
position. 1t had no car marks of the home
made" however, and was received with en-
thusiasm. 1t is stirring hit of roman
ticism and contains vein of legitimate In
terest which adds artistic dignity to its
popular appeal.
At the Academy Of Music Across the
Pacific" returned to renew old acquaint-
anceship. 1t is one of the plays which. de-
spite their familiarity, please the people.
Mr.. Blaney, who. in addition to remark
ably nimble pair of feet, has a good bust
ness head on his shoulders, has had new
piece ready from season TO season, and in
while it would gladly be given time. they
would rather have Across the Pacific"
Few people who attended the performance
at the Academy would have recognized in
the jovial Irish soldier the famous silence
and fun" man, Frank f. McNish. Mr.. Nc
NIsh's last previous appearance in this city
occurred number of years ago when he
performed In black face with McNish
johnson and Slavin's Mnstres.
II am glad he says, ito have finally
gotten away from burnt cork. 1t has al
ways been my ambition to do dialect char
scter work. and | shall devote myself TO Ii
In the future" Mr. McNish has taken vi
painting in an amateur way and expects &c
startle Mr.. Len, Soper and Mr.. Bert Leslie
and other neighbors at his home in St
James. l.. l., by the brillance of mis-
achievements on canvas.
+
Naturally, the play Ghosts" evoked con-
troversy The temptations offered by Ibsen
to the debating societies has done much to
inspire dstrust of his works in the minds
of people who rebel al platitudinous dem
sity. They imagine that nothing which has
inspired so much dullness can be other than
uninteresting. The little audience at the
Columbia Theater was made up mostly of
people who had already made the ac-
quaintance of the Norwegian playwright
and who knew the intense interest he can
lend to a subject. OF course the fact that
the performance was given on Wednesday
afternoon no doubt attracted a few matt
nee girls. Ghosts is not play for matt
nee girls and they are entitled to all cour-
tesy and approval il they rise in their in
dignation and declare that it is perfectly
horrid" and they don't believe there is any
such thing as heredity anyhow. From their
point of view, the protest is entirely cor
rect.
Tony one OF the bears that performed
at Chase's Theater last week. enjoyed the
distinction of being introduced to the Grid
iren Club at its dinner on Saturday night
where he met a number of Americas most
distinguished people. Not only did he con-
tribute much to the gayety of the occasion
by assisting in little satire on the states
manlike sport of bear hunting, but he
Gravely participated as a guest In the pleas
ures of the festal board much to his own
satisfaction and to the amusement of the
assemblage. Tony offered a bottle
OF champagne. which he drank with a
promptness which proved that he was not a
t,robfl,fffOp hear Whom prof Wa,pacher