Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-12

'Same old story-nnthing new" That
melancholy refrain of one Of the days agone
Casino successes applied to the theatrical
situation of the current week. Quo Fadis. -
bercft of the splendid cast which originally
made 1t one of the greatest OF modern
productions, was sad example of the lack
Of sentiment IN the managerial bosom. F.
c. Whitney. whose name is proudly Haunted
over the melancholy degeneration which
QUO Vadis" has become. might have
spared the public the spectacle of a truly
good play presented in so truly bad a
fashion. To those who saw the original
QUO Vadis" in all its richness and COM
pleteness, the present performance is a
shock But let us cheer up ''Florodora' is
coming. and with the original company at
that.
May Irwin held the stage at the National
Theater with The Widow Jones'-which
is about as much a play as Miss Irwin is
an actress. However it serves as the
means Of killing time when Miss Irwin is
not giving her coon-song speciality. There
is fascination about her coon-singing
which neither play nor acting can over
come. Henry Miller. whose statelier strides
follow closely upon the Widow Jones cake
walk PAGES, will offer strong contrast
But Mr.. Miller is expected TO show in
Darcy of the Guards that he can be
diScreetly humorous if he chooses.
The Little Pilgrims at the Lafayette
was much shortened and much improved.
The management is confident that it has a
success in this new play. whose authorship
Is divided among Michael Morton. Martha
Morton and Stage Director Bellows.
The regular season is drawing TO a close
and preparations for outdoor summer en-
tertainment are already assuming shape.
While there are some strong attractions TO
come to the National and the Columbia
they are not numerous. The present inten-
ton at Chase's is to run all summer. The
Lafayette stock company will not be reOr
ganiZed for the early summer season as II
was last year. and Mr.. Bellows will re-
main up TO the time that it is absolutely
necessary for him to go to Denver. The
Empire Theater Will probably net extend
its season very far into the warm weather.
The management expresses the highest
satisfaction with the results of it's change
of policy. and expects that next season will
be one of the most satisfactory that the
house has known in its entire history.
The popular conception of the giants of
the prize ring must have received a severe
Jar at Chase's this week, where 'Pompa
dour jim" erstwhiIe champion pugilist of
the world. entertained large audiences with
IN interesting monologue. This was not
the first time Corbett has appeared on
the local boards. but he has probably never
before been seen in role more congenial
His personal experience" stories proved
interesting 10 a degree ard his suave and
som, times boyiish manner Of delivery sug-
Cested an uuprafessionalism that was en-
tlr-ly refrs shius- Mr.. Chase's lady Glen
tel@ in particular :. emed 10 enjoy his talk
hugely: but that was hardly surprising as
the fair sex elsewhere is also said to have
found much to commend in the talk. Cor
bett occupies a conspicuous place in the
gelaxy Of actor-pUgiIists. Indeed he is the
peer Of all Of them. having been. in and out
Of season. quite a money maker as theat-
riCai proposition. He has an Interesting
personality, being posse sstd of an affability
and COrVe rsatiOral style that is fascinat-
ing In talking TO the writer one day this
week he told the following story:
while playing in Norfolk. Va. recently
| happened in front Of the theater in which
/ Was playing one afternoon, after the matt
nee Two colofed boys had taken their
stand in front of three-sheet poster of
your humble servant They were discus
sing prize fighting in general. when one of
them said: Did you see the show this
week: Is il any good% Yes said the other
the shcw is all right, but that man Cor
bett doesn't do no fightin He only does a
little taking. But that don't spoil the show
much.
Miss Blanch Howard Of the Howard sis
tiers. at the Empire. was at one time lead
ing lady for Corbstt in Gentleman jim"
one Of the theatrical ventures that Is said
70 have put Brady and Corbett on the high
way 10 fortune.
h hind the door in the drawing room of
the Townshend mansion. in Henry Miller's
play Of 'D'Arcy Of the Guards" there
stands an old fashioned clock to give addi-
tional correctness 10 the carefully planned
details thereof. One day last week the
property man of the company was display
Ing. with pride. to a fellow-craftsman from
another theater the various unusual and
artistic belongings of his department. The
visitor. an enthusiast upon the subject. be-
came greatly interested in the clock
That is charming he said. But. of
course. it's only a SHE'LL
Indeed. not" answered Props Its in
perfect condition and ready for use 1t
cost $40. and, taking the key from within
the case. he wound and set the clock at
VOTE; 10 the admiration of his delighted
friend. Other things drew their attention
and as the clocks ticking was very sub
dued. II was left to go on its unaccustemed
way.
When IL came time to place It upon the
stage that night some triffling obstruction
must have interfered, for all agree the
clock was not going when Props set the
hands for Miss Townshends observation.
1t Is nearly IL o'clock" which was TO oc-
cur later A jar or shock must have dis
lodged the obstruction for in the scene
where the officers gather to plan the bat
tie, II spoke right out in meeting in
startling manner. The colonel had lust in
1SEmeo MS suoordinates they were to make
the attack upon the American forces that
evening. Looking at his watch. he SAID:
.Ins attack will begin at IL. 1t Is row
Aaa1 AFTER d Just then the old clock be
$tn, slowly and ponderously. to strike the