Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-18

Tho chief theatrical novelty this week
wa When Reuben Comes to Town"
Reuben has good points. but on the
whole it is a case of least said soonest
mended Anna Held had an immensely
prosperous week with The Little Duchess
which is as gorgeous as ever. Anna Held
has advanced marvelously since the time
when she came forward to the footlights
with her little budget of songs. apparently
with no prospects beyond those of the aver
age music hall success. 1t is now limited
that she has ambitions to do still more le-
Ultimate work. He. management has been
of the best discerning and liberal. and it is
safe to say that Miss Held will go to the
full heights of which she IS capable. Hav-
ing already made so remarkable rise, 1t
is unsafe to venture any suggestions as to
her limitations.
Those local favoritss. Otis Harlan, Little
Chip" and others. had a merry week at the
Lafayette Opera House. This company APP
pears 10 have d stronghold in the interest
of Washington amusement patrons, and is
interchangeable in getting new material.
The theatrical season in New York is well
u,w productions has been brought out, and
the successes and failures have been fairly
VOL defined. The New York successes are
ol interest to the Washington theater-goers,
for they indicate the character and serve as
d catalogue of the later booking in this city.
With one or two interesting exceptions
Washington has been, and seems still to be,
Oh theatrical side track, shunted there by
the syndicate locomotive and left to care
Tor itself as well possible.
In Il musical comedy sense New York is
almost as bereft as any other part of the
country. "A Chinese Honeymoon" which
began its career the first OF last summer, is
stiu going on at the Casino. The coming of
"A Country Girl at Days created some
timing of furry. 1t is English thoroughly,
and has made a success. which apparently
means an entire winter on Broadway. Min
NE Ashley and William Norris are the
popular favorites III the caste. To see
aIr. Norris in musical comedy, cavort-
Ing around the stage singing Chick,
Chick. with chicken wings and tail
4.-Icned. is j treat his Washington friends
ar looking forward TO with keen in
terest lie IS known here as charact
player Of marked ability. Sally In Our AL
ley IS another musical bit which Will soon
sAieaScr 10 realize on a New York run
b. a tour on the road. New York is talking
just now Of the forthcoming production in
is by the authors Of 'Florodora." The
double seNtet experiment will again be
tried in This piece.
Win regard 10 the drama the metropoli-
tan interest seems to be distributed. three
plays or players claiming a large share OF
tue attention. There is Mrs Carter, who is
playing ''Du Barry al the Belasco theater
and Mrs Patrick Campbell, who is playing
q r,p-rtury at the Garden. Washington is
acquainted with both. The most talkeCl-of
play Is Iris in which Virginia Harmed is
said IN he doing the very best work she has
Yet shown the stage. Iris is prob
lem play. cleverly written by Pinero. When
/. was recently produced at the Criterion
The Seif-asSured Gotham folk pronounced it
dramatic sensation. II is not one OF the
happy ending romancss of the Han Game
type bUJ is said to be so true to life to
b positively daring in its harshness. The
coming of DuSe the present week for her
Ann rlcan tour added 70 the interesting pro-
dUcriOus of the day
Ia lighter vein New York has a number
OF plays to talk about. There's John Drew
al ihc Empire. playing comedy which has
TIL champion long distance name of the
year, The Mummy and the Hummng
Bird What I; is all about remains to be
seen. The name might mean anything.
Ethel Barrymore who has always been
conceded youth and beauty and attractive
ness on the stage, has added 10 her dra-
being given at the new Savoy Theater. The
first of these is curtain raiser called Car
rOtS, in which Miss Barrymore appears as
peasant in loose and baggy trousers.
Later in the evening she appears in at
trdCtiVe feminine garb in "A Country
Mouse. She has firmly established herself
star. Harry Davenport, of musical
comedy fame. IS now her leading man.
Weldon Grossmith. the clever English
comedian. who IS surrounded by a COM
pany OF his couEtrymen. Is playing an Eng
lsh comedy called The Night of the
Party, and it is u fine success. Alice
Fischer is still playing Mrs. Jack" at the
Victoria There are to be found the usual
number of minor comedies and blood-curd-
ling melodramas in the theaters given over
To such things. A wild animal show has
the boards at the New York, which is "A
rather unprecedented condition at this time
In the theatrical season.
New York at the present time also has a
corner on the Dutch dialect comedians
Weber Fields and the Roger Brothers
are Doih in Gotham. and are making money
as IaSt as they can count it. 1t is really
wonderful what Il Dutch dialect will do for
some people. Weber & Fields in addition
To owning probably the best-paying piece
OF theatrical property in New York. are
now building a theater in Boston and are
talking of building others. The Rogers pair
will also soon have metropolitan theater
Jefferson De Angels, at the Herald soma "a
in Sir Arthur S.ulliyan's The Emerald
Isle, and Lulu CHASER in Dolly Warden al
Harlem. uphold the operate profession In
New York al the present time 1t is told OF
Miss Chaser that while abroad she studied
under specialist. and has succeeded i'm
eliminating the rather harsh-rolling RS
that nave heretofore been pronounced in
her speech.
The Empire Theater makes a somewhat
abrupt departure next week, when 1t viii
resume its former policy of burlesque or
the stage and smoking permitted in all parts
of the auditorium Manager Schlesingei
very frankly admits that the effort to pu,
me house on a paying basis as a family
fheater has not been satisfactory While
ladies attend the theater in sufficient num-