Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-14

In the Washington amusement armament
this week ''Babette' scintillates in splendid
and almost solitary brilliancy. Miss FRITZ
Scheff has already been received with so
much ELUSIVE praise that further compli-
ment of her work would be a matter of
upererogation. Victor Herbert has in this
opera added another achievement to his al
ready honorable list and while it is hardly
justihable to hail him as another Milloecker
or Audran his fine muscianly sense and
exquisite knowledge of effects are always
sufficient to buoy up the passages in which
he lacks substantial inspiration. The pub
lie Immediately recognized the merits of the
production and the attendance throughout
the week was very large.
Miss Jane Remark. highly capable &C
tress. appeared at the Columbia Theater in
Under Two Flags" The play is already
so well known in Washington that mere
curiosity, even when whetted by live
horse and sand storm. were not sufficient
to claim extensive consideration of the per
formance. The public was apathetic, hav-
ing long since become familiar to the point
of ennui with the sorrows of Ouida's eccen-
trio heroine. The play has not the literary
merit to warrant 1t in being accepted a
Std'lu"Iu SpedhIh5'
the piaygoing public recovered from the
Cigarette habit a season or two ago.
X
The playgoer who confines himself to the
higher priced attractions makes mistake
in supposng that there Is nothing worth
study in the melodrama offered at prices of
admission which every purse can command.
1t is to the popular price play house that
you must go if you would see some of the
traditions of the stage faithfully preserved.
At the Lafayette Theater "A Black Sheep"
stands as a reminder that the humor of
Charles Hoyt SO much enjoyed and so little
appreciated during his lifetime is still
potent to charm. But it is in a popular
play like Parted at the Altar at the
Academy that the primary and essential
ITincilSes of the drama are exploited.
There is no veneering a fral and uninter-
esting plot with fine talk so as to deceive
and mystify the patrons of melodrama
There must be action and invention. And it
Is safe to say that many a play which I'M
ohtrusvely makes fortunes for author and
manager in the popular price circuit would
If exploited with the pomp and ldvishneSs
of a Broadway production, be deemed
worthy Of close critical analysis. Some of
the most conspicuous dramatic successes
have been simply melodramas with a great
cast and fine costumes. In scenery the
popular drama NlSS with It's more preten-
uOuS SlSterhOOd. The chase of a bicycle
after an automobile. for instance as shown
in Parted at the Altar, is an example of
stage craftsmanship worthy of the APP
prevail of any modern audience who visits
the theater without literary prejudices.
The James Brothers in Missouri" may be
regarded as specimen of the drama in it's
early and natural process of development
1t conforms TO certain general rules of con-
struction and yet is not initiative of the
standard current successes. What Fra
Dlavolo was to Italy the James Boys are
TO this country. and the playmaker has sur
rounded them with an atmosphere of ro-
nance in simple direct manner which
makes up in popular appeal for what it
may lack in its pretensions of art for arts
sake. The catastrophe is boldly accom-
pllshed in absolute defiance of the oft-re-
peated declaration that the average play
Soer demands a happy ending and the
author demonstrates that in the first essen
tial of play writing-swift appeal to and
tenacious grasp of the auditors sympathies
he is more adept than some of his col
leagues who far surpass him in fame The
so-called popular drama and the literary
drama-which is often sadly unpopular-are
not so far separate as many affect to be
NeVe, and sincere lover of the stage
like the sincere student of human nature
cannot afford to invariably insist on dress
coats and evening gowns. The great object
of the playwright is to understand and APP
peal to the taste and temperament of his
public; and this the popular producer does
10 nicely.
x :;
As usual there is talk of new theater
in Washington. The present prospect is
that the Empire Theater. which has been
devoting itself to the policy of a family
theater, Will be superseded by new and
elaborate structure. under the management
and proprietOrship OF the interests now
operating in Washington under the name
Lafayette Amusement Co"
The sensibilities of the prima donna have
once more asserted themselves, and the re-
suit is that Miss Ida Hawley, who sang an
important role in ''Babette' with so much
success early in the week, will tonight as
sumo the part. The explanation of this
arrangement IS that Miss Scheffs contract
calls for only six performances weekly, and
the matinee performance today rounds out
that number