Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-03

MUSIC

New Year prosperity relgned at the Inca
tiers this week, and in nearly every Instance
the attraction was worthy of the commence
reposed In it by the playgoers. The holi-
day atmosphere around the playhouses mas
been most pronounced, the big New Year
day matinees helping materially to make
the hearts of the managers and players
glad If the New Year business Is a safe
index, the remainder Of the season Will
not only be highly prosperous one In the
capital city. but interesting as WELL for
the present week has furnished well-bal-
anced variety Of shows and some very
clever ones.
1t would seem that the uncertain stage OF
the theatrical season has now been safely
passed through. Most of the unimportant
and unworthy attractions should ere this
have been eliminated from the theatrical
equation, for the time being at least, ana
theatergoers should be able to look forward
to this second half of the season with
great degree of security and contented an
ticipation Already the indications point
that way, for the list Of coming attractions
Is one fraught with much interest to all
classes of patrons of the play.
The present week was notable Tor the
presentation Of a new Annie Russell play.
Nj
witness the final rehearsals and to see that
all went well Monday night. Mrs. Made
lelne Lucette Ryley, the writer of Mice
and Men," came on also to materially
assist in looking after the best-laid plans
Miss Russeus success in the new piece
was assured before the first curtain was
rung up Monday night 1t was announced
that the play had already achieved success
In London and that the central figure was
distinctly an Annie Russell character. Lit
tie more was needed Mr. Frohman was
depended upon to furnish competent sup
port. He was confronted with TWO leaulns
male characters of almost equal import
ance, but solved the problem nicely with
Orrin Johnson and John Mason.
Miss Russell's yearly visits are looked
forward to by a great proportion of the
theatergoers with no little pleasure. Sne
has come to fill her own particular nlche
in the season, and without her there would
essentially be something lacking. she Is
held in affectionate esteem mere In WASH
ington, and so Is Mrs. Gilbert, who FOR
many years past has been associated with
the Annie Russell productions. Mrs. Gill
bert is always assured of the most entnu-
siastic reception in the capital city, and
every evening this week she has been COM
PEELED to bow time and time again her &C
acknowledgements of the tumultuouS applause
which has greeted her. New Year week at
the National has been an essentially happy
one.
X
Three matinees and six evening perform
ances did not suffice to meet the demands
made upon the box office at the Lafayette
Square this week, where Frank Perleys
"Chaperons'' played to record-breaking bus
mess. Much to the regret OF the enter
prising management great many people
had to be turned away at many of the per-
formances. The mid-week matinees
brought out the greatest audiences the La
fayette has ever known. The reason for
this unusual outpouring is not far to seek
1t may be safely said that never before has
a popular-price house been favored with
such a high class attraction. In every re-
spect up to the standard set here last sea-
son and later maintained in New York,
1.-The Chaperons'' returned to find new
friends and to make the holiday life of the
Lafayette treasurer whirling maze OF
fractional currency. The production has
q go to 1t such as Is seldom noticeable in
a second-season assemblage. There Is
hardly dull moment in the three hours
from curtain to curtain, and all the peo-
pie in the cast seem to be pleased with
their parts and anxious to do their best. Ii
there was one person more popular than
the others Ii was that volatile young wo-
man, Eva Tanguay, restless and reslstless
She has an original bit of character work
which is undeniably one of the strongest
pletely won the favor of her audiences that
ere the performances were an hour old her
every appearance on the stage called forth
wave of applause. The Lafayette pa
irons enjoyed rare treat this week
One of the greatest disappointments Of
the year. so far. was undeniably found In
'Sky Farm" which the Columbia was un-
fortunate enough to draw as holiday at
traction. Coming to Washington bearing
the stamp of Charles Frohman and her
aided as from the pen of E. E. Kidder the
author of two Of Sol Smith Russelps great
est successes. Sky Farm" was looked for
ward to with a great deal Of interest as a
typical play of American farm life and
plain people. In one respect this anticipa-
tory interest was more than warranted. for
the pople were not only plain, but for the
most part decidedly uninteresting. One
was inclined to condole with the players in
the company for although their work was
not above the ordinary, still 1t was plain
10 be seen their opportunities were few.
II there must be rural plays. then they
must needs awaken some strong sympa-
thetic feeling for characters designed to
merit such commisSeration. In Sky Farm
the playwright shot wide OF his mark
Carl Hagenbeck. whose show comes to the
Lafayette next week, has been handling
wild animals for forty years. Before him
the elder eck-affectionately called
"IJnser Carl''-waS a dealer of note, and
supplied the big zoos of Europe with their
rarest specimens. The third Carl Hagenbeck
f. now a man of thlrty-five and Is prepared
20 assume the management of a business
that Is said to show an annual profit of half
q million dollars. In Hamburg. where their
principal depot is located. they sell snakes
by the foot and elephants by the inch
Twice year big catalogue is issued in
four or five languages. describing the goods
on hand an, calling attention to certain
bargains in lonkeys. job lots of camels or
q few ostriches that have become shop worn
In stock. 1t Is an unusual business to be
sure. but to the Hagenbecks it possesses
neither novelty nor the merit Of extraordi-
nary interest
Carl Hagenbeck the third Is the chief
clerk in this animal emporium. Under his
direction all the sales are made not only
FOR the continent and England, but for the
United States. In this country the house of
Hagenbeck has one travelling man, Lee Will
Jams by name and the show that comes to
Washington this week serves as his sample
case. Some sxty-odd years ago ''Unser
Carl Hagenbeck was a fishmonger I'm
Hamburg One day a whaling vessel lust
down from the North sea made anchor In
the river Elbe and brought ashore a healthy
young polar bear. consigned as a present to
Young QObleman OF the town Tho pohla-