Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-21

that the attractions have been high In quail
tty Washington. however. refuses to take
anything for granted. The success or fall
ure of a play elsewhere, be 1t London. New
York or Norfolk. Va. seems to exert very
little influence upon the play patrons mere.
The reputation of an actor is. however, OF
paramount Importance. and has in several
cases enabled men of recognized standing In
the theatrical world to enjoy lucrative pa
tronage with productions whose Intrinsic
interest was only moderate. Time was
when the mere fact that an actor could be
truthfully billed as an eminent English
piayer was sufficient to crowd the American
theaters to see his performances. rms
seems to be no longer the case. The dlsre-
gard of London ostige was manifested al
most cruelty in the case of that splendid
actor Martin Harvey. and is again In evil
dence at the National Theater this week,
where the business done by Charles Haw-
trey whose name is thoroughly familiar TO
all readers of theatrical lore. represents
possibly the lowest ebb of box office re-
ceipts for legitimate attraction.
Mr. Hawtrey's impressions of America,
should he be prevailed on by some English
publisher to write them, would probably
not be highly favorable. One of his hrst
mishaps was to encounter a bad English
imitation of American journalism in can
ada where he was so misquoted that he
followed the example of Richard Mansfield
and registered a VOW never to be inter-
viewed again excepting by his own faith
full press agent. The whimsically inclined
feuilletonists of New York also poked fun
at Mr. Hawtrey. and the public allowed
him to exhibit his really exquisite art and
his uniuue little play for long time to
empty benches. The fact that Washington,
who mindful of It's dignity as the capital
of a great nation sometimes assumes SUI
perior knowledge in matters of art, gave
Mr. HaWtrey a very scant welcome may
reasonably be expected to emphasize any
iII-opinion he had previously acquired. But
American money is very attractive. owing
TO the Iiberality with which it is dispensed
when congenialiy invited, and it may be
hoped that Mr. Hawtrey viii forget any
disappointment and come over another sea
son, for there is no doubt that the repu-
tation he has made will serve as the basis
for future success which will not lack
completeness in any aspect. AS it is. Mr..
Hawtrey has the consolation of many
weeks of good business in several cities.
The Messenger From Mars" is strongly
dependent upon the work single man-Mr.
Hawtrey. Yet there are two other char
acters in the play which must be well per-
formed to prevent collapse OF the inter
est These are the tramp, enacted by Fred
Thorn. and the Marian, who gives the
dream scenes so dgnified an element of the
supernatural The Marian was played by
II. Stevenson, who was cast for the part
In London. When Mr. Hawtrey was re-
hearsing the play in New York hIr. Steven
son was in Australia. Mr.. Hawtrey had
cabed him from London, asking whether
lie could join the company In New York.
but a subsequent cable confirming the en-
gagement miscarried. Mr.. Stevenson, how
ever. with true English pluck, packed up
and sailed for NeY York on the chance that
the part had not been filled, and found that
he was still needed. His performance is a
well-studied and highly discreet piece of
acting The ladies of the company were
quite in harmony with their respective roles
50 far as appearances go. Their artistic
merits. fortunately. happened 10 be COM
paratively unessential details.
David Warfield repeated the Immensely
favorable impression he made last season
In that quaint idyl of the East Side, The
Auctioneer." There is a wealth. of pathos
in Warheds delineation of this character,
which raises him well above the level of
the mere humorous entertainer.
II don't know what play / am going out
in next season." said Mr.. Warfield, in re-
Spouse to an inquiry. Il know they have
a play for me. but have not been informed
what it is. and am just as well content not
to have it in mind at present. l like to
give my attention to the work in hand, and
prefer not to divide my interest with a new
part. which l should, OF course, begin to
study as soon as 1t was outlined to me,
even in general way.
NO II will not be 'Shylock although
/ believe all German dialect comedians pro-
pose to play 'Shylock' in a more or less
remote future. Have | any such intention?
Maybe; but for the present / am content to
hope that l will not be given a bigger artis-
tic package than can conveniently carry"
You have never yet undertaken anything
which you did not bring to a success"
That's true" said the comedian, thought
fully. and 1 don't want to begin new
record"
One of the most amusing bits OF business
In The Auctioneer is that which brings
Simon Levi into the bail room. happy. over
dressed and. withal. little i'll at ease with
the tab at the bottom OF his shirt bosom
showing from beneath his vest. When his
attention is called TO it and he is told to
conceal 1t. he replies:
No. 1t has my name on it,.
This incident was not In the book but like
many another happy stage thought came
into existence by accident, for the super
iious tab was displayed by accident one
evening and it was Warfield's ready wit
that conceived the reply. saved the scene
and put down another good line to the
credit of the production
Miss Eugenle Blair has very kindly given
the public a ray of comfort with reference
to those interesting ladies. Zaza and
Camille. We have wept for generations
more or less under the impression that
Camille was fragile lady whose intense
emotions must have been a sad physical
strain Zaza. too. We have been accustomed
to picture as a less frall but at the same
time unrobust type. Our sympathies have
too long been under this strain. Miss Blair
steps kindly TO the rescue. She makes it
clear that these heroines may have had. for