The Washington times., 1903-01-18
Past and Future.

A comic opera of fair merft-as merit
is counted these days-a WORKOUT ''ru-
rail- comedy drama. a vaudeville bill of
good names and only fair performances,
character" and 'knockabout" comedy
mingled in a fair farce, a rousing melo-
drama and fan burlesque-this was the
schedule OF theatrical offerings in Wash
ington last week It did not prove over
tempting and was not particularly well
patronized.
This ought to occasion no dismay. On
the contrary, II is a seal of The public
intelligence
Way Down East never was good
play. It was a creation OF vigorous and
persistent booming In its early days
The Manhattan Theater in New York
was filled for performance after per-
Torrance with paper" For weeks it
dragged along after the elusive and val
ueIess New Yor krun. When that was
attained. out it went on the road. It
has gained a little as time wore on. But
it had much TO gain. What it is today
was fairly well expressed in The Times
/ review Of last Tuesday. There is no
disposition now to change a word CT
what was written for that issue
1.-THE Sleeping Beauty and the Beast, 3"
q Drury Lane pantomime, will begin
to morrow night a two weeks engage
ment at the National Drury Lane
pantomfmes are, according to William
/ Archer and his London co-critics. the
/ highest possible development Of the
stage spectacle, and d new art torm
That they do not follow fact and are
/ not realistic is not to be urged against
them II is enough if they delight the
/ spectator and do not oppose his better
1 impulses
Leo Ditrichstein viii present two
farces from his own pen at the CoIum-
bia- Are You a Mason" when it irst
/ appeared, was much condemned Tor in
delicacy OF suggestiveness. IN the
/ course OF q somewhat extended run this
quality is said to have been -radi-
Gated. In that event, if the play proves
diverting. it deserves the popularity
with which fl has net generally Fri
/ day night the company will present for
/ the first time on any stage a new com
/ edy by Mr.. Ditrtchstein called Vivian s
/ Papas" This writing was origin
/ ally entitled Caught with the Goods, %
+ but the discovery that vaudeville
sketch had been given the Same name.
and was to be presented at Chases for
+ the ensuing week, led 10 a change Of
name The plot. as announced in an
tIclpation OF the premiere. seems TO be
( interesting and full Of possibility
Chase's presents a bill of character
istic merit The Bijou Musical Comedy
Company, with all the figures now es-
! tablished locally as favorites. viii re-
( appear at the Lafayette. At the Acad-
envy. Mr. Rosequest, one OF the nest
successful Of New York managers, will
] offer The Paymaster.' a tried and es-
/ tablished success The mounting will
/ be the same as that given in New York.
The Empire and the Lyeeum present
! Characteristic bills.
A single night OF grand opera is Of
fered at the Lafayette Tuesday. This
1 is a performance of Gounod's "PhtIe-
mon and Baucis" for the benefit of the
Cooperative Sewing Society. The en-
! terprise has been given the active SUP
port of ladies Of great social pronl-
hence, and most Of the boxes have been
sold for several weeks. The opera VIII
he Interpreted by artists from the Met
ropoIitan Grand Opera Company. among
them being Nine. seygard, NJ Journet,
N SaIinac and Heathe Gregory-