Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-07

The production of Julius Caesar" by
Richard Mansfield proved to be the stupen-
dously magnificent enterprise which the ad-
vance reports predicted. 1t is matter OF
regret to many admirers of Mr.. Mansfield
to be unable to accord him the credit for
the unusual personal success which is eX-
pected when his name appears in cast OF
characters In a certain way this absence
of great individual impressiveness may be
regarded as rejecting the producers gen.
crosby and good taste. In selecting for
himself the part of Brutus, he chose the
role which, however distinguished it may
have been by eminent interpreters VINO
preceded him, is, by the very structure or
the play, debarred from shining forth as
the star part. 1t is to Mark Antony that
the affections of the people turn. Brutus
is second even to Cassius who is the guild
ing spirit and the man of emotions. Mr.
Mansfield has certain methods which do
not lend themselves to stalwart and heroic
Representations His enunciation becomes
stilted; his pronunciation of the word
"Brutus" alone is so studied and artificial
that it causes the sensitive ear to finch.
He preserves the classic continental method
of pronunciation, giving the final ''u' very
marked value, and does not consistently
the name "Volumnius'' being distinctly
modern. Mr.. Mansfield assumes a vacant
stare at times when the text would lead
the spectator to expect his gaze to be fully
riveted with interest upon one of his fellow
actors. His stabbing Of Caesar was SO de-
liberate and so lacking in impassioned pur-
pose that it was entirely out of the spirit
of the scene. His own death scene was
HOY Inn, Siv hut in nv
Of it's forms, is not congenial feature of Mr..
Mansfeld's repertory. When so interesting
an actor as he attempts any role he fastens
interest upon it in a manner which COM
pels not merely attention, but scrutiny.
1t is this quality which insures Mr.. Mans
fields position of leadership despite adverse
criticism, whether prompted by a sense of
artistic justice or that vague dislike which
arises when a mans individual pecularities
are made matters of common gossip. A
man of so positive a character as Mr.. Mans
field must necessarily leave himself open
to much malicious attack. There is I'M
doubtedly more or less amazement that a
man of so feeble a temper should SO get
the start of the artistic world. However,
Mansfield is Mansfield. He has risen to a
point of eminence where the first name and
the formal Mr." fall into disuse, and the
public turns to him with confidence that
anything he has to offer will be out of the
ordinary. The path of the Shakespearian
actor is beset with many thorns, one of the
sharpest OF these being the constant prob
ability that q subordinate member of the
company will be enabled, by the vigor OF
the lines themselves, to outshine, for a
moment, even the star Episodes of this
character are familiar in the histories of
all eminent actors, and however much they
may benefit the fortunate individual who
wins this unprecedented measure of ap-
plause, they have not, in any memora BILE
instance, impeded the rightful stars path
way to success. .......
There was no excuse of dissatisfaction on
the part of any theatergoer this week. The
Shakespearian student could not but be in
terested. The devotee of the light and airy
entertainment found material to his entire
satisfaction In Dolly Warden" at the Co.
lumbia Theater. Miss Chaser the play and
the mood of the audiences showed no
marked variation from last season, which
represents on the whole condition of af-
fairs Of which no one can complain.
X
The modern romantic drama was repre-
the Lafayette Theater, where the Pike
Theater Stock Company of Cincinnati held
forth to the eminent satisfaction of lib
eral patronage. If the broad humor of
farce comedy was desired it may have been
found in "McFadden's Row of Flats" at
the Academy of Music, while some things
that were laughable and others that were
unspeakable were presented to the mascu-
line clientele of the Empire and Kernan's.
X
The kalends of March, for which great
events were predicted by the theatrical
soothsayers, have come and gone and yet
there are no doings visible to the naked
eye in the direction OF the new theaters so
literally promised Perhaps these theaters
are being built In Anacostia or Chevy
Chase, by the crafty spectators in the
theatrical world, who are forever trying to
steal march on one another and who
mean TO hold them over and spring them
like enormous engines OF financial destruc-
tion wnen the season opens next fall. The
local theatrical situation is interesting, but
not acute. There is no present likelihood Of
Washington's becoming a storm center in
the contentious which are brewing among
the men who control the bookings The
average theatergoer cares very little about
bookings" but they have their effect in a
very decided way upon the quality and
class of entertainment which the patron.
finds offered at his favorite theater Until
recently the theatrical field was appor-
toned between the Klaw and Erlanger
forces and the Stair forces, the TX. G. e.
people, as they are technically known
among managers, controlling high-priced
q time and Stair the popular price houses
klaw and Granger, however had enough
popular price theaters to make that portion
OF their business worth developing, and re-
CARELESS Of Mr.. Stairs feelings have gone
In for considerable portion of that class
OF business. Mr.. Stair has proceeded on his
part to throw open his theaters to the
legitimate players, who are avowed enemies
of the Klaw and Erlanger syndicate, such
as Mrs. Fiske and Henrietta Crosman.
James K. Hackett also books independently,
and the Stair theaters will doubtless be open
to him. Since the Empire Theater passed
into the hands Of James Herman, who is
MIR. Stairs partner in other ventures and
In. therefore, to be regarded as an ally,
there is no house that would seem availa-
BILE to Klaw and Granger in case they
should desire to carry the war into this
city, There are predictions Of a dire HIATT