Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-29

The warmest weather of the summer sea-
son greeted this week the opening of two
additional theaters in the capital city. 1t
seems as though the seasons torridity had
awaited the time when the inclinations OF
large percentage of the theater-goers
should turn to the play to step forward
with all its intensity. Despite this handi-
cap by the thermometer the week has
proved prosperous in most quarters. Ar1-
IONA" at the Lafayette, appealed to a class
of playgoers who had not seen the piece
on any of its former visits to the city, ana
unusually large audiences were the rule.
The Empire under the new order of things,
opened with more or less worthy melo-
dramatic offering. Manager Buckley is
doing everything in his power to make the
playhouse comfortable and homelike, and
the family policy now established is to be
maintained permanently. The house has
had something of varied career of late
years but its regeneration is said to have
begun in real earnest. At Kernans the Of
fering was not altogether up to the stan
dard set by its predecessors The bur
lesque pace is rapidly quckening and the
patrons of such houses know good show
when they see it. The management claims
to have many such on the books The
Academy is pursuing its thrilling pathway,
marked by the mile stones of well-knoWn
melodramas. A good farce is to be thrown
in every now and then to give the regular
clientele relief from the tempests of ex-
citment aroused by airship battles. mine
explosions, burning houses and the dreful
knowledge that the child is in London.
The Chase force is gathering for the Sep
TENDER II opening of polite vaudeville.
Mr.. p. B. Chase will arrive shortly from
Cleveland. where on Monday last lie sue
oesSfully launched his second season at
ChaSe's Empire where polite vaudeville is
enjoying profitable and popular vogue
1t Is here. Miss ii. Winnifrod De Witt.
the general manager of the Chase circuit,
and also the manager of the Washington
theater. will come from North Dakota.
where she has been since July I, the termi-
nation of the opera season. Miss De Witt
is fond of the strenuous outdoor life, and
has gratified herself to her hearts content
in the primitive region of the northwest
where she has daily ridden an Indian pony
and shot with her Winchester rifle
quite a number of prairie chicken.
wild ducks and geese. Treasurer Reeve
has been in Ohio, his home, and will
receive warm greetings from his many
friends in this city when he throws open
the window of the Chase box Office Septem-
Der 4. The Henry Lee Vaudeville Company,
made up of nine sterling novelties. with
Henry Lee. Salerno, Elsie Fay and the Mu-
steal Colby Family the quartet of princi-
pal attractions. will furnish the opening pro-
gram. Mr.. Chase is confident that this emil
nent assemblaEe of polite vaudeville talent
will be conSpicuously popular and pleasing
note of interest to Washingtonans is
contained in the announcement that in the
supporting company of Eugene Blair dur
ing her coming engagement at the Lafay-
cite Opera House. will be a Washington
girl in the person of Miss Lucia F. Hulk
ford, a daughter of Major w. P. Huxford
of this city. During the arduous rehearsals
which Miss Blair has been directing for
some time past she declares she has dis
covered in Miss Huxford "a clever girl Miss
HuXf6rd will be seen in the role of Nathalie
In 'Zazl." nearly all her work on the stage
taking place with Miss Blair. With Miss
Blair's keen interest in Miss HuXford's
theatrical career bright future would ap-
pear open to her.