The Washington times., 1903-05-10

engagement upon which Bertha Gailaud
enters at the Columbia tomorrow. The
phrase was chosen with great care in
the hope that exactly those words might
be used which would most incline tile
readers of The Times 10 support Miss
Galland and her manager, MIR. Luckett.
With the same purpose in view The
Times now invites the leaders of its
critical department. TO consider this en-
gagement of Miss GalIand in some de-
tail
With about a dozen other actors-aH
well known and known TO be OF exccp-
tionaI ability-Miss Galand is TO pre-
sent here a series of four standard
plays. Three OF these plays have been
selected and rehearsed: The School for
Scandal Romeo and Juliet" and
Shakespeare's tragedy of Macbeth"
The fourth has not yet been named, but
may possibly be .'Frou Frou." For thIs
undertaking Mr.. Luckett has provided
an investiture entirely worthy in every
respect. The undertaking can be briefly
described, therefore, as a plan 10 give
four great plays adequate and notewOr-
thy productions.
II is manifest that the plays them
selves are entitled 10 the interest and
attention of every theatergoer with
mind to use and a will TO exercise il.
Washington IS not midsummer mad in
May. 1t is to be hoped it viii never be
sufficiently affected by the heat of dog
days to support the cIaptrap side shows
which are profitable theatrical ventures
in New York But even If this were
New York and our people as Jay" as
those OF the metropolis. it would still
be unbelievable that Sheridans greatest
comedy. Shalespeare's greatest romance,
and one Of the most noble tragedies Of
all time should be adequately performed
and fail Of intelligent attention.
Plays Which Repay the Actor.
THE school for Scandal has now out
lived the century mark Of long life and
become a classic Its ingenious cen
struction, fine character drawing, bright
dialogue and beautiful costumes assure
1t favor even from people given
to problem plays The gulf which sep
arates it from such modern limitations
as .'ImDrudence" is wide. lis demands
upon the actor are great. and the auditor
and spectator are correspondingly en-
livened and pleased when il is well
presented as they can never be at any
such play as this latest offering by Mr..
Esmoad
IN Romeo and Juliet" Shakespeare
peached the height of his wonderful eX-
pressive genius. This play is the SUI
preme love story of all literature. It's
poetical expressions are now the com
mon property of all tongues. Yet these
qualities. superIative as each one is.
have not iaterfered with the delineation
OF hne and noble characters and the7
vivid portrayal of life in a picturesque
city in the course Of a most picturesque
age.
Macbeth" is even more prerentious. /
It's text is rougher and stronger than
that of Romeo and Juliet 1t deals
with rougher and stronger characters /
and represents a rougher and stronger /
life. So it is that the demands upon
the actor are force rather than supreme
grace, ana fire rather than deep emo I
ton.
Each one OF these works is classic .
Not to know any one Of the three is |
TO be ignorant Of an essential in the /
most elementary education Yet the op- (
porrunity OF seeing them IuteIligenJIy +.
performed and acceptabIy mounted is .
rare
Actors Who Adorn the Play.
ii has been already indicated that The
acting and investiture 10 be provided .
by Mr. Luclett are both noteworthy. /
The company is 10 consist Of Bertha .
Galiand, Mrs. Kate Denim Wilson. Mar
garet Bourne, Ethel Howard. John
Blair, Frank Roberts William Kittridge,
Fuller MelIish, Robert v. Ferguson.
Geo6rey Stein, Charles b. Wells. Arthur
f. Buchanan. W II. Post Percy F. +
Leach, and J. B. Hollis.
Miss Gallaud has been an actor only
three years and a half. but she is now
one Of the most promising figures on the /
English-spe stage. She began as a
star and appeared in the roles OF Juliet,
Lady Macbeth Ophelia. Frou Frou. Lady
TeazIe and Viola. she attracted the al
tentiOH in the course Of this tour of
Daniel Frohman. who engaged her to
support James K. Hackctt in the Pride
Of jeuicO." She al once made pro-
nounced impression on all the cities of
the Frohman circuit. In the following
year she created the role Of .IsouIt" in
the Forest Lovers, and in the season
now ending she appeared with much
success as Esmeralda in Victor Hugo's
'Notre Dame. She IS now engaged by
J. Fred Zimmerman. jr.- TO appear in
the chief role OF "a gretcutiCus new urg-