Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-24

heavier caliber seems definitely assured to
Washington by the success attending the
engagement of THE Sleeping Beauty and
the Beast" That extensive spectacle has
much in common with other exhibitions
of theatrical splendors and excels them in
lavish plenitude, rather than in intrinsic
qualities. 70 be sure Hawthorne, Bulger
and Macart get large amount of fun out
of their respective roles and there is some
singing and a large quantity of excellent
dancing. But it is the stage carpenter and
scene painter who chiefly inspire the pro-
duction, and the aerial ballet, which is old
enough to seem new, together with other
variations on the cQstumer's and ballet
masters time-tried repertoire of effects,
makes the production all that it claims to
be, gigantic carnival of gorgeous non
sense.
= J: *
''Are You a Mason?" is an old acquaint-
ance. 1t gets its laughs with the same
regularity with which the clock delivers its
quota of ticks per hour. The audiences at the
Columbia Theater this week have all been,
like other audiences who see the play,
highly amused Clever Leo Ditrichstein
has been in the city all week rehearsing his
new piece ''Vivians Papas." Mr.. Ditrich-
stein is one of the brightest and most sue
cessful of American adaptors, and allows
his success as a playwright to divert him
from the efforts as refined comedian,
which have on numerous occasions proved
so highly amusing.
Harry Bulger is much in evidence in
Washington this week Not only has he
part of much prominence in the funmak-
ing department of The Sleeping Beauty
and the Beast" but he is in a position to
see one of his old successes still pleasing
the public by the Sad Sea Waves has
been playing to good audiences at the La
fayette Square Opera House. When Mat
thews and Bulgef, who We're known SIM
ply as variety comedians, got this piece to-
Eether years ago and announced their in
tertion of invading Broadway with it,
there was a general feeling of dismay
amongst theatrical people. 1t a piece
OF audacity that amounted almost to van
dalism. Old timers held up their hands
in Gismay and wondered what the stage
was coming to- But the public. with char
acteristic disregard of ethics, took kindly
to the whimsical and irresponsible melange
and crowded the house. much to the dis
gust of numerous performers of far bet
ter established reputation and higher ar
tistic pretentions. Sherre Matthews, whose
i'll health has for some years prevented him
from being conspicuously before the pub
lie. is regarded as being the father of much
that was clever in this whimsical skit OF
course. it has been rewritten for the Bijou
Comedy Company and is in a position to
hold its own With the current humor of
the stage, Notwithstanding its somewhat
early origin.
At the Academy a rural drama, The
Village Postmaster" was the offering. The
Academy ranges from dire blood and thun
der 10 the most gentle and bucolc moods,
and the audiences take everything in good
part. Maude Beckwith of this city is in
the cast of The Village Postmaster" and
has made many friends because Of the abil
ity she displayed. Her work is marked by
sincerity and gives promise of better things
in the future.
). x <
The death of William T. Powell, the WELL
known theatrical man. who was resident
manager of the Academy occurred Sun
day last from typhoid fever. after ILL
ness OF about six weeks. The funeral on
"Wednesday morning was largely attended.
for he had during his residence in Wash
ingtOn won many friends. The pailbearers
were selected from his late associates in
theatrical life. and the floral tributes were
handsome ana numerous Inc eIIpIOyeS OF
the Academy sent a large Gates Aiar,"
made of lilies and carnations, bearing the
words .Uur Friend IN yiolets at the base.
Mr.. Powell was fifty years Of age. and mad
been in the amusement business nearly all
of his lifetime, having entered it at the
age Of nineteen years. when he became
the proprietor and manager of the Rich
mond Theater. Richmond. Va, in which
town he was born. Later he went on the
road ana served as manager for James
Young Creston Clark and the Wilbur
Opera Company. He had made his home in
this city for the last twelve years. and
during the early part Of the theatrical sea-
SOP OF 1901 he was selected as resident
manager Of the Academy by L. d. Stair,
the !. ssee. The duties of resident manager
are az present being discharged by the
treasurer Of the theater. John w. Lyons.
Senator George F. Hoar of Massachusetts
recently purchased a portrait of Daniel
Webster. which he believes 10 be the best
likeness extant of the famous statesman.
There is no man living today better quail
fed 10 judge the merits of the canvas than
Stuart Robson. for when Webster died Rob-
son was a page in Congress, and owed
much to the kindness OF the great New
England orator. In fact, Robson. the boy,
was protege of four men. who did all in
their power 10 smooth his path-Daniel
Webster. Jefferson Davis. Robert Toombs
OF Georgia and Wilbur II. Seward of New
York. Young Robson. in those ante-bellum
days. was known about Washington as
Dan Webster's and jeff Davis little boy"
and he was cordially disliked by Charles
Sumner in consequence. When he left Con-
gress TO join the dramatic company then
touring Maryland and Delaware headed by
Edwin Booth and John Sleeper Clarke,
Webster and Davis bought him a new suit
OF clothes for which they paid sl2 in sill
yer.
One day this week Senator Hoar obtained
a portrait of Webster. in OIL from the
brush OF Chester Harding. who half a CEN
tury ago, was New Englands most cele-
brated portrait painter. 1t was the prop
erty OF lady now residing here, who sold
Il 10 Mr.. Hoar on the condition that 1t be
added to his already remarkable collection
or Websterian relics The senator. might
lily pleased. had It conveyed from the lady's
nome TO the room of the judiciary commit
tee OF the Senate. where 1t today stands in
one corner and Is Viewed by such friends as
MI Hoar invites to inspect II. The senator
OeileveS It to be the best portrait of weh-