Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-12

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1t has been q happy reunion of old friends
at the New National Theater this week
The Rogers Brothers have been frequent
and always welcome visitors but their
gleeful personalities were novelty itself
compared with some of the literary mate
rial which was furnished them. The word
literary is used in its strctest derivative
sense. 1t would have been impossible to
set down the dialogue in manuscript with
out the use of letters. But never had the
alphabet more cause to hide Its head in
blushing confusion. The old-tirne acquaint-
ances it introduced claim for 1t almost a
sentimental consideration. It took the
hearer back to the dear old days when he
used to trustingly expect Santa Claus TO
fill his stockings at Christmas time; when
he devoutly believed that stump water
would cure warts, and when the patent
medicine almanac represented all that was
ideal to him in the way of fanciful fiction
Indeed. the book was more than re.ninis-
cent; it was archaic; 1t more; it was
archaeological To the studious mind 1t
offered the same attractions that a series
eff prehistoric strata, with all their fossil
Accomplishments, presents to the geologist.
And despite all this Rogers Brothers in
and enjoyable entertainment There is
lavish splendor about klaw & Erlanger
production which overshadows the efforts
CT author and composer when they ars
good and which constitutes a sufficient
apology when their efforts lag In the face
of any resentment which the artistic sense
might experience was laughing multitude
of people, who proclaimed over and over
again during each act of the show their
full conviction that it had complete and
unquestionable raison d'etre.
X
Dave Warfield appeared at the Columbia
Theater for the third engagement in as
many successive seasons in The Auction
eer'' The production is one of the few
which have not deteriorated with the lapse
OF time. 1t is complete and careful as
when the piece was first launched upon the
road. Mr.. Warfleld's work has not suf
fered by familiarity, as IS usually the case.
Many a play has ceased to draw, not be-
cause the public became tired of it, but be-
cause the principal actor became weary of
his work and Intentionally or unconsciously
sighted it. Mr.. Warfield's success in de-
lineatiug the type-long been familiar In
this country-of the earnest. energetic
shrewd yet honorable and loyal Hebrew
immigrant, mas not DSeI e4udleu SIHCe M
B. Curtis made Saml of Pozen national
figure in the world of amusement. This
play proved to be Curtis one great and
final success. Personal misfortunes re-
sulting from his implication in homicide
case in California, no doubt helped to de-
stroy the prestige he once enjoyed. He
tried "SamI of Poem again not many
years ago and found that, while the play
amused the audiences, once they were in
the theater, 1t was impossible to arouse
sufficient interest in the production to Sc
cure n profitable attendance. 1t Is rot
likely that Mr.. Warfelds experience will
be similar to this when it is decided 10
shelve ''The Auctioneer." Mr.. Warfield has
a new play in preparation for him for next
season. when he will be managed. be-
fore by David Belasco. And it is safe
prediction that so long as a star remains
under Belasco's direction the public will
continue to be interested. The title or pur
pert of the new play has not yet been an
nounCed, and in accordance with the Be-
lasco custom will probably not be much
talked of until it is finally in shape for a
popular verdict.
The Crisis" was revived at the Lafayette
Theater, with Isabel Irving the star.
which appeared under the auspices of the
attractions grouped under the name indie
pendents. This series of enga gements led
to the adoption of very proper measure
by the theater, namely, the placarding in
full view of the public of the scale of prices.
1t was probably a consideration of conven-
fence rather than any public-spirited motive
that prompted this STEP but 1t is excellent
none the less removing all question from
the mind of the casual theatergoer to
how much change he ought to get back
from ten-dollar bill. and preventing the
treasurer from being the object of some of
the unjust suspicious as are always afoat
against the man who takes your money.
Sweet Kitty Belairs'' was received in
New York with an enthusiasm which fully
realized the most glowing of the predic-
tons that were made for it In Washington.
Never was a Belasco production made
under greater difficulties than this one.
The auditors who witnessed the very first
performance IN this city will probably
never forget the waits of an hour or more
which prolonged 1t until nearly 2 o'clock in
the morning. The troubles which Mr.. Be
lasco experienced were multiform and mys-
terious train of rnishaps started In this
city followed him through Baltimore and
did not cease until he was landed safe in
his own theater in New York. In Baltt-
more the performance announced for Mon
day night was not given, owing to difficult
ties in getting the scenery into working
order, and there is a rainstorm mentioned
in the program the concluding tableau OF
the play which Washington people have
never yet had an opportunity to see. 1t Is
said to be one of the most effective pic
N 10 apfira Oieaa of he
bers of Mr. Belasco's staff loosely sug-
gested that in the case OF another storm
scene in a Belasco play rain checks would
be given, good at the New York theater.
MISS ROBSON'S DISAPPOINTMENT
Eleanor Robson is threatened with punish
nent for the s1,ccess that she has achiarad