Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-09

messed even the most elaborate productions
of this tragedy"
VICISSITUDES OF THE THEATER.-
The vicissitudes of the theater are shown
by the experience of little woman who
is playing small part in THE Runaways
Not many years ago Ariel Barney was
a name to conjure with. He mad friends IN
every city that dots the map from Maine TO
California. and his dealings We're charac-
terized by conscientiousness which won
him the respect of all with whom he had
business relations His fortunes fuctuated,
as those of managers often do. and as luck
would have it, he died at their lowest eno'
leaving a widow and a son without re-
sources beyond many loyal friendships. MRS.
Barney has pluck, good looks and the oe
termination to get on, and the Htte part
she has in THE Runaways' is only the be-
ginning of a career which she hopes Will
lead to substantial recognition In the pro
fesson to which her husband devoted the
best years of his life.
THE BURLESQJ-E ''WHEEL. Tonight,
not only at Kernan's Lyceum, but at all the
regularly established buresque houses in
the United States and Canada, marks the
end of the first season the inaugural rev.
oluton of what is Familiarity known in the
realm of burlesuue as THE Wheel, which,
however engmatical it may sound, Is moth
ing more nor less than the systematic book
ing of burlesque organizations, under the
auspices of the Empire circuit, which re-
suited in routes being laid out in accord
ance with the most reasonable and logical
railroad jumps, and with the utmost i'm
partialty, being distributed by number to
each recognized company. The total num-
Der of shows in '"The Wheel the season
just closing was thirtysX. and all went
var thn nd
an advantage over another, though man
ayers who had been accustomed to playing
holiday weeks in favorite cities felt that
they were making a sacrifice. But the re-
turns of the season. solidly booked for thir-
ty-Six weeks in esta bliShed houses, appear
to have warranted fully the new departure.
Road managers We're relieved OF all anxiety
regIrTfffls- their time or bookings and local
managers were in a position to count on
recognized attractions and promise their
patrons the best products of the field of
burlesoue Much time and energy. formerly
wasted in a rivalry for dates, were devoted
to he improvement Of the shows. the man
ayers of which were required by local man
ayers to approach the standard set by the
Empire circuit
The season in burlesque houses runs US
ually from forty to forty-five weeks, and
though THE Wheel supplied but thirty
six attractions. local managers inaugurated
preliminary seasons of several weeks and
will have supplemental seasons of four or
five weeks.
A NEW OPERATE VENTURE.-Mess
Mildenberg and Holcomb who the pro-
ducers, well as composer and librettist.
respectively Of The Wood Witch" have
surrounded Miss Frederick with "A com
pany of capable singers and actors. inelud-
ing Mr.. Vernon Stiles, late tenor of the
Bostonians: Henri Leone, principal bari
tone, and William H. Conley of the Foxy
CUTLER company: Mary Darlington, prima
donna soubrette, and w. G.. Shelly. buffo
basso, late of the Royal Opera Company:
Ernest Crawford. comedian; Joseph
O. Meara, George Brewster Christine Foster
and Martha Morton, together with chorus
of forty select singers and dancers The
latter will be headed by Mile. Rosa Gisella,
Hungarian singer and dancer, late of the
Opera Comiaue of Budapesth who will in
troduce genuine "cZardas,' assisted by a
corps of Magyar musicians and dancers.
The orchestra Will be composed of twenty
musicians, especially selected from the
Kaltenborn forces. and under MI. Milden-
bergs leadership. The opera will be mount
ed with special scenery and costumes ap
propriate to the locale and period which is
southern Spain during the reign of Ferdi-
nand and Isabella, or shortly after the dis
covery of America Although confesse6iy
TRY out" expense will be spared on this
production, the purpose of which Is purely
philanthropic. j. e., to save some American
manager the expense of his annual trip to
Europe in search of operate material suit
able for production next season. There will
be only three performances of The Wood
Witch this spring. on May %, 20 and q,
at the Carnegie Lyceum Theater follow
ing several public rehearsals' out of town.
after which it is up to- the opera pro-
ducers.
GOOD OMENS.-Miss Bertha Galland is
no exception to the general rule in the the
atrical profession She has her pet super
stitions and the other morning was Inn
menseIy pleased upon her first entrance In
the Columbia Theater to hear q cock crow
Justify. isn't that splendid sign?'' she
exclaimed. THAT means that my engage
ment will be successful, l am not super
stitious you know oh, dear no. not bit
but there is no denying the fact that that
blessed rooster is friend of mine and
wishes me good luck. and / feel encour-
aged This is the second good luck happen
ing which has befalIen me in the last week
Just previous to my departure from New
York for this city L was walking on 9Th
avenue when / almost stepped upon a beau
tful rosary, and any theatrical person can
tell you that it is the very best thing that
could happen to any one starting out on a
new enga cement If these signs should fail
and my Washington engagement prove to
be not as successful we had expected It
to be l viii never believe in signs again.