Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-28

9SEss-SAs.NIsS1 2<8AS-zk-- AeAess
The week in Washington has been an I'M
commonly brilliant one in dramatic way
although it's principal effulgence was de-
laved 1t is almost safe to say that no
Belasco play can be a failure. and this even
in the face of the memory of certain SAD
production called Naughty Anthony'-Mr'
Belasco's first and last venture in the realm
of farce. Naughty Anthony" was a tran
silent episode in Mr.. Belasco's career, ana
its value as warning of what not to 90
gives additional ground for the opinion tina.
Mr. BelasCo so fully understands MS own
powers and limitations that he Will con-
fine himself to the safe ground Where his
triumphs seem absolutely assured. 80 ac-
cr1rate is his knowledge of theatrical effect
as applied to serious situations that events
which would ordinarily be of trite or
triaing purport take on intense interest," uh-
der his treatment. There is no end to his
scenic resources. Instead of the melancholy
struggle. which many managers have TO
make in order to secure expensive stage
settings, the only study which seems TO
present itself to Mr. Belasco is that OF md
ing new details to which beautiful and ex-
pensiye theatric embellishments may be ap-
ulied He is the prince of producers ana
his Sweet Kitty Bellairs,'' while lacking
the profound tragic interest necessary 10
give it rank as great play, Is, with SO
charming an actress as Miss Crosmah III
the title role. an attraction when cannot
fail to please for weeks and months u
come.
Mr.. Belasco has been busy since the
first production on Wednesday night. winch
ran to the unprecedented hour of 1 30 a. M
pruning every superfuous line of dialogue
go tn hn
notebook In hand. listening for speeches
which can be dispensed with without mar
ring the action or detracting from the scin-
tilant humor, which Is the dominant charm
of Miss Crosman's role. The delay on We'd
nesday night was said to be due partly to
misunderstanding among the mechanics
employed on the production, but this Is
denied and the waiting, which was greatly
lessened as the week progressed. Is at
trihuted to the difficulty to handling the
enormous equipment of scenery for the
first time.
Mr.. Charles Hawtrey gave another charm
ing demonstration of his polished capa-
biIities as player of comedy at the Ne"
National Theater. No actor has succeeded
more fully in portraying the well-bred Eng
Iishman In his most agreeable light. his
work is absolutely devoid of anectatoh
and so unobtrusive that the manner In
which he dominates the interest or the
niece Is almose mysterious. In The Man
From Blankley's" a number of characters are
introduced, and have all the advantages of
lines and eccentric makeup to impress
them on the auditors attention. And 1t
ia capable company, the minor roles
being played in a manner which makes
them as emphatic in personality as If they
had been culled from volume of Dickens.
Yet Mr. Hawtrey, conventionally garbed
with (to quote the old-time venuiloquiso
neither beard nor mustache to deceive you
IL the supreme quantity of interest In the
quaint little drama which has constituted
this weeks attraction at the New National
Theater. His present play is vastly inferior
to THE Message From Mars and the at
Effectiveness of the performance rests rather
with the manner in which 1t Is done than
upon the intrinsic merits of the piece.
At the Columbia when Johnny Comes
Marching Home" made its second stay in
Washington. The piece has in nowise i'm
proved since It's former production in this
city although it has not suffered quite so
much in the lapse of time as did Mr.. Whit
ney's other and more substantial produc-
ton, Quo Vadis? There is pathos in the
scant affection which managers display
toward creation once it has been fairly
launched on the road Many perform
aLce which at the outset impressed the be-
holder with something of the same pleasure
that attaches to a splendid and complete
work of architecture is after a season or SO
brought to view only as a magnificent ruin
However When Johnny Comes Marching
Home" was not a very remarkable creation
In the first place. having only Mr.. Edwards
excellent music and the novelty of hoop
skirts to commend II.
The week at Chases was remarkable for
two things-the notable excellence OF the
bill and the fact that prices were not raised
for holiday matinee. In maintaining an
absolutely fixed scale OF prices the year
round Mr. Chase violates IN sense an an
cient tradition of the theater business, to
the effect that the holiday is the managers
especial opportunity. but the violation has
the advantage Of absolute consistency and
insures a confidence and possibly sense OF
appreciation in the minds of theatergoers
which must compensate to some degree for
the sacrifice of extra profits.
The Academy of Music had one of the
stand bys of the melodrama in The Fatal
Wedding" a play whose title indicates Its
pulport and whose successes of several sea-
sons have been so marked as to leave no
doubt OF its quality popular attraction.
The Empire also had one OF the standard
and popular attractions in The Little
Church Around the Corner"