The Washington times., 1904-09-11
topics OF THE STAGE AS VIEWED IN WASHINGTON
Season Opens Well
Initial Offerings Higher Here
Than in Mang Other
Cities.

The theatrical season completes its
evolution from summer chrysaIis tomor-
row evening by the opening of the Co
mmbia and the National The bin of
attractions thus offered is most auspic-
ious-a new comedy by a young Ameri-
can playwright stepped I'm American To-
cal color; n repertoire Of three strong
plays acted by company of great
strength: one Of the best light operas
which have ever been written: char
acteristic polite vaudeville; and melo-
drama and burlesque for those who are
content with nothing else. Probably no
other city In tho Union has opened c.
will open All its theaters with so much
that is good and so little that is evil.
The College Widow Is announced as
a satire on life in a half-equipped and
half-competent college. Ii is part Of
America newness that her institutions
Of learning are too numerous and her
resources Tor their support correspond
ingly dissipated But the average small
college trains nightly fine men, IL is
well that We can trust AR. AIDE TO re-
fleet both -of these aspects of the life
he has chosen to depict The cast OF
The College Widow IS "a priori. ad-
mirable
Miss Bingham brings with her. as
usual. half a dozen actors of estab-
lished position. Mr. worthing has been
one of the most promising figures on
our stage for several years. Some still
want TO be shown the fulfllment Of
some of the promise; but no one who
remembers his admirable performances
in Catherine" and THE Children of the
Ghetto Will ask any greater proof OF
his ability. Nlr Richman is an admir-
able light comedian. This is intended
TO convey all the meaning which right
~ attaches TO that phiTse-he is an
exponent OF the art which Lester Wal
ZACH diffused so genialIy throughout the
America Of "a generation since. Miss
Bingham is herself a sterling actress.
intelligent refined. studious. and at
tractive. Her limitations have so far
conformed exactly to those of the plays
she has adopted. II cnce she were re-
ally To obtain a play Of genuine art
quality. she might display the qualities
Of genius which stand just oyond those
OF intelligence.
The Lafayette presents Miss Bob
White. a charming operate comedy
which has never been offered here at
any such prices. Chase's heads its bin
with Rose Coghlan. a good legitimate
actress Of the heavy school The
Academy offers Billy CSinglel CLIFFORD
what that word tSnElc) means viii not
arouse much curiosity-in melodrama
instead Of vaudeville. where ne has been
a somewhat luminous light. and the
LyCeum announces THE High Roll
ers
Mr.. Kyle's performance Of "in the
Yellowstone was distinctly promising
II was "A triae overemphasized in view
OF the general excellence OF his imper-
sonation bat That may be accounted -fCr
probably. by the fact that the Lafayette
stands decidedly higher than most fiar-
ular price houses. Miss Lammison. IS n
find" Everyone i'm the company. those
two included. bespoke the excellence Of
Mr. Hacketts training. They fulfilled
his instructions so intelligently, how
ever. that while he had intended 20
conduct rehearsals. the week through
he felt Justified in going back to his
own work on Wednesday. 1t is highly
probable he will act this year in a dram
auzation Of Winston Churchin's "The
Crossing
Chase's bill was characteristic. by
which is meant-that II was extremely
good. Hermann. VINO headed IT ia black
ness Of type. did not shine by contrast
with his associates at all. More ;han
one OF thcm-Jack Norworth and kath-
eryn Csterman. among others-gave
quite as much pleasure without nearly
as much dog
Those OF us who like the theater can
look fox ard TO the ensuing season with
senuins pleasure.