Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-21

The performances OF MISS Mdttihooh IA
Shakespearean comedy were observed with
close attention by number of people VINO
had been profoundly impressed by her WORK
in .Eyeryman" So intense was her por-
travail Of the categorical character that in
terest could not fail to center itseir III any
sibseouent work of hers. While the per
formances in the open air were mooeis Vi
stagecraft and striking as series Of pic
tures IN q most unique and beautiful set
ting. It must be confessed that Miss Matthi-
son does not play comedy-not even Shakes
pearean comedy-with the effectiveness thal
her previously manifested proficiency leu
her admirers to hope for. Her emotionahsm
seams limited 10 the moods of sorrow wmch
her rich. musical voice so sympathetcally
exnresses. When 1t comes to character
like that of Viola in Twelfth Night, IL Is
a voice and beyond that, nothing. Capaple
as she is of stirring the sympathies pro-
foundry. Miss Matthison's nature, either IN
stinctiveiy or through habit, seems TO shrlih
from any depletion of a lighter and more
genial temperament.
Mr. Greet's performance of MalVono' Willie
studied down to the finest detail anu c'i'
tanning business whose humorous ihteiit
couId not be mistaken, was player Vi
patbod rather than Of spontaneous eleo.'
Tho no.a of common human nature WHICH
thrills through all generations regaruless VI
garb or social customs was not souii"ou.
And If 10 this note ringing throughout al
his plays that makes Shakespeare the mas
ter poet. The Greet performances are au
,pirabIe for their beauty symmetry anu
scholarship. but while they are no oouD'
a,c,r,teIv Flizabethan they are not Shakes
pearean.
The charm of even efficiency distinguishes
tho performance of Prince Kari py inc
A,dar company at the Columbia this week
The nlav was so closely identified with MI
Mansfield that some doubt as to whether
any other actor could give a Satisfactory
ortrayal of the whimsical study OF dlalecl
comedy was eminently reasonable. MI. AT
den. however makes the transiuon from
the gentle brogue which he used In zap
tain Letterblair" last week to the quaint
idiomatic perversities of the German NOBLE
man with the utmost ease. In every re-
spect it was a polished Characterization.
Miss Roehuck puts genuine sentiment into
the part OF the American widow, and Mr.
Levers, by his pleasant personality, man
ages to humanize even the conventional
villain employed for the purpose of rather
of the mature but languishing lady on rath-
err broadly comic lines. but plays it well
In fact. every character. even down to the
mayor who does not come on until the last
act and then has only few lines, Is COM
petently portrayed. This presentation of
Prince Karl would be credit IL offered
as original production during the regu-
lar season. As an attraction at summer
stock company prices it Is exception
+
The melodious strains of THE Fortune
Teller pleased the Westinghouse who in
sist on summer opera an annual insti-
tuition. The Aborns have devised a sys-
TEN of rehearsals which admit of change of
cast that prevents the impression of monot-
ony and insures smoothness in perform
ances such as musical aggregations are
likely to miss when the piece is changed
at frequent intervals.
Chasss Theater this week realized what
was considered rather boastful ambition
of the ms nager's when polite vaudeville was
IL it's infancy some years ago 1t was then
prophssied that the day would come when
artists Of high repute in the dramatic and
operatc world would be induced to appear
as features of a vaudeville bill. The singers
that compose the grand opera quartet this
week are artists of recognized skill and
standing. and the appreciation manifested
by the rublic demonstrates disposition to
encourage the best that can be offered.
An engagement in vaudeville does not i'm
ply the sacrifice Of standing that it once
seemed &c threaten. No less distinguished
player tfan Mr.. Charles Hawtrey recently
accepted a weeks engagement in vaudeville
In New York. his vehicle being come
delta entitled Thine as Money" Such an
engagement must be regarded an evil
dence Of managerial enterprise rather than
OF deterioration on the part of the player.