Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-16

Prince of Wales Theater. London, closing
June 25, 1898. 1.-The Circus Girl closed It's
479th performance May Z, 1898, at the
Gaiety "A Runaway Girl was played 400
times at the Gaiety Our American Cou-
SIM was acted by E. A. Sothern 496 con-
secutive times in London. and altogether
1900 times. 1000 of which were in America !:
Other notable runs include: "Nadjy,
262 times; "Evangeline.' $50; The Wife,
49, '.Pique," 23S; 1.-The Rajah," 215; Led
Astray." PA; Poor Jonathan" 20S; Ali
Bahia" 206: The Private Secretary. 2oo;
Divorced" 200; "Pinafore, 200; Men ana
Women" 300; 1.-THE Charity Ball. 200;
1.-THE Mascot" 200; THE Man of the
World 200; aunt Jack" 200: Our Girls
200: 1.-The Shaughran," 1S5; THE Young
Mrs. Winthrop" 1s5; Blue Jeans" 1s2;
$50: 1.-The Girl Left Behind Me-" 10:
Pete" 1863; THE Brigands." 161; The
City Directory" 1876; Captain Swift l94;
Wang" Isl; THE Professor" 151: The
.Squatter Sovereignty" $50: "Cordelias
Aspirations" $50; RIP Van Wrinkle" $50;
1.-THE Grand Duchess $50; Our American
Cousin" 40; THE Bankers Daughter.
ory-Dock," 125; Blue Beard, Jr." 12o;
.'Rosedale," 1926; 1.-THE Ticket-of-Leave
Man. 125; "Sinbad," 122; Rose Michel.
120: "a Temperance Town." 125; Tar and
Tartar" 119: 1.-THE Gilded Age 119; 1.-The
Senator" 116: "Sardanapalus," 113; Shore
Acres" 113; LA Cigale,' 112: "a Celebrat-
ed Case" III; "Beggar Student" no:
Saints and Sinners" 10: "A Railroad OF
Love-" 1os; ''McKennas Flrtations,' loo:
'The Lottery of Love-" 1906; Crystal Slip
per- 104; 1.-The Mighty Dollar 104; still
Alarm" 1O4; Needles and Pins lob;
Doctor Bill" 103; 'Frou-Frou." lO3;
'Ixion." 1O2: 1.-The Passing Regiment 102;
prince Methusalem," 102; 1.-The Veteran,
1922 Saratoga" 101.
The sprints of way Down East" 'Zaza'
and Ben Hur'' are still fresh in every
body's mind as are the Blanche Bates run
of "Under Two Flags with 305 perform
ances at the Academy of Music "F1oro-
dora ran 504 times, and The Wizard OF
o., 300 times.
A NEW BIBLICAL PLAY-After a sue
cessful tour of the country in the new COM
edy. Hon. John North Mr.. Robert Down.
ing has returned to his home city-Wash-
ipgton-to make preparations for the pre-
sentation the latter part of the present
season of the biblical play, "a Voice From
the Wilderness" Mr. Downing is really
resident of Eenning. D. c.. but he has
taken up winter residence in the city and
Is now working on the production.
"a Voice From the Wilderness" was writ
ten by Edward Elsner 1t was originally
produced by Mr. Downing in San Francisco
about two years ago. 1t had a run of sew
eral weeks and was voted a success.
The biblical character John the Baptist
constitutes the framework of the produc-
ton. John is brought out In a strong light
the apostle of peace and purity and the
precursor of the Redeemer, whose coming
he announces. While the biblical text Is
followed to the facts, the play places a
strong construction upon the cause of He
rodiaS' real antipathy to John the Baptist.
He is made to appear in strange contrast
to Herodias, and she becomes enamored of
him. He becomes indignant and repels her
with scorn and reproaches her for her wan
tonnesS. The play, in truth, is made to rep
resent the conflict of virtue and vice. John
stands the sponsor of peace and purity,
with eternity as a divine reward. while
Herodias is the priestess of sensuality and
a slave to earthly environment.
|. The play can be said to have been written
by Mr.. Elsner at the request of Mr.. Down.
ing. He is personally acquainted with the
author, and in one of his chats with him
Mr.. Downing suggested the possibilities and
need of strong biblical drama. "A Voice
From the Wilderness is unlike either ben
Hur' or the Passion Play. 1t is presented
in five acts and has over sixty-five speaking
characters.
GABRIEL.-Gabriel, that big little
comedian who is playing the title role in
Buster Brown gives the following in
formation about himself:
MY given name? Oh. just call me Cab
riel. Something about myself? Well,
there isn't much either in stature or biog-
raphy. However. l will be nineteen years
| old the 10th of next June. / come from
Providence, r. l. My father is a tailor.
| He cut me rather short didn't he? He
| cuts and makes my clothes now. There
| are no boys clothes made that would be-
| gin to fit me. l was always little-that is
didn't dwindle to my present height. No
| 1 grew UP to 1t. just like other boys grow
| up to their height. Maybe I'll grow a little