Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-22
aS
WUSIC

hardShipS of a managers lot. Mr. Hehry
Harris, who controls the fortunes OF Hop-
ert Edeson, has been more fortunate with
him than with his other star. Miss F1scher.
While "Ranson's Folly Is not great play,
yet 1t was sufficient inducement to many
theatergoers to enjoy few thrills, such as
melodrama must produce to be worthy OF
its name. Mr.. Edeson has taken upon him.
self an enormous responsibility Of present.
ing picture of the American young man,
and however he chooses to interpret his
subject 1t Is sure to meet more or less ao-
verse criticism from those who take such
things seriously. The American young man
is still and must for some time be an UNI
defined quantity. He still presents traces
of every European type from the Scandi-
navian to the Sicilian, and he is studious,
athletic, sincere and frivolous. according to
heredity and environment, just as other hui
man beings are. Mr.. Blossoms picture is
that Of a roly- poly, chubby sort Of an indi-
vidual with good common sense and an oc-
casonal leaning toward romance which
calls for tremelo stop in vocalization. He
Is not a bad sort by any means; chap
whom many people found 1t worth while
getting acquainted with at the National
Theater this week.
Miss Lulu CHASER has in 1.-THE Madcap
Princess what may be denominated a Sc
rious comic opera. The services of our old
friend, the comedian, have been dispensed
with and the prima donna soubrette reigns
supreme. 1t is one of the traditions of the
stage that players of comedy yearn for the
serious. Let them alone and they will edge
their way inch by inch close to tragedy
as possible. 1t is this tendency much as
anything else that makes managers useful
and even necessary persons Miss Chaser
has found better luck in this ambition than
the chieftain under whom she first enlisted
in the battle for histrionic success, Mr..
Francis Wilson. Mr.. Wilson, noting the
success of "Cyrano de Bergerac," was in
spired with the ambition. a very worthy
ambition, to reproduce the play in the form
of an opera comique. The effort inspired
little confidence among Mr.. Wilson's pro-
fessional associates, and it is said that the
librettist refused 10 allow his name to APP
pear, a singular thing, considering the far
worse creations that librettsts point to
with pride. Victor Herbert wrote the music
and a more delightful score has seldom
been produced from the pen Of this gifted
musician. The New York newspaper writ
ers refused to think of Mr.. Wilson in con-
nection with an enterprise of so much ar
tistic weight and simply bludgeoned the
thing out of existence. Mr. Wilson being a
sensible man went in for the ARREST foolish
ness obtainable and bided his time He is
making preparations for the comedy Of the
sort in which there is neither chorus nor
musical composer to cast a shadow of doubt
as to the legitimate purpose of the enter
prise. He was in the city during the week
and while observing the performance OF
Miss Chaser was possibly struck with the
irony of fate; a fate which denied him the
privilege of travestying Coqueln for the
benefit of American audiences, but which
permits one-time protege to trudge Sc
renely in the footsteps of Julia Marlowe.
Miss CHASER is frisky, pert. well-rounded,
wholesome and jovial as ever. The opera
gives her much opportunity for the display
Of the charms of personality and the more
or less noteworthy gifts in song that make
her welcome visitor from year to year.
X X
At Chase's Theater a new figure was in
troduced in Enigmarelle The creation
lacks the refinement which distinguished
Phroso Enigmarelle is merely a mechan-
ical man. Phroso was a mechanical gentle
man. EnigmarelIe is a deep mystery. There
idea of the creature so nearly resembling
humanity going about with nothing but
electric lights where his stomach and
brains ought to be. 1t is impossible to inn
agine how the trick is done unless It is
done by placing a man without legs land
there are many such unfortunates in So
ciety) inside the roomy contrapton.
!. x X
song-anddance drama in which he dis
played himself in the familiar guise of an
office boy He will eventually rival the New
York Office boy who prided himself on being
so faithful and efficient that he held his
job at four dollars a week until he was
eighty years old.
The Academy offered the usual array of
clmaxes and startling revelations of the
heroism of which humanity is capable of
behind the footlights.
Kernan's presented its usual bevy of busy
burlesquers for the amusement of the bad
ba1d-headed boys.
Senior De Novels. who is the conductor
of the augmented dfchestra at the Columbia
Theater this week. Is known to musicians
far and near as 6ne. of the most remark
able men who haze Shielded the baton. He
has exalted ideas of his art and tempera-
ment enough to equip half a dozen emo
tional stars. If the senior has failing 1t is
that of crediting EVERY musician with as
much knowledge Of the art as he himself
possesses. His disapppintments are numer-
Gus and his methods of manifesting them
frank On one occasion De Novels was re-
hearsing the orchestra when the clarinet
player lost control ofithe instrument for
few notes. Ok
"who did thatF' asked the conductor
quickly, and in his excitement the musician
stammered. II did-did-did-ed itr'
The rehearsal was Resumed and the clar-
met player made the same blunder. The
senior stopped work. and glaring at the Of
fender, exclaimed. AHA! you did id-did-ed
it again"
On another occasion a drummer had a
long period Of rest. broken only by a clash
of cymbals. He counted as faithfully as he
could, but in his nervousness became con-
fused and produced the clash, startling
effect, in the wrong place. De Novels said
not a word He dismounted from the chair
of authority, walked over to him and with
an elaborate bow presented him with a