Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-21
T q E T HEA T E R.
Columbia Theater.

A really unique and original idea in the
atricals is ordinarily to be greeted with I'M
reserved welcome, and not criticised. HOW
ever, the mayor of Richmond, Va, last
week set precedent in the case OF wood
land" whose first performance OF week
engagement at the Columbia was given
last night. The mayor saw some OF the
pictorial advertisements of the snow, ana
jumped at the conclusion that 1t was one
of those Lydia Thompson-or was 1t Pln&-
ham ?-creations that used to divert his col
lege days, and criticised it most severely;
But these theatrical managers nave learheo
TO defy criticism whether from newspaper
offices or mayors sanctums, and the per-
Torrance was given with great eclat, re,
ceiving the Endorsement of both press anu
sewing circles. 1t is true that all thls
has nothing to do with the story OF Woou-
land-and yet it is quite as pertinent 10
the story as most of the entertaining THINGS
that occurred the stage last Mght.
Mr. Pixley should incorporate the RICH
mond incident in his lbrettO.
The performance opens with nhe prom
Use of legitimate entertainment which Is not
realized All precedent is violated by oher
ing the musical gem OF the prouuclioh d"
the opening number The audlence' now
ever was quick to respond, and thanKs u
Mr. Stanley H. Forbes admirable Singing,
the production started out with uouoie
encore. The hopes aroused as TO the music
written in a more alluring VEN. me ear
is constantly pleased by succession Oh
numbers frankly unpretentious in meiody
and yet lavishly embeilished in orchestral
treatment so to give unlimited opportu-
mites to the large corps of musicians en-
gagged for the production. Normally w ooo-
land is a fancful and idyliic creation.
The impersonation of all kinds of birds by
actors and actresses is a whimsical con-
ceit that takes the Imagination back 10
fairy book days. But there must be com
edy." and this is introduced pell-meil ana
hit or miss
Mr. Frank Doane restless rooster and
Harry Buger as the blue jay, who develops
into the inevitable musical comedy king, are
turned forth to scratch the sands OF ti1ne
for morsels of humor. The sands OF tune
are a familiar stamping ground for Mr. Bull
ger; he knows every pebble on the beach:
He dug up some specimens of merrlment
which were thought to be long since extinct,
and proffered them with so much droli as
surance that the audience accepted them
with gratitude and clamored for more. The
cold bottle and the small bird impersonated
by Matte Nichols and John Donohue, ap-
peared at cratic intervals and were always
welcomed. Their dancing was among the
hits of the performance. 1t was an occa-
sion of gleeful responsibility, whose climax
of absurdity was reached when Mr.. Bulger,
apropos of nothing a all, stopped scene TO
announce:
Use got the hives and a new straw hat,
And I'm going back where my beau lives
at
The production is full of beautiful effects,
the stage groupings being highly artistic.
The costumer has wrought dainty marvels.
and the stage manager has been alert and
efficient in combining them into respondent
yet harmonious masses of shifting colors.
The music was well sung, Miss Ida Brooks
Hunt, soprano, contributing much to this
element of the production. Miss Emma
Carus interprets her songs in a way so
characteristic and satisfying that she was
forgiven an imita ton of Dan DAILY 1t is
strange that so many performers should
feel it necessary to prolong that lamented
comedian s obsequies.
The performance last night elected every
evidence of approval, and by its utter lack
of coherency succeeds in being a veritable
novelty. a lucid interval would spoil it,