Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-26

III of solemn experience at VIZ
extreme close of this chapter a
prophecy was ventured. 1t must
have been the advent of the races
that mt the tipster spirit in the air When
the hotels and theaters begin to MI up
with race track folk there comes uniVer-
sal and unreasouing desire to tell some
body- about a good thing. In the pariahce
OF the bookmaker, Shepherd KING was
given TO win, "Hs Grace de Gramrnoll
second and Heart of Maryland third. AS
a matter of fact. His Grace de Gram
mont" (stil adopting the phrase OF Ben
uinp,. walked In, while shepherd h1hs
is still running.
Fortunately. this bad information did not
mislead many people Washington uIsp'"''
81 presclcnce concerning thearlcai per
forrrances as accurate as 1t is mysterious.
The playgoers of this city have "'Suo'i'
all their own. The photographs III t''e
theater lobby cannot beguiie their JUG
ment; the superlatives of the press ase"'
do not deceive them. They care no MOI
for a New York Endorsement thah they uo
for a two nights run IN Poduhh' Hu'
when a really meritorious performance Is
nlaced on view they assemble IN thfoHSs'
he II the first performance or the I'VE nun
their backs on an inferior offering! All
This app,ics. of course, to the more DIS
terminating patronage that supports at
fractions of the more expensive grade
large norton of the public does not go 10
see plays; it merely goes TO the theater'
j. = X
Such notable productions as Madame
Sans Geue"-that was years agone-ahu
'"The Christian" of more recent memory
were hailed with immediate enthusiasm py
plavgoers here. There was no hesitancy'
They came in crowds on Monday night ana
In increasing crowds as the week pro-
crossed Miss Maude Adams first con-
siderable success The Little Minister
had the same experience In that case
the newspaper comment was unfaVoraple'
owing chiefly to the Scotch dialect whlch
SO thickened the conversation and which,
as the piece was revised, was greatly SUD-
dued But the playgoers of this city sa"
past the obstruction which this detect
created, and gave the performance Its Que
recognition as one of the notable successes
of the modern stage. Mention of such In
stances as these might be multiplied indei-
rltely: and. on the contrary, performances
which come with unlimited booming have
been totally disregarded If they lacked ar
tistic quality.
'sThe Shepherd King is a case OF this
kind The play was heralded as sensa-
ton: one of the productions which trampled
on tradition with the magnificent authority
of true genius. 1t had made record runs
in cities where a weeks prosperous en-
gagement is an achievement of note Tor
almost any attraction. 1t had remained
two weeks in Baltimore, that city whose
name in the minds of most managers car
ries with 1t the sign of the weeping VIII
low Yet Washington would none OF IT, II
did not even turn out Monday night
10 get acquainted. Theatrical foik say we
are a captious community. We are not.
We are discerning.
The biblical play has a distinct advantage
In the respect which its theme commands
at the very outset. 1t Is not always easy
70 draw the line to the satisfaction OF the
reader between a condemnation that mas
to do only with the artistic aspect OF Inc
production and a lack Of reverence for the
subject of which it treats.
X
Otis skInner-excellent actor. Play-not
what he should have. Season after sea-
son the comment on his engagements might
have been thus epitomized. He has appear
ed In great plays, but they were not orig
tnal productions, and his original produc-
tions have never permitted him 10 reach
tho heights of which in the standard
drama he has shown himself capable. his
Grace de Grammont' is a pictorial play
whose chief episode is one in which the
star does not individually figure, violent
and entirely unlady-like physical encounter
betveen two women of dissolute character
albeit denizens of a palace. Mr., SKINNER
admirably though he plays the tue part
does not naturally belong to TINS atmoS-
phere He is a player whose gifts ehuIIe
him to portray the sincerely emotional types
of higher humanity. De Grammont Win
all his graces and accomplishments, Is but
a court dandy. a dawd1er and a troubadour.
As a study Of the period 1t presents many
commendable points. But it is stale gossip;
the effort of a Juvenile playwright for 1t
is one Of Mr.. Fftch's earliest pieces, 90
cause surprise by telling of court scandals,
which at best were rather tawdry and
which had been rehearsed until they have
ceased to shock.
After a lapse of decade The Heart of
Maryland" still presents much that inter-
ests and charms. Better plays have been
written since he first produced this STIR
ring meIodrama and he has achieved posi-
ton which was hardly expected for him
at that time, even by his warmest ad-
mirers. If ever a man should love his enc
mics, that man is Belasco They will not
permit him to drop into obscurity for
moment
At least once a season lie is accused OF
plagiarism. Last week he was charged
with cribbing an essay on acting and palm
ing it off as his own. Mr. Belasco's ex-
PLANTATION is that a man who represented
himself as needing the money. asked for
interview. submitted a series OF articles as
n result and asked for his personal sigma
ture in order to make them more saable.
With great goodness of heart and a care
lessness worthy of a farmer In dealing
with lightning rod agent. Mr. Belasco
signed the paper, only TO find himself &C
cused of rank literary deception day or
two later. In the course OF time it will be
necessary for a playwright to be as chary
about meeting intervlewers as cabinet Of
fcer. PHILANDER JOHNSON.
EPIGRAMS FROM SWEET KITTY