The Washington times., 1905-10-24
bELASCO TR|UMPHS
IN LATEST PLAY
Blanche Bates as Girl of
the Golden West"
FIRST MIGHT OF NEW REGIME
Performance an Ovation for Play
wright and Actress-Society Peo-
pie Crowd the House.

With the plaudits of an enthusiastic
: audience ringing in his ears, David
Belasco left the stage of the Belasco
Theater last night with another triumph
10 his credit In brief speech Mr. Bel
asco told his friends in front that
Washington had been the scene of his
greatest triumphs and his greatest vicis-
situdes
The occasion of these Fluctuations was
the first production in Washington of
Mr. Belasco's latest play. THE Girl
OF the Golden West. with Blanche
Bates IN the title part Miss Bates sue
cess was assured, for even under less
suspicious circumstances she would
have found favor here. the scene of all
her early successes.
THE Girl of the Golden West tells
/ old pioneer days. 1t was time when
i fashion found little place In the life OF
those hardy people and where one only
passport was to be loyal. honest and
brave. Miss Bates has gone away from
| the line she followed in her charming
! play. The Darlang OF the Gods" In Mr..
Belascos latest work she is an Amerl-
can girl. not the kind one sees now, busy
with the duties OF social life. but such
an American girl as in the old days
built up the strongest. the most loyal
and the greatest people in the world.
Miss Bates Success.
Miss Bates work is always interesting
1 Her enthusiasm, her vivacity at all
! times and her charming and delicate
! sense of humor have given her place
with the best American actors. In her
portrayal of the little saloon-keeper in
the Sierras she brought together all
| these qualities. She was cordially well
coined last night and must have felt a
keen sense of pride in thus returning 20
Washington.
The entire play breathes the atmo-
/ refreshing, so strange and so buoyant
| that one is fairly taken out of oneself
and transported TO that golden land
lent company Chief of these is Frank
| Keenan,, an actor who has had wide
| experience as star and In supporting
| companies. Mr.. Keenan, played the part
| OF the sheriff. mixture of good and
/ evil characteristics which in less skill
| full hands would have been cheapened
| beyond redemption His Steady grasp
| acter gave IL almost equal runk with
! Miss Bates work in point of artistic con-
| ception.
| Noteworthy Cast.
Robert Hilliard played the role OF the
road agent with discretion and force.
John w Cope. an actor who has done
| fine character work on many occasions.
was conspicuous for his clever portrayal
! OF Sonora Slim, one of the miners. The
| entire cast was noteworthy.
| The audience was one of the most bril-
| liant and fashionable that has assem-
| bled in a Washington theater in many
! years. 1t was representative OF the So
| cial and official life and included an un-
usual number of distinguished members
of the foreign legations and the Army
] and Navy. The boxes and mezzanine
loges were resplendent with the elegant
| toilets of the ladies. while the handsome
| Oriental costumes of the Chinese min
| ister and suite, together with those of
the Korean legation. added 10 the bril-
! liancy OF the audience. The house was
! handsomely decorated in autumn flow
ers and foliage. while plants were tastily
| displayed along the lobbies and foyers.
! Those occupying boxes included the
! Secretary Of State and Mrs Root. who
had as guests the Brazilian Ambassador
and Nine. Nabuco. and Assistant Secre-
tary of State and Mrs. Bacon. Secre-
! tary OF War and Mrs. Taft, whose party
| Included Miss Helen Taft. Miss Margaret
Alshine and F. w. Carpenter
! The Belgian Minister and Baroness
! Moncheur the latter resplendent In an
| elegant toilet with diamond ornaments,
| had for their guests Mons and Madame
! Delcorgne. Mrs. Hamilton. Miss Chaffee
| and Capt. George r. Hamilton. Admiral
and Mrs. Dewey entertained in their
| box the Admirals aide, Commander and
| Mrs S. S. Wood. Mrs. +. Berger Moran
! OF WASHINGTON. had as her guest Mrs.
| Fairbanks, wife of the Vice President.
| Sir Chentung Liang-Cheng. the Chinese
minister. together with his suite. all ar
! rayed in gorgeous robes, attracted much
| attention in one of 81 boxes. Minister
| Takahira OF Janan, and suite occupied
| one Of the proscenium boxes. Secretary
| Shaw and Mrs. Shaw had a box party,
as did the Rev. DIR. d. J. Stafford. Scat
| tered in the orchestra chairs were a
number of the younger set prominent in
| society circles. The house was crowded
] to standing room only, the house hav-
/ ing been sold out as far IN advance as
| last Saturday.
| Baron Rosen OF the Russian ernbps~-
/ had large party In one of the boxes.