Evening star., 1906-03-25


" hither from the Metropolitan
opera House of New York made
a sojourn of only three days, it was distinctly
grand opera week. The usual interest mani
Tested in dramatic offerings absent the
spoken word lost it's power TO charm, and
nothing was found worthy of consideration
that was not warbled. Although the crowd
which assembled to see the opening per
formance Of THE Queen of Sheba' was far
from testing the capacity of the National
Theater. there was an amount of enthusi-
asm displayed which promised well for the
subsequent performances. These promises
were fulfilled, special interest being
shown in the production of Lucia" with
sembrich and Caruso in the cast.
The interest displayed by this city In the
Metropolitan Opera Company engagement
will, it is hoped, justify it's return in the
future Washington is one of the towns
which can have grand opera occasionally
81 it is good. Being good in the mind of
the devoted musician means the capability
of experiencing an ecstatic rapture under
the influence Of harmony; rapture which
words are powerless to express or intelli-
gence to define 1t is a hypnotic condition
induced by auditory vibration in something
the same manner that sleep was introduced
by Mesmer when he dangled a shining sub
stance before the subjects eye. 1t is some
thing well worth while for the community
10 have existed in this beatifc state of
mind even FOR the space Of only three days.
The analyst most subside while the rhap-
sodist takes his place The ordinary re
ouirements of a theatrical representation
sre thrown to the winds. Although the per-
Bons OF the drama figure in story that pos
eesses warm interest, questions of physical
appearance. discretion of gesture or suita-
bfity of pose are mere minor details in the
outpouring OF impassioned melodies. The
sentiment and feeling that the trained
actor expresses only by concentrating great
physical and mental energy in the inter
probation OF role is expressed by a singer
in a series of notes. When the singer has
learned his alphabet up to letter G the re-
mander Of his education does not seriously
matter. Students many singers are, but it
is a matter of individual pleasure and not
professional need The responsibilities of
earth are not for them, the mystery of
song is so potent in It's manifestations that
today we regard it did our primitive
ancestors. as a special gift from heaven,
and we regard those who possess 1t in it's
highest form as superior beings. Their
faults and defects are those of the
Jovian court on Olympus We read of
them with wonder. but do not seek to hold
them to the same codes which govern ordi-
nary mortals. II a singer keeps the stage
waiting spoils a picture she atones for it
all by a single high note and we. who
flock to the temple in admiration, are salts
fed. A great deal of envious energy is
wasted on the people who have toilsomely
accumulated fortunes in Oil and other pro-
sale articles Of commerce. If one is to
yield to the iniquity of being envious, why
not select the favorte soprano or the tenor
OF the hour? It is they who have the
world truly at their feet; who enjoy aduIa-
ton a right and not because they have
schemed and struggled to make men do
their bidding.
Shakespeare was abundantly represented
Mr.. Mantell interpreted the poets great
masculine roles and Miss Henrietta Cros-
man one of his most delightful feminine
characters. Mr. Mantell laid especial stress
upon his performance Of King Lear" Civ
ing it the place of honor in his weeks
engagement. Hamlet seems more In ac-
cord with the earlier impressions created
by this capable actor, who mas not the
rugged, old, defying quality which enables
him to stand forth as Edwin Forrest did.
and carry universal conviction for the mo-
1nent by his assertion, 4 Am Lear" We
had been accustomed to regard Mr.. Man
tel as an accepted portrayer of the more
graceful attributes OF mankind There
neNer was and probably never will be
more complete. dignifed and with all senti-
mental lover on the English speaking stage
than Robert Mantel as Loris Ipanoff, when
the delighted public discovered him in
Fanny Daycnport's American production of
Fedora MantelI was the admiration of
the Iasses and the envy of the swains, yet
he WAS 10 matinee idol His work even at
that time gave assurances of the eminence
which he now holds as an actor of classic
roles, an emnence which he ably main
talned by his performances this week His
Richard III" is a study of particular i'm
pressiveness and his Macbeth" has both
psychology and power.
Miss Crosman is another favorite of some
years since. whose secure establishment as
one ~ the standard players of the country
is am event Of comparatively recent date
II may be said that she owes TO this city
much of her present eminence, since it was
e Washington playwright Mr.. George Ha-
--'N'''s WHO proved 10 tHe New York public
10y means OF his Nell Gwynne' play that
she was really one of our great actresses.
x
Henry = DNey completes a trio of still
cherished friends of other days, who ap-
pearcd this week. Mr. Dixey in his curtain
speech alluded jocosely to the constant dis
position To hark back TO the DAYS OF
"Adonis. He tells the story of a lady of
seventy years-tels II of course with the
delightful touch of character impersonation
which comes as second nature to him-who
upon being introduced exclaimed, Il am so
glad 10 meet you Mr.. Dixey. my mother
took me to see you play 'Adonis' Dixey
isn't as old this by a great deal and
he doesn't look old as he is, and doesn't
seem as old as he looks. He is one of our
mere boys Of the stage with a great future
before him.
The report comes out that Hall Caine in.
tends TO dramatize his novel, THE Bond
man Gradually reverence which hung
about Mr. Caine is being dispelled II was
thought that he wrote because the burning
thoughts within him seethed and fernente,i
until they must find expression. That he
should OCCa sioualiv fuFr fa Stoga In