The Washington herald., 1906-10-29
ABOUT PLAYS AND PLAYERS.

one New York dramatic writer is 50
rude and inaccurate as to refer to May
Yohe as the only yoiceless prima donna
extant.
A westchester County grocer and liquor
dealer, who lacks the artistic tempera-
ment and has no sympathy with art. has
got judgment for $sl6 against Thomas ..
Seabrooke.
As people declined 10 give up their good
money TO listen to what was Told in the
Hills" by Edwin Arden. that bustling
actor has followed Arnold DAILY into
vaudeville
Another skirmish is on in the grand
opera war in New York. this time about
Oscar Hammerstein's right to produce
PucciuFs la Boheme." Ricordo * Co,
a firm Of musical entrepreneurs. Of Milan,
have sought an injunction to preveat
Oscar from putting on the tuneful Puccini
work. They claim to hold the American
rights
In view of the number OF admitted
failures on the New York stage so fer
this season and the frequent reports Of
read companies closing and starting wear
lily back toward the Great White Way, il
is just possible the seasons grand total
Of box Office receipts win fan a few
dollars shy OF the fifty millions which the
New York Herald says is about the nor
nal for the United States in these days
Of prodigal theatrical expenditure,
The theatrical bill CT fare arranged by
the Washington managers for their pa
irons this week is judiciously varied
There's vaudeville, farce, spectacular
lnusieal comedy. and society drama, so
that all tastes ought to be suited with
the exception Of the taste for tragedy
son. The simple, heavy dishes Of the last
century cuisine have gone out and so
70 large extent have the elemental
plays OF the same era
Richard Iansheld's press. bureau sends
out assurances that the greatest theatrical
event Of many seasons viii be pulled Of
tn Chicago tonight Then and there the
crly Richard viii be seen in his epoch
marking production Of Ibsen's Peer
Gynt" The utla role ought 20 be COM
regtably withia the range Of Mansheld's
ability and give full scope tc the pecu-
hsrities that have won for him 80 large
and loyal a clientele. Scenicaily II is
promised the production will be sumptu-
Gus. Owing to the locale Of shs play. (,
viii hardly be possible 10 furblsh up old
scenery that has done duty in uCBer pro-
dUetiens and work IT cff as specially pre-
pared FOR Peer Gynt" But then the con-
scientious Richard wouldn't be gullty Of
this trick Of the trade, any how.
Clyde Fitch has discovered that society.
especially really smart society. can't be
portrayed on the stage He made the dis |
covery as a result of the restrained en-
thusiasm Of the New York public over
his dramatzatlon OF Mrs. Wharton's
House Of MirIh He saws that any
way. society as represented on any stage
any time is not as interesting TO society
people as society per Sc. He instances
that when Mrs. Langtry went into the
atTicais. she was the most graceful and
charming smart woman in London. but 4
on the stage she was one OF the most /
awkward and gauche. until years of the [
atrical experience enabled her 70 play /
ecnvincingly her own gracious self-which 4
really doesn't seem 70 have much % DO /
with the case
When George Bernard shaw isn't differ /
ent he's Indifferent. When he isn't con-
Trajectory and Inconsistent he doesn't /
seem natural, and probably doesn't Zee, ,
happy. As regards himself, n he can't /
make the unexpected happen. he doesn't |
care TO have anything az all happan. The
latest revelation OF his difference Is. thai
he takes. Of at least ole question. the
same view as the late James Anthony
FroUde, q thing no other Irishman has
ever done since Fr0ude emitted his stric- |
tures on Irish character and history. n |
his brilliant sketch of the life Of Caesar. /
Froude makes that parsonage out a pa /
triot and a pretty good fellow all around /
Shaw does the same thing in the play he /
has written for Forbes Robertson. called |
Caesar and Cleopatra" TO be produce
for the first zine ia the United States in /
New York tomorrow night.