The Washington times., 1906-12-02

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notoriety. The tenor received an ova-
ton that completely 0vercame him.
When he had recovered his composure.
however. with the aid OF cast that
supported him Loyalty. the opera was
splend'dly given. OF the remaining per
formances during the week. there IS
nothing particularly noteworthy but
their number y Thanksgiving matt
nee Of "Hansel and Gretel" was sung:
"Tannhauser," Frioay night; la Ira
viata. Saturday afternoon; and Romeo
and Jdlette" again with Abbott and
l.oubeyrsu in the leading roles.
Which reminds one Of the latest de-
velopment of 'Tanalre Caruso." the per
aistent report that he Is 70 hght a duel
with Ids rival. Alessaudro Boncl. tenor
OF the Manhattan forces, because IN
defending himself be called attention 10
a little lapse OF Slgnor B0nci wherein
he IS alleged To have run away with
the young daughter Of q friend Signor
Bonci. not unnatuTally, considered IL the
height Of ill-brceding for Caruso % dig
up this cd skeleton. especially as he,
Bonci. had absolutely no hand in Car
uso's monkey house trouble.
And speaking Of dueis one is remirded
IF de Castellane. Anna Gould's o. era
boude count who IS reported 10 lave
responded 10 a cabled offer Of posi-
ton As head waiter ia the Cafe Martin
at $1,000 a year Icy a cabled challenge
TO the proprietor who had 50 insulted
him, and who. according TO yet later
accounts, is negotiating for chance 70
20 on the stage at S2.0G0 a week. APP
parently the only trouble with the Mar
tin Offer was thar IL was not nigh
enough. though TO be sure il Is inti-
mated that the count prefers not 10 go
into vaudeville as he wishes 10 be an
artist" rather than a mere "attrac-
ton" Can you bedt that2
In spite q the fact that the opera has
been the thing this week. the common
or garden variety OF drama has by no
means been neglected. The only man
who had Ine nerve to announce a change
OF bin for Monday night in direct com
petition with the beginning Of the opera
season was Robert Manten, who began
the last week OF his engagement with
mis- first performance Of Julius Caesar
The performance is a CTedltab!e one
and was received with marked appTecla-
zion. In appearance. Mr.. Mantells Bru-
tus satisfies the imagination. and IN MS
general bearing he realizes thoroughly
the dIgnihed simplicity and integrity Of
purpose OF the noblest Roman" The
production is a good one, its pictures
rich and well painted, the resources Of
carpenters and electricians made the
most Of. and a large body Of supers
.utenlgeatIy handled The support could
be improved. but on the whole the com
ST u
MI MaatelTs previous productions
After the opera the first New York
production Of THE Rose Of the Rancho
was OF first Importance Belasco's an
nuaI production is always an event and
this proved no exception 20 the rule
William Winter. the supercilious calls
X another Btlasco pageant and
SAYS in one breath 'IHtrinsicaily. The
Rose OF the Rancho though felicitOvs
in theatrical eNpedients and sustained
suspense, Is not exceptional as work
~ literary AMI dramatic art and in
the next The play would deserve sue
cess for its scenery alone. IL surely
viii have a prosperous career, for its
purity and beauty are decisive" Which
may be taken as n sample of the con-
/ flcting emotions II aroUsss in the
/ .GughtfuI critic
/ As matter Of fact. The Rose of the
Rancho is not a thoughtful play. None
the less IL Is another big BelusCO hit.
. and introduces another big Beiasco
s;ar OF the first magnitude L is uot
drama or ideas goes without saying,
Ii Is. as all the big Belasco hits have
been. meIodrama o. the refined, Fifth
| avenue variety. II is IN Southern Cali
| forria that The Rose OF the Rancho
| bIooms-a country that Mr.. Belasc-
knows well. and he has made his stag,
I "a garden OF luxury, dream of spIen-
dor. in "a production remarkable Tor
cvervihiug that has made BeIascO IA
nous as q producer. Not even The
Darling Of the Gods showed such
: MASTER Of detail in conJriving stag,
- realism, nor did THE Girl Of the Colder
z West" use local color with suCh con
summate effect. The soft light IA,
bewitching Spanish music, the blending
+ of old Spanish architecture with an al
, most tropical wealth Of natural beauty
the perfection OF costuming, the blend
ing Of color, the SLEEPY suggestion oi
the heated aiternoon-by all these i:
s the spectator made 50 happy that Il
r would he the basest. most caviling in
1 EldIlINue 10 1uuEt TOO ndTSnlg the play
D that is so far eNceued by the produc-
z tion.
, The play is "a glance at a disgracefu
, episode in American history-the tech
t nicaIly legal but outrdgeously unjus
seizure OF the estates of Spaniards il
% California after the close of the Mexican
! war" II is the usual portrayal of Z
, conflict between virtue. animated by love
E and villainy, impelled by cupldity and
/ Brutal license. and regarded simply a'
r r series OF scenes and situations II f.
5 fimsy enough. X is i'm the hands Of
! capable company. and introduces some
2 new types Of character. and IL bring.
e forward IN Miss Frances Sts-r Il new
and delightful BelascO-m made ..tsess
e She plays The Rose OF the Rancho.
Jhe maiden Of old California, half Van
. kee. half Spanish. with a refinement an,
. charm that won her audience at once
plays il with a touch of caprice and pas
sion, and the color OF quick rOmanu
blood which thrills with its youth an
beauty.
Others who do splendid work ar