The Washington times., 1906-02-11

NEW YORK. Feb I0.-The week just
past has certainly been a scanty one
so far as new attractions at the New
York theatres are concerned. There is
only one thing really new offered. That
was Sidney Bowkett's comedy. Lucky
Miss Dean" with Helen GRAVITY and
William CourtIeigh in the lead. The
cast was excellent. and the comedy
while at times somewhat trfte was on
the whole good. The play doubtless
viii repeat is London success here.
Several plays are winding up their
New York enga gements. Among them
are Man and Superman." at the Hud-
son; The Walls of Jericho" at the
Savoy; The Little Gray Lady" at the
GarTick, and Coming Through the
Rye" at the Herald Square. All of
these. as WELL as other plays at the
standard houses. have been playing to
capacity.
The most important feature of the
week in grand opera was the revival of
Flotows masterpiece. Martha" This is
the first time in seven years that this
opera has been sung in New York. and
II not only had remarkable cast but
entirely new scenes and costumes were
provided. Sembrich appeared in the
role Of Lady Enrichita; Miss Edyth
2 c
Plancon as Plunkett, Rossi as Sir
Tristan, and Dufriche as d sheriff; Ar
ture Nigna led.
James Metcalfe, the weIl-known dra-
matte critic. has won the first round in
his fight against the theater trust man
ayers. Justice Fitzgerald, of the su-
preme court, decides that theatrical
managers have no right to combine for
the purpose of closing the doors of
their playhouses against a critic who
has said something offensive. The
twenty-four managers who are alleged
to have conspired against MT Metcalfe
must stand trial.
I hear from Paris that the Bey of
Tunis has sent to Mime. Bartet, the ia
NOUS French actress. the cross of the
Commander of Nitcham Iftika- This is
the second decoration to be conferred
upon this distinguished actress. She is
entitled TO wear the cross of the Legion
of Honor.
Some OF our very rich men who be-
1ieve that the theater may be made
valuable aid tn the education and i'm
pr0vement Of the condition of people
would do We'll to consider d plan which
is now under way in Paris Three new
theaters are 10 be built in the most
populous section of the city where the
leading actors and actresses in the best
plays procurabie may be seen at prices
ranging from three to twenty-one cents
No tickets VIII be sold before the open
ing of the doors, and the performances
will be given largely with the help of
the artists of the opera, the theater
Francois and other subsidized theaters.
The wealthy French authors society
is also preparing a scheme that goes 10
the other extreme. This society contem-
plates building in central Paris num-
her of theaters that viii be the last
word for righteousness of appointment
and decoration. They Will Ne equipped
with roomy corridors, large smoking
rooms, telephone call rooms. reading
rooms. restaurants and everything else
that the heart of the sybaritic play-goer
may desire.
A motor as an actress dressing room
IS the latest product of q London theatri-
cal managers ingenuity. The occasion
for this new use OF a motor car is the
appearance of Miss Kate Cptler in THE
Spring Chicken. at the Gaiety Theater
then at the Palace Music Hall. in a
sketch. and later in the evening a return
TO the Gaiety Theater. The time al
lowed Miss Cutler to do two changes of
stume, TO play her sketch and return