The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-04-07

"His Excellency, the Governor, Mar
shan's old farce Miss Barrymore as
the dashing Countess Stella Gex, played
with ali her familiar charm and viva
eiousness. and the role came as q decided
relief from the gruesome '-Silver Box. -
THE Marriage of Reason" is almost
inc0neeWably had. Bellew labors valiant
~ with IT, but without avail. Fanny
Ward is about sthe worst ever She
is supposed to have the leading role,
but the honors so far as the women Of
the cast are concerned are certainly
with Julia Dean. in a comparatively small
part Master Richard Storey plays a
small boy very cleverIy. In fact, his tai
ent Is almost painfully precocious.
An event Of noteworthy importance
was celebrated at the Academy or Music
Tuesday night when the dramatization
Of Gen Lew Wallace's Ben huf
reached its 2,5O0th performance, still do
ing Just as good business as II has since
the first performance was given at the
Broadway Theater November 70, 1879
The 50oth performance of the wonderful
spectacular play took place In the
Chestnut Street opera House, Philadel-
phia. and was the occasion OF a note
worthy speech by General Wallace. The
I.0O0th performance was observed in the
Great Southern Theater, Columbus,
Ohio The 1.5O0th performance occurred
in the Drury Lane Tneater, London.
King Edward and Queen Alexandra and
the other members OF the royal house
hold being present. For the first time in
history a special royal box was erected
in the center OF the pit so that the royal
party might obtain a perfect view of
the great chariot race. After the race
scene the royal party visited the stage
and inspected the intricate mechanism
Of the race spectacle The 2000th per-
Torrance OF Ben Hur'' was in the Au-
ditorium Theater in Chicago. The 2,5o0th
milestone In the history of this play has
taken place in the Academy of Music
More than 6.O00.000 people have seen
Ben Hur' according TO the records,
and nearly 1.060.0O people have paid to
see it in New York alone.
There is no reason TO believe that ad-
ventures of the young Hebrew wiz not
in cue time reach its 5,OOOth perform
ance and delight 100000 more people.
The plans and scope of the actors
fund fair at the Metropolitan Opera
House continues 10 grow. and by the
time for the fair, May to IL, it
will undoubtedly have developed into
one Of the biggest things of the kind
ever seen. Here are some Of the fea-
lures decided upon:
Shakespeare's village, the Lambs as
hosts OF an ancient inn, the Players
and their $4,000 art gallery. the Twelfth
Nighters and their souvenirs Of famous
actors. the Professional Women's
League and Actors Church Alliance in
mammoth booths, ladies' of the four
hundred selling Teddy bears. Georgia
Cayvan's diamond star. the Green
Roomers and their old-fashioned SIDE
show under canvas, Catherine CountIss
and her beautiful bookmakers at the
racing wheel. matinee idols selling
wOmen's goods, Marshall p. Wilder and
his famous japanese maids. Mark
Twain. George AIDE and famous dram
attic authors win sign their autographs.
Hamilton Revelle viii make amateur
photographs. Anna Held viii sell her
5000 portrait. Emily Rigf presides over
The Smokey, Rosa Rand conducts a tea
booth. and a big grocery viii have fifty
actress clerks. There viii be moving
pictures, novelty demonstrations. tel
+-r-+ -i'SAA4~ ANNtbd4sf udllN NoucNiN5t great
singers, something going on every
moment from noon to midnight a whirI
of activity.
Big show print houses donated paper
enough TO bin within a 100-mile radius.
and bill posters display il free. Musi-
clans, scene painters, and stage car
penters volunteer and the Metropolitan
is giving rent free. Every business block
in New York is being systematically
canvassed for donations Nearly LOCO
women interested in the stage are as
signed to active committee work. Can
you beat il?
Owing 10 his success in the Lyric
TheaJer, Ermete Novelli extended his
engagement, and playgoers had the priv
liege OF seeing him this week in i've
roles alternating between the tragic and
the comic. He remains another week.
Novelh, by the way, besides being one
OF the leading actors Of contemporary
Italy, is also in his off-moments a wig
maker He makes all his own wigs. and
has done so ever since he became an
actor. forty years ago. NoveIH considers
that he can make wigs better than any
one else.