The Washington herald., 1907-06-16


ings Of purveyors Of amusement, who
find that the people, instead Of going TO
the parks or the outdoor shows. or find
ing relaxation in evening walks. are
driven. almost, into the alluring shade Of
the playhouse, where all Is light and
warmth and gayety.
The backwardness Of the season has done
much for the local stock companies, all
three OF which are doing very much bet
ter than they had dared 10 hope for
Crowded houses are the rule at all three
theaters and It is not improbable that IN
view Of the large patronage, the man
ayers are regretting that they did not
tie up their leading and attractive play
ers in longer contracts.
As It IS there are to be some changes
which every one will regret. The COM
paHy at the Columbia Theater lost Mr..
Wilton Lacsaye last night and ere long
will have 70 give up Miss Hilda Spons.
as she will soon have 70 begin 10 prepare
for another season Miss Charlotte
Walker. also. Il IS said, has big prospects
for her next season and It IS not unlikely
that she viii be brought to the front as
BelasCo star. in which case the next
time Washington playgoers see her they
may have 20 pay two dollars for the priv
ileEe. Mr.. Belasco has q way os making
paying propositions out Of the stars he
develops.
The Arden players have lost Miss
ChrystaL Herne. who IS also preparing to
star next season. and for the week 10
come. as It happens that The Private
Secretary" does not need a leading wom-
an she Will not be replaced. II is said
that a well-known actress will take Miss
Herne's place for the rest OF the sea-
son.
The quality Of performances that have
been given by the stock companies has
been remarkably high, and there has been
no need for apologies on any score. The
revival Of "Aristoc-acy'' at the Columbia
last week was brilliant The performance
was smooth, pitched IN the right key,
acted with dignity, and would have com /
pared quite favOrably with the perform /
ances In the past Mr, Wilton Lackaye
was especially good in the part which he
created iginally-Jefferson Stockton
and hts support was markedly good.
There was some comment regarding the
fact that a sudden shift Of parts made it
necessary for one Of the players to COM /
nit his Ions part In a few hours. but If
this was true. It was not perceptible in
the performance. There IS always 10 be
expected, on the first night OF a stock
company performance, some little hesita- /
ton in picking up cues, but those who ex-
pect the same perfectness in a company
which is continuously playing one play
and learning and Tehearsing another .
week in and week out, as they would eX-
pect from d road company which by re-
iteration is mechanically perfect, IS ask /
ing TOO much and setting an unfair stand /
ard
The Arden players, who are to stay at
the BeIasco until the opening Of the reg I
ular season. presented that curious |
satire on French society, "Div0rCons,' ]
during the past week. and the play was /
enjoyed by audiences that packed the /
theater. It IS curious how such q play /
the hum0r Of which is based entirely on /
a code Of morals and ethics diametrically /
opposed 10 those OF America. at least IN /
theory, should have become popular in /
this country. But it has always been a 4
successful play. and Ir. Arden was wise /
to revive IT, The play was handsomely /
staged and we'll acted. A notable piece /
Of acting was that Of N1r. Ellis. one Of /
the cIeyerost members Of this company. /
He has made all Of his parts stand out, /
and IN the entirely minor role Of the /
waiter in "Divorcons' he made another /
hit This was the more remarkable in /
that he played the part straight" When T.
Max Freeman played it originally in New .
York he gave the waiter a pronounced /
French accent to help out the fun. This
was, Of course, absurd in a play where .
all the characters are supposed to be
French.
The New National, with its good comic
opera, had another week Of capacity bust
ness with a revival Of The Mikado" one
Of the best Of the Gilbert and Sullivan
operas Of a byEone age. That the OLD
music and the fine old-havored comedy
still appeals was amply testified TO by
the applause; and a curious phase Of the
revival was that, as If It were a new
opera with new, catchy tunes. the audi
ence went out OF the theater each night
humming the airs. The performance dis
played the strength Of the Aborn Com
pany to advantage, and was made nOta-
ble by the appearance Of g little Japan
ess actress, the only one in this country.
Her work was striktngly clever. and The
Washington Herald said so. Miss Full /
10 was grateful for what was said, and /
wrote the following charming letter as 4
an expression Of her thanks. The word i
"arigato," which viii be found IN O Fuii-
Ko Sans letter, means thank you" in
japanese:
Dramatic Editor Washington Herald.
Dear Sir: Please accept my many h
thanks for your kind words Of me. II
wish 1 were playing a true japanese
play. instead Of Mlkado, charming as is
that music. Perhaps II may interest YOU I
10 know am 10 play on the Broadway
this fall however in a play myself have h
written, It is 10 be produced by Mr
Arnold Daily and the name IS The YAM
pire Cat Of Nabeshima, which I have
adapted from very ancient japanese
drama. I, Of course viii play the cat
a very strong. subtle, yet beautiful part
That shall not be until October. on
Nj Daly's return from Europe, so In the
meantime. when 1 return at New York. 7
think Of giving some limitations which
are so popular. / already have Alice
LLOYD. Ncsta Victoria, Anna Held. and
Nr Sam Bernard, You see. I have lived
in many parts Of the world. and tvpes
interest me much. I always watch people
closely as they speak. So, as I have
little gift OF imitation, perhaps shall
be fortunate enough for a little success
before I shall be busy with my own plav
Please pardon my liberty-wil YOU
not?