The Washington herald., 1907-09-15

weeks from now all Of the city's
play houses VIII be running full
blast. A glance over the advance book
ings show that an attractive class and
variety of entertainment is 70 be offerel
TO the theatergoers Of Washington-new
plays. new stars, new productions. ana
many OF them.
It seems pretty evident now that there
Is 10 be a preponderance OF musical
shows during the coming season, and the
fact that the National Theater tomorrow
night and the BelascO TheateT on Sep
tember q. are 70 open IN this class Of
entertainment is significant Many lAore
of the same kind are booked. though II
Is evident. also that in purely serious
s0ramatic entertainment we shall not suf-
Ter any lack. From other cities comes
word that the theatrical season has
opened with a rush Of prosperity, and the
liberal patronage that attends the drama
elsewhere is sure to lie duplicated in
Washington which is known far and
wide as "a good show town. TO Use the
,theatrical parlaHce.
The Columbia Theater, which strives
always for worthy ideals, opened last
week with a serious dramatic effort. and
Il is not the fault Of the management that
the presentation Of Ruth" by Fernando
:Eliscu and her company was disappoint-
iing. Il IS evident that those who are be
hind Miss Eliscu thought 10 duplicate the
wonderful artistic and financial success
won by Bertha Kalich in her trans
lation from a Yiddish 20 an English star.
But that il needs something more than
q mere translation TO make this sort OF
q mere translation TO make this sort Of
may be a clever and talented actress,
though there is nothing in her work IN
"Ruth" to show It, but at her best she has
neither the Englsh-speaking voice, the
temperament, nor the personality Of Miss
Kalich. That she has no very high ar
tistic ideals must be judged by her Will
tngness TO star IN such play as Ruth"
q Grass and iN-cCnsUUcted mel0drama,
without purpose, with no definite aim, and
violating in each of its four acts pretty
nearly every technical rule by which the
drama must be judged. That such a play
can have no appeal 10 frst-class audi
enCes is only to say thar hrst-cIass audi
-ences in America are intelligent and dis
terminating. and they are not willing 10
pay high prices for q mediocre perform
,ance Of a cheap melodrama.
The worst of ii IS that Ruth" is quite
hopeless, There is no chance that even a
skilled dramatist could clothe this dra-
matte skeleton with any semblance Of life
iit is wrong fundamentally; wrong in its
ideals wrong In its presentation OF the
moral question; wrong in every way.
Fortunately for the American stage
fRUth' is too poor 10 last, and its man
ayers viii be wise If they recognize this
early in the season and withdraw it be-
fore they spend a lot Of money in trying
10 make It 90.
It is extremely probable that most Of
the new plays 10 be produced this season
will be seen in Washington at one time
or another during the season. so. al
though it would not do TO give a list Of
the bookings at the leading frst-cIass
theaters. il may not be amiss 10 point out
what are the best among the new plays.
productions OF which have already been
arranged for. The following list will be
found 70 contain the names Of most of
the new plays so far as they are already
known. One or two Of these, such as
Bernsteins THE Thief" have already
been produced, others, of which just the
Buthor is given, have not yet been named:
"The Right Of WAY" by Eugene Presbrey. with
Guy Standing; a Characterization Of Gilbert Par
keg's hFe-Bamed novel
The Galileans Victory" By Henry Arthur Jones.
with special cast tragi-c1medy Of religious life
IN provincial England.
"WldfTe. ty George Br1adhurst, with Lillian
Russell, a racing play # New York and Saratoga.
When Knights Were Bold" by Charles Mar
love, with Francis Wilson; farce that shifts
modern characters 10 the Middle Ages
my WIFI, ty Michael Morton, with John Drew;
Parisian light comedy of a mock marriage.
"The Thief" by Henri Bernstein with Kyrls
Bellew; strorg and serious French play Of do
tnssuc misunderstanding.
The Father Of the Boys" by George Ade with
". II. Crane; written 20 provide a typical Crane
part"
"Tha Morals q Marcus" BIZ W. J. Locke. with
alazio D0To. a dramatization Of Alr. Lockes own
hoyel, The Morals Of Marcus Ordeyne."
"Her Sister" by CLYDE Fitch and CCsmo Lenn0E
with Ethel Barrymore effort In Augl0-AmericaE
collaboration.
'"rha Honor Of the Family" with Otis Skinner
romantic play OF NaUoleOns soldiers after q
$toTy by Balzac
The testers by n zamacors with Maud,
Adams a fanctul, poetic, medieval tale il dTa
matte form. with Miss Adams youth.
'Toddles," by Clyde Fitch. With Joseph Coyue
81 adaptation q a light French farce
a Grand Amy Man" By David Beiasco, viii
Darid WGfeld; written TO give fresh play TO III,
stars gentle humor and Dathos, with Indiana fol
9tS scene.
The Man On the Case" by Graos RIruess. witt
Jameson Fiuney mild aud polite farce Of mistaken
identity.
The Coming Of Mrs. Patrick" by Rachel Croth
ersi a play Of New York and trained nurses by tn,
Of 1~-a -
play By John Luther IoDg. for Mrs. Carter
play by Marion Fairfax for Annie Russell
'Saprho and Phaon." by Percy MacKaye witt
Bertha Kalcb. Poetic tragedy Of the Greek poetess
LADY Godiya, tragic play for Julia Marlowe.
The Fool Hath said" bv Laurence Irving q Sc
Fious play for Z. II. 5othcru.
''The Lsncers, with Laurance d'Orssy and Cecii
Lotus Sentimental comedy in military surround
iuga
John Clayde's Homer by Alfred sutro, with J
X. Eacsett A serious play with an American cap
tsin of industry for its chief figure
The House Of Thousand Candles" By Georg
&iddleton. with E. II. Holland dramatization O
tie like-named novel.
Public Opinion" by R. c Carton with Dalln
Weltosd. = cynical London farce Of conceameut
Classmates, by ". C. de Mile, with Rober
Eiesou. Boys School Drama" Of West Point Ca
diets
The Movers" by Martha Morton. with Dor0th
Dohnelly: serious play Of the extraysgauce and nj
yolity Of American women.
The Struggle Everlasting by Z. n. Royle wit
Florence Roberts; emotional drama"
Pilgrim Progress. 10y j. Macarthur with Her
rietts Crcsnani spectacular dBmatizati0n of Bun
yans aliegoE. with Miss Crosman as Christian.
The Man from Home by Booth Harrington
with W. 7. Hodge; q character play Of a smal
Western town
The Re'uvenation oi Aunt Mary" by Anne WaI
Vith Nav Robson: the title and the actress sug
gest its contents
The Bondman" by Hall Game with Wilto
LacSaye; Mr.. Gaines latest wh0oping melodrama.