The Washington herald., 1907-05-12

The Actors Fund Fair at the Metro
polltan this week IS monopolizing the at
tention Of the theatrical world 10 the ex-
clusi0n Of everything else. The large opera
house presents a wonderful scene of color
and commotion. and every notability in
the dramatic world, from Ethel Barry
more and Frances Starr. Of the younger
generation OF stellar celebrities, 10 Mark
4 Twain. seventy-odd years old who's,
/ books have so often furnished material
/ for the stage. was on hand day after
day 10 promote the condition Of the fund
some presiding at booths and some selling
their autographs and pictures
I Many OF the leading artists and sculp-
/ tors OF America contributed valuable
works from their studios 10 be raffied FOR
/ the benefit OF the fund. Among them
were some superb paintings. bronzes and
/ reiiefs. Even an automobile was among
/ the articles offered. Mark Twain sold his
autograph for 60 cents 20 all comers. Tn.
Players Club had q booth with probably
/ the rarest offerings. as its membership
/ includes some Of the leading painters anc
scuiptOrs in the country, all whom We're
/ represented by works OF their handicraft
Replicas . the fine Booth bust which the
/ club owns were sold for s. apiece. Origi
/ nal plates Of some Of Hogarth's works
/ were represented in the large collection
Other curios were a pair Of shoe buckles
worn by the elder Kean.
/ There was Century Theater Clul
/ BOOTH and this was incidentally the oc-
casion of a sduall between Mrs. Sidney
( ROsenfeid and Mark Twain. Mrs. Rosen,
/ field objected to the assignment of the
( humorist to her booth because Of his Op.
( position to Christian Science. and she
wrote Mrs. Clemens letter pIainl,
stating her objection 10 him. Mrs. Ro-
/ senfeld's action was promptly repudiated
/ and the latest development is a wide
! spread opposition TO her reelection to the
| presidency OF the club next month.
: Guy Standing will leave the Shuberts
next season and pass under the manage
ment of Klaw x Erlanger. Standing wa.
/ engaged at a large salary 10 star under
I the Shubert management. "a Society Po-
| lieeman.' in which he opened his stellar
/ career, proved an immediate and striking
/ fiascO, and he was shifted from one at.
/ traction TO another. first with Odette Ty-
/ Ter. and finally with Nine Nazimoya IL
/ La Comtesse COquette." in which he /:
still playing at the Bijou. He is to have
/ the star part in Gilbert Parkers often an
| noHnced drama. The Right OF Way"
| Amelia Bingham, who was unfortunate
/ in the selection Of her play this season
| The Lilac Room" has at last found
what she believes to be a successor tC
The Climbers" in a play especially writ.
/ ten for her in which she will be seen In
/ Washington and Baltimore early the com
ing season. The play is said to have al
the strong elements Of a Modern Mag
dalen," embodied in a part in which tn,
comic and emotional qualities Of fresf
| type of womanhood are strongly outlined
against a background of intense dramatic
interest. In the expectation that it vii
duplicate the success Of The Climbers,
| she is engaging a stellar cast 10 present
the play on an equally elaborate scale.
There are rumOrs current in New Yorl
that the Columbia Thsater in Washington
will be selected 10 represent the new
vaudeville combination recently organizes
| by Klaw & ErIanger, and that, under tn
merger with the Shuberts. the dramati
attractions will be divided between tn,
National and the Belaseo theaters
I am unable to youch for this report
and give II for what il is worth. It hai
been seen ever since the Belasco Theate
was opened IN the Capital that Their
were too many theaters for the exlstIns
patronage, and that sooner or later ther,
would be a change of policy regarding on
| or the other of the playhOuses now com
peting for public support
As Washington is considered one of th'
/ best vaudeville centers in the country. q
is considered unlikely that the field vii
/ be abandoned to tie present vaudeville
/ house, with one theater at least tOo mans