Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-03

tiOn IL one 10 De ADMIRED ana en-
III joyed. There is distinction. For
instance. Peer Gynt might be ad-
mIred without being enjoyed, while lighter
concoctions. The Spring Chicken for
example. could be enjoyed without being
admired. No such jaunty and agreeable
picture of sentiment struggling against
tremendous odds for supremacy in a fast
set has been shown since Lord and Lady
Algy's'' arrangement and reconciliation
We're displayed. silly people are n nuisance
I'm real life, but clever playwrlghts and
competent performers cln make them
charming. THE New York Idea" presents
characters so similar to Lord and Lady
AlGy' that it is Ike meeting old friends;
friends who. during an absence have ac-
quircd new thoughts and modes of exprea-
sion. hut who are familiar none the less.
There is no use of singing Backward.
Turn Backward. oh Tine" But there is
no reason for imPressinS this melancholy
fact on People who have assembled at the
theat~T to see a merry play. No less than
three actors last week had occasion to read
newspapers as a part of their business.
And each of them yielded to personal
impulse to hold the paper away off at
arms length. just as grandfather does. 1t
is chilling reminder of the Inevitable;
hint of big print and bi-focal lenses;
stern admoniton that though time may
spare figure and complexion, its assault
on the optic muscles of accommodation is
as irresistible as 1t is ruthless. 1t is small
point. but art often depends on attention
to inin!tesimal detail.
May Irwin We'd with Mrs Fiske in secur-
ing the attention of official patronage. All the
world loves to laugh. and the refined come
dy of The New York Idea" was compelled
TO share with Mrs. Wilson-Andrews" the
most distinguished official interest that
Washington can summon. Miss Irwin is
unpretentlously jolly. Her humor is SO
frank that it compels recognition, even If
IL is not sharpened to a very fine edge. She
is a romping personality who seems TO be
having so much fun that there is no eX-
cuse for not sharing in It, Miss Irwin is
something of a cut-up off the stage as
well professionally. When an invitation
was extended to her to take a sleigh ride
behind the Eskimo dogs that have been
parading the city she Immediately consent
ed. In less than an hour after her inten-
don became known the snow had melted.
An entertainment such as May Irwin pre-
sents calls attention to a change that has
taken place in the popular sense of pro-
priety. 1t was once custom to refer to
the front seats of a theater as bald-headed
row. Men assembled there with an air of
skittish truancy to see plays which told of
husbands who stole away to have quiet
suppers and good time generally. For
hidden Fruit pink Dominoes'' and
dozens Of other farces evoked chuckles of
belated deviltry. This order of things is no
more The hilarious May Irwin has caused
bonnets TO supplant the bald heads and
ba far mi 10 10 10 Of with
Quiet times of hilarity, in which coarse
masculinity have no part. pictured with
inexpressible JUNCTION and the ladies look at
one another with expressions of mutual I'M
Outstanding that are humorous as they
are mysterious. Truly bald-headed row is
no mere. The men who used TO frequent IL
have given up in despair and are wearing
toupcs.
Maxine Elliott presents her claims to
consideration with quiet but unquestioned
authority. If she has no new play, she
appears in an old one. and her public well
comes her without question. She makes no
especial bid FOR notice because of great
cleverness; she cultivates no displays of
extraordinary emouonality. But she is
good TO look upon, and gives a picture of
gentle refinement that Is always irresist-
ible- in its appeal.
The cxpedients resorted to by the the
atrical advertiser sometimes SAVIOR of des-
peration. The Mayor of Laughland" man
agement has issued post card proclama-
ton as large as the post Office could handle
10 this effect
Washington says: The Mayor of Laugh
land is finc'-and Washington never told
lie.
This would be clever and commendable if
there had been no effort to provide cor |
rOboTative detail. What purpOrt to be |
quotations from various newspapers are |
printed. the one credited 10 this particular !,
journal being as follows: Washington !
Star-A scream from start to fnish-every |
moment another laugh" Washington has |
been called "a city of dreams by the |
politically disappointed. but this paragraph |
represents the champion Authorization. 1t
, never happened. THE Mayor of Laugh
land may be Il very comiCal person. but
he evidently does not choose to follow In
the footsteps Of the immortal George, with
whose name and prestige he takes such
liberties The practice of taking press no
tees has become obsolete among reputable
companies
Literature and the theatsr are becoming
moro and more intimately associated. The
methods Of the old-tme theater manager
are cinsstahCn up by the publisher. Mark
Twain. as the Greater of John T. Ray
mond's famous character, col Sellers
never did anything like the hdmboyant
SuN va USING ne Is NOW engaged IN. n tneatrl-
cal star of corresponding reputation would
Shrek with horror if requested to don q
suit Of pure white in midwInter and parade
the Capitol. And yet the genial Mark
Twain made it seem like 4 very amusing
and innocent procedure The tendency
should not be permitted to. develop too
far. Ii would not be well for American
literature II publishers should inaugurate
the custom of assembling their authors In
high hats and Newmarket overcoats. to
give street professions with 4 band at
Has. PHILANDER c. JOHNSON.
A THEATER OPENER.-De Wolf Hop
per. it appears, is getting to be a theater
opener. Lately he gave the first perform
he Cincinnati MIA la