The Washington herald., 1907-07-07

co Theater that Edwin Arden
will close his season there next
Saturday night. indicates that
the summer season in Washington is ap-
preaching its climax, and that henceforth
it will be only a matter Of a few weeks
before there will be the usual siesta that
precedes the dog days and the next sea-
son. Mr.. Arden rstires after nine weeks
of endeavor that has been uniformly sue
cessful. In a financial way, II is said
that every week but one has shown "A
profit. The one exception was 'Raffies, -
yet. even with that play, it is said the
financial loss was extremely small on
the other hand, Mr. Arden scored one Of
his most artistic triUmphs in the role OF
Raffies. From the time Mr.. Arden made
his first production, THE Importance Of
Being Earnest" his whole enterprise has
been marked by good taste, fine acting,
and excellent discrimination in selecting
PLAYS. The Wilde comedy attracted some
Of the largest and the smartest audiences
Of the season. "The Cay Lord Quex'
duplicated this fine success, and Mr.. Ar
den gave one Of his best portrayals as the
gay old Lord Quex His Prince Kari
obviously catered more 20 the masses.
ana they responded handsomely, Indeed.
it IS said that Prince Karl was his
most successful offering. in a business
way. "DiyOrcons' was another achieve
ment 10 be proud Of The Private Sec
retary" was put on 10 give Mr.. Arden
slight rest. and 20 let Edward Ellis tenn
porarily have the center Of the stage. but
it was a good offering and gave general
satisfaction. "A Scrap Of Paper came
with the real hot weather. and though II
was a fine performance Of a great com
edy. II failed 10 draw crowds. The same
may be said Of "The Rivals which was
a most ambitious undertaking for any
stock company. Although it was finely
acted in many particulars, its reception
the past week proved that the public taste
In hot weather does not tend toward the
classics
This week Mr. Arden puts forth his best
effort. He played Captain Swift here
some summers ago. and those who saw
it then have never forgotten his fine
work lie revives the play in response
to popular request Ii is a fine play,
which he acts superbly, and nothing bet
ter for his farewell appearance could have
been selected. II viii be with genuine
regret that local theatergoers witness
the departure Of Mr.. Arden from the Be
lasco stage next Saturday night.
The shifting Of Miss Charlotte Walker
10 the stage Of the Belssco Theater may
not be accomplished without some eX-
citement First of all, there has been
one Of the biggest storms theatrical
Washington has known I'm years over her
prospective appearance at tnat theater.
and conflicting rumors Of possibilities
have h0ated over the town from the Co
umbia Theater TO the Belasco Theater
and back again. Both managements dis
claim any intention or desire OF har-
assing the other. but the fact remains
that they have been arguing strenuously
for some DAYS over Miss Walkers serv-
ices. and that both sides have consulted
legal advice.
Il really don't think I am worth fight
ing about" says Miss Walker, with q
smile But the managers apparently do,
for at last reports the matter had not yet
been settled. and the Belasco Theater
positively announces Miss Walkers ap-
pearance at that playhouse for a week
from tomorrow night, in A Dolls
House" to be followed by "Zaza." The
Columbia Theater management SAYS Miss
Walkers engagement there does not end
until July %. and there you are,
The controversy has caused no end Of
comment among local theater people. and
Miss Walker was much disturbed last
week when a member Of her company
said he understood that when she tried
TO appear at the Belasco a sheriff would
walk on the stage during her great scene
and drag her into the wings, where a file
of soldiers would escort her 10 the Dis
trict Jail Miss Walker was greatly ex-
cited until some one else explained that
the whole affair was false alarm.
Gratifying success has greeted the sum
mer stock season under the management
Of Afr Joseph E. Luckett, at the Column
bia Theater This is the ninth successive
season that he has engaged in these sum
mer stock ventures, and during that
period no play has been duplicated ex-
cept in two or three instances. To-mor-
row night marks the beginning Of the
tenth week Of the present season. and
three more weeks will equal last years
run of thirteen weeks. by the Guy Stand
ing stock company, Of the summer Of 1906,
which broke local records Manager
Luckett has not decided how much long
er he will keep his house open. Both Mise
Spong and Miss Walker are under indeii-
mite term contracts. and the theater's sea-
son will be governed largely by summer
temperature conditions. During the nine
weeks that the Columbia season has been
in progress the following plays have been
offered. May s. The Firm Of Cunning
ham," a modern comedy by Willis Steel;
Nav i3 a notable revival Of SardOu's
Diplomacy" May o. a revival of James
Alberry's "Featherbrain;" May Y, the
initial production on any stage Of Philip
Verrill Mighels' Western comedy. 'BTuv-
yer Jim's Baby" June 3, notable revival
Of the Paul Potter version Of Du Maui
riers "Trilby;" June 10. Bronson How
ards "Aristocracy;" June Il, The Ma
neuvers Of Jane" a comedy by Henry
Arthur Jones: June q. Clyde Fitch's COM
edy. THE Stubbornness Of Geraldine
July I. the Henry Hamilton version Of
Ouidas Moths" and tomorrow night.
Pinero's. "The Amazons"
With the presentation Of Diplomacy
the full strength of the Columbia organ
izatlon was presented. for Mr.. Wilton
Lackaye then Joined the company as
leading man. He was engaged for four
weeks, but remained FIVE. ending with the
revival Of 'AristOcracy." 1t was expect
ed that Mr.. Guy Standing would succeed
Mr.. Lackaye as leading man upon the
conclusion Of lis regular season. but Mr.