The Washington herald., 1907-06-02

summer seems III no pa- titoldL
hurry TO arrive. and that is the
managers of the local theaters. where the
supplemental season Of stock company
stn prove magnets attractive
enough 70 draw audiences as large, and,
in some cases. as enthusiastic, as those
which greeted the attractions of the regu-
lar season. The feature Of the past week
Of course, was the opening Of the supple
mental season AZ the New National when
the Aborn Opera Company began a sea-
son which is 10 last ten weeks. and per
haps longer
It is rather q novelty to have a stock
comic opera company, and that the nov
city was appreciated is evidenced by the
large houses that have been the rule at
the New National all the week. There
was not a night when the theater was not
crowded. and popular appreciation Of the
singing was testified by the most hearty
applause. In very truth # is an excel
lent company that Manager Rapley has
secured. and its work viii compare most
fav0rably with that of many Of the road
shows presenting comic opera.
In choosing Robin Hood for the open
ing bill the management was wise, for
the old opera. endeared TO the American
public through the efforts of the Boston
ians. still retains q hold on the popular
favor something ike that accorded 70
"Pinafore" iu England. There is enough
good and familiar music in robin Hood
20 insure its success, even II the COM
pany presenting il were not as capable
and efficient as that headed by Es,elle
Wentworth and Albert Parr. No one who
heard the opera felt the need for any
apologize. it was well sung. well staged,
and its chorus was well drilled and mark
edlv efficient. There is no doubt but that
this clever company will do remarkably
well-and il deserves TO do So.
The experiment al the Columbia Thea
ter Of putting on a brand-new play,
"Bruvver Jim's Baby" was an interest
ing one. because it Illustrates what viii
probably he the tendency of the local
stock company OF the future, a tendency
TO break away from the old dramas now
used by stock companies and 10 take
the opportunity of having a local dram
attic organization with which to try ont
the plays of new authors. If this
tendency Increases. as il probably will,
the result will oe that many new dra-
matte authors who have never before had
a chance will get a hearing and it may
result in a great benefit for the American
stage as a whole Unfortunately for the
experiment i'm this particular case, "BruY-
yer Jims saby" was not al al the sort
Of play that is ever likely TO appeal As
the story was told I'm novel it had de-
Cided appeal. but it takes the fierce light
that beats upon a stage 20 disclose the
arudCalit.es and the ntruths
We have had so many Western plays
within the past two or three years that
even the American theatereoiag public
usually d0CiIe and willing % be led-is
educated up 10 standard below which
it declines now To drop. To say that
"Bruvyer Jim.s Baby is not q nice. SEN
true, but o. ask people 10 accept il as a
mirror of life I'm a Western mining camp
is 90 insult their intelligence. All that
the play could be benefited by "a worthy
presentation that it received. but even
with the good acting OF Mr.. Wilton Lack
aye, the clever work Of Miss Hnda Spong.
and the fine ingenuity of Miss Charlotte
Walker. the play was dry as dust. and
took on bat a very small sambRuce Of
humanity. Undoubtedly this company
VIII slow 10 much greater advantage this
week when il puts on "Trilby," and in the
meantime the experiment VIII probably
have convinced the author of "Bruvvar
Jlm.s Baby that his play is hardly
strong enough 10 take to the road.
The Edwin Arden players At the Belas-
CO Theater gave a most excellent per
[1rmance Of "Rafles" Mr.. Eugene
Presbrey, who dramauzed the work from
1Ir. Hornung's tales, is one Of the most
clever craftsmen Of the stage. and this
IS probably his greatest success. OF
course the principal part is strongly
identified with the personality Of Mr..
kyrle Beilew, but # is TO the credit
Of Mr.. Arden that De made his audience
forget that although he copied. to a
seat extent. the stage business" of his
predecessor. 2Ir. Ellis. following on the
heels of Mr.. Holland in the role of the
detective. had a difficult task 20 essay
but he did it with great credit 20 himself
and showed that he is an actor Of marked
ability and versatility. The whole cast
indeed was admirable and though Miss
Chrystal Herno had less opportunity than
one might have wished. she did some
exceedingly clever work in that difficult
situation in the third act The perform
ance throughout was notable for its di-
rectneSs and its surety To was well
staged, well dressed. and well PLAYED, and
tho large audiences showed that the
worthy effort was heartily appreciated
Chase's has shut its doors. and the gar
ish lights which add so much to tho
briIiancy Of this end Of Pennsylvania
avenue viii shine no more until next sea
son begins. Il seems rather a pity. fr
view OF the tremendous audiences that
chung % Chasels right up TO the last
moment that this house should close So
soon. but there is. it seems. an increasing
difficulty i'm booking frst-class acts 10.
ward the close Of the season. a great
many Of the best vaudeville acts 20 over
% London, Paris. and Berlin for The
summer season. and it is then that We
begin tg realize how much our vaudeville
stage owes % the foreign artist Ii is
hardly 900 much TO say that most Of The
novelties IN vaudeville originate on tho
other side. At any rate Chases has al
ways been noted for giving good bills
and though the house might have re-
maiue3 open with profit for another siy
weeks, giving Indifferent bills. Mr.. Chase
thought il better to sustain the reputa-
tlon of his theater and % close on a
high note He has added much TO the en-.
joyment Of thousands Of theatergoers
in the season just closed. and he deserves
all the credit that belongs to a man who
has made two laughs grow where only
one grew before"