Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-10


Caesar and Cleopatra some sort
- of an explanation of why he does
not care for Shakespeare. Snakes
peare could never have written
play such as Mr.. Forbes Robertson pre-
scented at the New National Theater. That
fact alone would stamp him in the estlma-
ton of G. B. s., they call him In Lon
don, as distinctly inferior. Mr. SHAW mas
discovered a new school Of dramatic writ
ing. 1t Is neither tragedy, melodrama-
comedy farce nor burlesqne. Yet 1t ID
something Here is chance for the phi
lologist. The Shaw drama yearns for
name.
A humorous Caesar and a kittenish Cleo
patra represent the authors idea of human
izing his characters. Their speech Is much
that of the man who wears high hat and
smokes a briar pipe in London, and their
sentiments and emotions are but scantily
aroused. even by the taking of human life
They speak with neither colloquial candor
nor poetic grace. Yet they are interesting
and entertaining. because they are abrupt
and without conventional restraint of any
sort in what they say or do. 1t Is literary
curiosity. not play, this Caesar and Cleo
patra. something to be laughed at and dis
cussed. but not to be entrusted with q
cSS
are concerned. Such a man as Mr.. Shaw
portrays would have come much nearer
writing Joe Millcrs jest book than Caesars
commentaries.
With all its pathos and it's reckless trav-
esty Mr.. Robertson managed 10 invest the
character with personal dignity. His APP
plcation of his splendid powers to the
recitation of the lives of this play seemed
like a good-uatured condescension; deter
mination to let his author have a good
time. even if he insisted on being carried
on the actors shoulders. And it is harm
less enough creation, not calculated to dis
turb the previous impressions of the char
actors il assumes to portray.
Professional jealousy is a very deplorable
thing. and it was thoughtless of Mr.. Robert
son 10 include in his repertory Hamlet"
play written by Shaw's personal rival.
The public showed its pitiful indifference to
all that Shaw has taught by exhibiting a
distinct preference for the bard of Avon's
works. Analogies sometimes fail. live
e. Il. s. is not better than a dead W.
Shakespeare.
Representations of Klondike SHOWS We'd
with the genuine article out of doors when
The Spoilers was performed at the CO.
orally TO the effect that it presents melo-
dramatic possibilities, but that some such
characters as are indicated by the title
managed to intervene. The Spoilers is not
good name for a play, anyhow.
Washington proceeded to demonstrate that
1t need not wait entirely upon the COM
plaisance Of Conried or Hammerstein. And
If the engagement did not reveal such
Unl1 x-iac 6
grams of those impressiarios. it was to be
applauded for not menacing society with
any Caruso incidents or "Salome'' discus
sionss The engagement revealed much that
was meritCiiOus.
What a refuge for discomfort the vaude-
Ni.les are becoming. y little while ago Miss
Emma Janvier quarreled with her manager,
and forsooth The Spring Chicken In
less than a fortnight she was back in the
city delivering her monologue at Chase's
Theaer Katie Barrie, who was so merci-
lessly disapproved in musical comedy, has
been Haunting her trouserets in gleeful Sc
curity before multitudnous patrons of the
polite
There is much stage history suggested in
the benefit performances recently an
nounced. The Barne bee Mcdonald benefit
was SAD reminder of departed glories.
We did not realize for a long time" Bar
nabee once said what piece of property
We had in Robin Hood" And not having
recognized this 1t was hardly TO be wonder.
ed at that they CROPPED uncertainty IN en-
deavoring 10 find another The people are
generous to its Old-time favorites and often
takes occasion to disprove the frequent as
sertion that the American public is forget
ful OF those who amuse it. Frank c. Bangs
an actor whose name at one time stood in
type side by side with those of Booth and
Barrett, is to have a benefit. An actor of
the old school, he represents a phase of
dramatic Interpretation for which produc-
lions of the modern school have all too
little need. The benefit to him will occur
on February 10 at the Casino Theater To-
night benefit performance will be given
at the Majestic Theater, in New York, for
Edward f. Rice. You know the name Rice
Evangeiine THE Surprise Party'-Dixey
as the hind legs of the dancing heifer-the
lone fisherman and all the rest of the celeb
rifles whom this greater exploiter OF ex-
traVaganza introduced. Surely YOU have
heard tell of them II you have not seen
them And now, benefit. SO passes the
glory Of the theatrical world.
PHILANDER JOHNSON.
STARTED AS A CALL BOY-'Way back
In the palmy day OF