The Washington herald., 1907-03-03

at NOvelli. universally acclaimed a great
actor, whom he has never seen, normally
might call FOR an explanation. But there
are some whose esteem 81 native art IS
so great that they prefer the music Of
George cohan 10 that OF Puccini.
Apropos Of which. the following anec-
dote of a struggling young composer who
had been YEARLY going from manager TO
naalager with his manuscript under his
arm reading the librctto. playing his
music, and appealing 70 minds that could
not understand, ears that would not hear,
and souls incapable Of appreciation. Tn
interested critics said the work was clev-
er. but no manager would produce it.
Last week he got an opportunity 10
submit his work 10 a certain firm OF
well-kn0wn managers who deal IN wares
such as comic operas and musical COM
edies.
I'll play the music OF the first act" he
said to the representative Of the firm. sit
ting down at the piano ana filling the
office with luscious strains for a matter OF
half an hour or so, when he paused 70
ask:
We'll. what DO you think OF it?"
The manager, who had stood the ordeal
with something of the endurance Of the
Spartan lad who had his vitals eaten out
by a concealed fox under his shirt, twist
ed bis face into wry expression and re-
marked with that delightful candor for
which New York play readers are ia
nous:
No good No good 'Twon't do at all
It's the poorest thing 7 ever listened To-"
NO good eh?" gr0wled the composer;
mo good. eh?" That was the second act
Of The Pirates Of Penzance' by Sullivan;
but I knew you wouldn't detect the diff
ference."
The long-heralded Claiming Pollock
play, In the Bishops Carriage" was
presented at the Grand Opera House here
for the first time Monday evening.
Whether my curiosity was overstimu-
lated by the loud reclame which has been
made in behalf OF the piece, OF whether
1t was intrinsically a weak play. the per-
Torrance fell short of realizing my eX-
pectatiOns, and in spite of the good no.
tees which 1t received Il is structurally
a mere string Of episodes with hardly
any subtlety and little psychological pene-
tratiOn-a rechauffe OF Leah kleshua.'
peopled with familiar types from over
familiar thrillers. ! say structurally;
l might have said teclrlcatlHr Tor "a
spite Of its manifest artihclality the rec
lamatiOn Of a girl thief strikes a chord
of human sympathy that makes one sit
the play out with interest. Something Of
the not wholly favOrite impression may
have been due. moreover, TO inadequate
acting
At the Majestic this week The Rose OF
the Alhambra" Is succeeded By ION Pa
role" which had its birth In Washing
ton last autumn. The opening was not
favorably commented upon by the papers
II was a case, as one actor, who has had
/ experience IN such things, well said, OF
too long on the road-nOw for a good
| performance Both Charlotte Walker
and Vincent Serrano in the leading roles
OvoTacted, and as one writer expressed
| il. Miss Walker was trying 10 play Lady
| Macbeth and Mr.. Serrano, Hamlet.
When I saw the performance on Tues
/ day night, the normal condition had been
restored. and both were doing excellent
work Miss Walker being as winsOme as
ever, and Serrano carrying the romantic
role OF the young Union officer with con-
siderable eclat The pice is interesting.
without being strong, and il seemed 70 me
that some rare opportunities had been
( overlooked by the playwright TO intensity
/ the suspense and increase the interest in
I the issue. FRED T. sCHRADEK.