Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-21

has rewarded their efforts in CIV
ing to Washington this summer
~ the splendid repertoire of standard
operas at the New National The
alter. the Messrs. Milton and Sargent Aborn
have announced their intention of allow
ing the opera patrons an opportunity to Sc
lect the compositions to be presented DUR
ing the month of August. AS 1t now STANDS
there are some eight or ten operas under
consideration for presentation during next
month out of which, of course. only four
can be presented 1t will. therefore, be en-
tirely up to the music lovers OF washington
lust which of the ten shall be given curing
the closing weeks Of the opera season.
Through a special arrangement effected
by the management patrons of the opera
season at the New National Will De per
mitted to cast their votes for their ravorite
compositions. Voting blanks are to be Is
sued naming the ten operas under consld-
Grafton and each blank that Is returned.
properly marked. will count as one vote
toward the selection of the opera or operas
named thereon.
Aborn Opera Company has named the com
plete repertoire out of which the offerings
for August will be selected. The complete
warden" THE Wizard of the Nile" Mar.
tina" The Black Hussar." Dorothy,
an Trovatore.' Pirates of Penzance'
..Maritana." Carmen and Patience.
with a series OF opera pitSth1tbictA' -
lected by popular vote the summer season
at the New National should close in a blaze
OF glory. 1t has been. In many respects,
a phenomenal season as whoie, with not
a single week yet registered Wheh tne "a. az
tendence has shown definite signs OF fall
ing off or where the interest has ceased
TO remain at the very top notch or enthusl-
asm That the Aborn management mas Deen
willing to rest the balance of their success
full season in the hands of their patrons Is
a distinct compliment to the judgment or
Washington music lovers and playgoers in
general
Miss Charlotte Walker opened her season
at the Belasco Theater last Monday night
before a capacity audience, and throughout
the week the attendance for "A Dolls
House has been very large. In fact, the
past week at the BelascO has been phe-
nomenal in several respects. First of all. 1t
was the first time an lbsen play had ever
been played by stock company; secondly
It proved that the public at large appre-
ciates and admires Ibsen, and that he ts
not the so-called fad OF long-haired men
and short-haired women that some folks
would have you believe; thirdly. Miss
Walkers production OF "A Dolls House"
shattered all traditions about Washington
as a theatrical town in the dog days 1t
proved COnCluSiVely that when theater
offers an attractive star like Miss Walker in
a play the people want to see they Will
go to the theater no matter what the tenn
perature may be.
Miss Walkers triumph as Nora was all
the greater because of the fact that nearly
every one predicted the direst failure, from
a business standpoint. Every actor in the
Relasco stock company predicted that the
play would not draw. Most of them packed
their trunks, believing the management had
gone drama mad and that the season would
end ingloriously. a great many other peo-
pie in Washington. too. believed that mid
sum rrer madness had afflicted Miss Walkers
manager. Mr.. Will A. Page. in daring to
,Nf1,xE a.N,Rfi arn yth Av in nit
summer But results have proven that Mr..
Page was right and the actors We're wrong,
for IL is said. the past week was the most
profitable financially the Beiasco mas known
the entire summer.
As special feature OF the presentation
o, Fra Diavolo" at the New National
Theater this week the famous sextet from
Donizetti's grand opera, Lucia Di Hammer
moor" will be rendered at the close OF the
second act The Interpretation of this beau
tiiul classic masterpiece has been intrusted
to the principal singers of the Aborn COM
pany including E,stelie Wentworth. Tile
Salllnger. Edith Bradford. Harry Luck
stone. Harold Blake. Phil Branson and
Robert Lett. Mr.. Lett and Mr.. Luckstone
will alternate throughout the week in the
singing OF their portion OF the seXtet. The
Messrs. Aborn have explained that this
novelty has been requested since the open-
ing OF the summer opera season here but
that a deficiency in not having a sufficient
number OF voices 10 give II q worthy inter-
probation has been the of the post-
ponement.
The management Of the BelasCo Theater
announces unique contest for the current
week which will no doubt excite the ad-
mirers of Charlotte Walker to unusual ex-
ert.ou in the hope OF winning one of the
prizes offered. The announcement IS made
that 10 the person who submits the great
est number OF words from the letters in the
title of "A Bunch of Violets." the current
Offering at the Belasco this week a box at
the Belasco Theater will he given for the
succeeding attraction. To the person send
Ing in the next longest list of words an au-
tographed photograph of Charlotte Walker
will be given. and TO the third, fourth and
fifth persons sending in the next longest list
two seats for any performance the follow
ing week will be given. All such lists must
be sent by mail 10 l. Stoddard Taylor care
the Belasco Theater, and one OF the condi-
tons OF the contest is that seat coupon
for some performance of "A Bunch of Vio-
let's must be pinned or pasted to the list
The contest will be open all the week. and
the winners will be notified q week from to-
morrow.