Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-27
Music Master was a long time
In reaching Washington, out i.
struck with crash when IL
landed. The Importance or

In reaching w Washington, Jul -
struck with a crash when II
landed. The Importance OF
piece may be measured after
fashion by the extent to which 1t Is beins
burlesaued With commendable enterprise
the Lew Fields company revived its trav-
esty on the Warfeld play to follow the
engagement of the original. Some liked IL
others did not. That is to be expected WIN
trayesty Its sufficiency depends as much
on the receptivlty of the auditor as on .he
expression from the stage. In us msher
form 1t presupposes not only tahiiaii''
with but interest in the topic under huhor-
Gus discussion. The later forms as oe
yeIoped chiefly by Weber and Fields, nrst
Jointly and later severally, strive for a
broad comic effect which provokes iaush'
regardless of the satire. 1t Is funny 10 see
a cab horse lie down on the stage, regard
less of the somewhat finer suggestion that
he is doing so because of his disgust at go
ing to Alexandria. 1t is a multum In parvo
system which strives to reach all shades OF
Intelligence at a single stroke. But as In
the case of the old fashioned biunderbuss,
the shot is often so scattered that 1t hits
nothing worth mentioning.
There have been many indications of
demand for more substantial things in the
theater The same taste which calls TOT
more thoughtful dramatic material de-
mands that II be treated with intelligence
and skill. 1t thus happens that many pieces
with high pretentions fall but when one
does succeed it succeeds with colossal
splendor This demand for better things
applies not only to the condition which
gives to so serious a play, for instance, as
1.-The Duel welcome of two seasons. but
o1a hn line
humber realms of what is technically
known as burlesque.
The shows devised mainly for masculine
patronage, in houses where smoking and
drinking are permitted are losing much OF
the suggestive faint which have hitherto
permeated them. The suggestiveness has
not been wholly effaced; far from 1t. But
the greatest successes are the productions
which follow certain consistent lines and
aim at genuine merit.
One of the surprises of the season in New
York has been a show given under the title,
for many years familiar in burlesque houses,
Wine Woman and Song. Formerly the
production displayed under this title was
the conventional sort; a preliminary skit,
an "olio," as the series OF vaudeville acts Is
called. and at the close another skit. 1t is
a sort of whiteface and costumed develop
ment of the minstrel show which after ex-
hibiting the vocal ana dancing accomplish
ments of its various members called for
everybody on for the afterpiece." The pro-
prietor. a man named Thesis, decided to
arrange his entertainment in consecutive
and somewhat logical form, and made enc
of its features prolonged travesty of the
prominent legitimate successes. Its success
was wonderful. 1t crowded the Circle The
alter. which is near enough Broadway to be
within reach of the patronage most desired
by managers, and it started a man on the
road to fame who is absolutely unknown to
theater patronage here, outside the clientele
of the New Lyceum Theater. He is the He
brew impersonator, Alexander Carr. whose
that's enough has long been one of the
bywords of broad comedy. He gives an imi-
tation of Warield The Music Master
that is classic in its completeness. Grad
ually he is eliminating the purely comic eff
fects and making his work nearly legiti-
mate as possible. 1t is only a question of
time when he will be one of the stars in
character parts. like those of Louis Mann
or Sam Bernard:
The fire at the Academy of Music was
presaged by an incident last week which
might impress the superstitious. A man in
the balcony was seized with epieptic
fit and the occurrence aroused to action the
omnipresent fool who yells fire in
crowd. The audience was startled and for
an instant panic was threatened. But the
characteristic good sense of Washington
audiences asserted itself and the danger
was soon past
The failure of play is not ordinarily
matter for congratulation. but "Brigadier
Gerard is to be thanked for giving kyrle
Bellew a return ticket to Washington. "A
Marriage of Reason" sounds formidably
philosophic, but the name "Bellew'' always
carries with 1t a romantic promise that in
sures interest Anyhow, the new production
has secured the Endorsement of Hartford,
Conn. which. next to that of Scranton, Pa,
is considered of the most conclusive
evidences of artistic e--ellence that the
map can afford.
PHILANDER JOHNSON.