Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-17
lANE3 K hAcKETIT IT,, y :, ~. Hono,

at Carnegie Hall, New York. and other
temples of music and at private musical
functions. Her American debut in grand
opera was made with the Royal Italian
Opera Company, and the critics OF the
New York press received her as warmly
did those OF Paris and London Pos
sessing a wonderful cooratura soprano
of great range. fexibility. execution and
tonal precision. Miss Barnato excels in
those roles which require brilliant flights
and cadenzas in the upper register. In
other toles. too. her remarka bic dramatic
power has been shown. AS a linguist
she is also remarkably accomplished,
singing and speaking In Italian. German,
French and English luently and cor
re city
GEORGE GASTON.-Of the actors who
appear in this city in the course Of a
season none, perhaps. has wider
quantance among local playgoers or has
been more times before a Washington
audience than the veteran Georg. Gas
ton. who returns TO tn" Belasco Theater
tomorrow night Prof. Moriarty i'll tie
support of Guy Standing in Sherlock
Holmes Even in those early days
said Mr.. CASTOR in speaking of his ex-
perienccs. washington was what the
managers called good show town
When | first came here the most promi
ne ut theatrical organization was the stock
company then conducted by Jack Saville.
which was one of the leading American
companies of its kind in its time. Ed
ward Thorne. the leading man. was the
hero of the hour and he remained at the
head of the company for several seasons.
Conditions. of course differed very rad
ically In those days from methods now
prevailing iii tn. amusement world. The
present system of stars had not then
even been dreamed of and there wcra but
few travelling companies. so that in all
of the Larger cities the public depended
on a resident company of players for its
entertainment. The players | appeared
with were actors of great experience. who
ranked among the foremost of their pro-
fession, and many a famous production
was made here in those days. Washing
ton was then just beginning to grow into
the metropolis il has since become and
although 1t was rather difficult to reach
the theater, because few streets outside
the center of the city were paved, our
seasons were usually successful. One
week was rather long period to devote
To any one play at that time and our bill
was often changed three and four times
In week. One piece produced then
"Rosedale." became so popular that II
was played for a fortnight, which was
considered a record In those times"
During the past season Mr. CASTOR por-
trayed the bishop in Claiming Pollock's
play. In the Bishops Carriage" and
for the four previous years he was one of
the leading members of the company
headed by the English actor +. S. VIII
lard.
His experience has been an unusually
extensive one, and among theatrical man
ayers he has a reputation as being one
of the most competent stock actors that
can be secured. Mr.. CASTOR hopes to find
time, during his present engagement in
Washington. to begin work on a book of
memoirs he has had in contemplation for
some time. 1nasmuch as he has acted
with every famous star from Booth. Bar
rctt. Charlotte Cushman and Adelaide
Nelson down 10 the present day popular
favorites. his recollection should prove a
valuable and interesting addition to stage
literature.
EUGENE COWLES.-There is hardly a
more popular idol among male comic OPP
era stars today than Eugene Cowles, the
much lionized American basso. whose
very name on the program has aided Won
derfully In bringing success to numerous
productions that exploited a stellar name
in larger type than his since he left the
Bostonians years ago. Mr.. Cowles began
as Very young man with that long IA
nous and now disbanded organization
when il was the leading repertoire opera
combination in this country. their list of
operas covering wide variety from
light TO grand opera, with an occasional