The Washington herald., 1908-03-15

in spite Of 4 bad performance Of this Rus
sian drama. for Sothe-n lacked the
warmth and sympathy which the role Of
ROdiOn, the student requires and his
support was miserable. except that given
him by Adolph Lestina. as Bezak. the in
vestigating magistrate. This actor. who
plays Asa Treuchard. Jefferson's old part.
In Lord Dundreary," came strongly 20
the fore in the role Of the Russian Sher-
lock Holmes, and in the re-enactment OF
the murder OF GromOff with Rodion made
FAR toward developing the strong climax
Of the fourth act II is a tribute 10 Soth-
ern's good sense and artistic purposes. TO
yield such prominence 10 a member Of
the cast. and IL rounded out the whole
performance.
The attraction to follow Nine Ko-
misarzhevslJy AT DaIy's week after next
will be Clyde Fitch's comedy OF Girls.
which opened its season al the Belasco
Theater. Washington. last Monday night
and has been highly praised by the critics
Of the National Capital II IS a humor-
ousiy handled argument Of the eternal
question. woman, and deals with four
girls who locate in New York with a
solemn agreement 10 live Independently
Of man
The Bijou. since the withdrawal OF The
Rectors Garden" has been closed. II
viii be reopened this week with a pro-
duction OF Ibsen's Loves Comedy" u
satire in rhymed verse. in which Grace
ElllstOn viii appear. One Of the parts
was offered TO Henry Z. Dixey, but the
comedian received extraordinary induce
ments 10 resume his vaudeville engage
ments in new sketch. IN which he will
have the support Of Miss Nordstrom, and
declined a liberal offer
A controversy has been precfpItated over
the play which is again bringing to the
front Hilda Englund. the Scandinavian
actress. who appeared in he original cast
or Peer Gynt in Norway, and whose
incisive criticism ~ the late Richard
Mansfield during his engagement in Ib-
sens play here excited considerable at
teution. Miss Englund declares that she
originated the idea OF producing Ibsen- s
comedy, and was given the part which
Miss Elliston is 10 play and even re-
hearsed Il for some time. She charges
that Miss Elliston was smuggled into the
theater during the rehearsaIs by the man
agement In order 70 copy her business.
and when the Scandinavian actress had
almost completed the directing OF the
play she was unceremoniously dismissed
and her part given 70 Miss Eiiiston.
Frank keenan,. who Is one Of the most
Intellectual actors we have. and whose
work in The Warrens Of virginia VIII
lam Winter compares 10 the best work OF
the old-timers OF the American stage. re-
Gently started an interesting discussion
by an informal talk before the PIaygoers-
Association at the Hotel Astor in declar-
ing that the American people are in
capable OF enjoying tragic plays because
they are not really happy people Their
merriment. he said. is on the surface. and
is not the spontaneous expression OF .
really contented and happy state OF heart
His remarks created much discussion and
were taken up editOriaUy by some OF The
papers IN an attempt tO refute his argu-
ment- But keenan, sticks 20 his guns and
has evidently given the play-lovi1R public
a new thought for digestion He is 70 D..
invited by Columbia University 10 elab-
crate his ideas IN a thesis. which nav
earn him degree.
The critics we're again ~ skies and sevens
over Mr., Sothern's performance OF Ro-
dion this week. and the management evi-
IDENTIFY With view to Illustrating a para
doX. prints in lis advertisements OF Soth-
ern's engagement. side by side. the opfn-
sons Of William Winter and Alan Dale
Winter says. Mr.. Sothern's presentmept
OF Rodion illustrates his ability and
heightens his reputation as an actor In
contrast TO this read what Alan Dale
said. and mark the intellectual tone Of
his view ''Rodion made up Ike a ROGUE
Tort cheese Meanwhile the manage
ment, after printing n schedule OF the ac-
tual curtain calls after each act. rang
ing from two to ten, announces extra
matinees and another extension OF Soth-
ems enga cement.
At the Hackett John Mason continues
20 play The Witching Hour 10 cspac-
ity audiences At the Stuyvesanr the
rush TO see Warfeid in The Nrsic Mas
ter" has been 50 great that two extra
maunees are announced, and AZ the As
tor Paid In Full" is verifying its name
at the box Office The Warrens Of Vir-
glnia Is playing % big business Al The
Belasco. and Otis skinner has come into
MS own at the Hudson. where he is play
ing 10 large audiences in THE Honor OF
the Family Al the Lyceum The Thief
continues its successful career. as does
Lew Fields in The Girl Behind the
Counter at the Herald Square. and
Genee in The Soul Kiss" al the New
York, Mabel Taiiaferro in Polly OF the
Circus at the Liberty. and crane in
Father and the Boys" at the Empire
The Waltz Dream is charming large
audiences at the Broadway and A
knight for a Day is holding on at Wal
lacks. as Is "The Talk of New York. al
the kniCkerbOcker. Miss Hook OF HoI-
land al the Criterion. and Twenty Days
in the Shade" al the Savoy.
These are all successes and tel a re-
markable tale OF prosperity in theatrical
affairs. Nat Goodwin leaves the Garrick
tonight and ~TOddles" IS announced 10
succeed him or Monday No other
changes Of Importance are underscored.
There has not been such q series OF sue
ceSSes in Gotham for several seasons.
and this ondition fortunately follows
upon a chain OF failures which marked
the best months Of the year Many of
the managers are recoUping themselves
handsomely FOR LOSSES incurred in the
fan and early winter.
FRED. +. SCHEADER.
Washington Girl.
SDeCisI interest atfacbe- - -. .----