The Washington herald., 1908-03-12

by Charles Ram Kennedy. entitled The
Servant In the House" which Washing
ton playgoers are 10 see for the first
time az the Belasco Theater next week, /
and there can be no doubt as 10 the excel
lence Of the cast OF players who are TO
present IL Seldom. indeed. has any play
the advantage Of such a galaxy Of recog- /
nized footlight experts as Henry Miller
has provided IN this company Of associ- |
ated players Edith Wynne Matthlson,
Of ''EverymaR" fame: Mabel Moore. an
English actress who has come 70 America
for the first time: Walter Hampden. Ty-
zone Power. Galway Herbert. Charles Dal-
ton. and Arthur Lewis constitute IN them
selves a magnet OF interest sufficient 10
draw large audiences 20 the Belasco- The
play is declared 10 be fully worthy OF
this personnel Of players. and Mr. Miller
himself regards it as the finest play that
has come 70 his notice as a manager and
producer. In Baltimore il has been praised
as a remarkable play" and It is 20 be
taken. after Washington. 10 New York
City The piece Is original in treatment,
it's five acts being really consecutive in
action, the rise and fall Of the curtain
not interfering az al. il Is said, with the
sequence Of events and dialogue itself.
The theme OF the play IS that Of human
brotherhood. and the dramatic story cen
tiers around three brothers. who arr
.estranged and unknown 20 each other.
while the motherless daughter Of one OF
them becomes the central figure OF q
bitter conflict Of personalities
John Drew comes 70 the New National
next week in his successful comedy. my
Wife" which made a hit cartier in the
season at the Empire Theater. New
York. where it ran for four months 20
crowded houses. Mr.. Drew has appeared
IN Washington In many plays. but MY
Wife" has afforded him the finest oppor-
tunities for his art. The charm and
beauty OF the comedy itself, which IS an
adaptation OF the celebrated French play
'-JOsette, Ma Femme" has made an IN
usually powerful appeal to the public.
The plot is one OF daring, setting forth
the rather unique situation Of a girl offer
ing herself 10 a man as temporary wife
Ia order that She might avoid marrying
the man she does not love. and for the
purpose Of securing her from his atten-
tiOns until she can marry the man OF her
to, and the complications that arise
thereafter are sufficiently amusing. and
at times serious. 70 give an evenings en-
teTtainment that would be difficult TO i'm
prove upon. Mr.. Drew appears as Gerald
Eversleigh the temporary husband, and
Miss Billie Burke is cast for the role
OF Trixie DUpre. the girl with the cOmpli-
Gated love affairs Charles FrOhman has
provided the star with an exceptionally
good company. which includes. IN addi-
tiOn 10 Miss Burke. Ferdinand Gottschalk
Walter Soldering. Morton Selten. Albert
Roccardi Mario Majeroni. Rex AfcDougalI
Frank Goldsmith. Dorothy Tenant. Ida
Greeley Smith. Mrs. Kate PattisOn Selten
Hope Latham. Miss May Gayler. and
others. NY Wife" is in four acts. and
the scenes in London. and on the Swiss
frontier have been given beautiful stag
ing by Mr.. Frohman.
Washington playgoers are to witness
next Monday night at the Columbia Thea
ter the first presentation on any stage of
The Travelling Salesman James Forbes
new comedy. in which Henry b. Harris
will present Thomas W. Ross Mr..
Forbes is the author Of "The Chorus
Lady" in which Rose StahI appeared
here earlier in the season. and. like his
characterization Of Patricia OBrien, he
has given 70 the new play in the travel
ing salesman one that is equally strong
and unique The cast supporting Mr..
Ross is an excellent one.
At Chase's. beginning next Monday
matinee. the popular polite vaudeville
theater viii present programme Of ex-
traordinary musical and mirthful features
which give the week festivals spect. and
which is expected 10 occasion an attend
ance breaking all past records of the
house. the attractions comprising Nine.
Zelie de Lussan, Genaro's Venetian Con
dolier Band, Phyllis Rankin and Harry
Davenport, Charles Leonard Fletcher.
Mr.. and Mrs. Jimmie Barry and Com
pany, Emil Subers. Mile. Chester's $4,000
Statue Dog. and the nerve-stirring mo-
ton pictures, THE Last Cartridge"
Nine. de Lussan is eclipsing all other
vaudeville attractions now. The music
loving votaries of vaudeville have capitl-
lated en- masse. Not in years past has
another headline feature won such wide
spread. unanimous appreciation Her
fame rests upon her performance of
Carmen" IN which role she ranks as
the greatest grand opera interpreter OF
the part. Genaro. the director of the
Venetian Gondolier Band is more gyra-
tory than Creatore. but ii is said he ex-
erts wonderful artistic control over his
men. and makes them play entrancingly.
The smart little comedy sketch The
Goddess" viii enroll Phyllis Rankin and
Harry Davenport, former Frohman stars.
Charles Leonard Fletcher will be a fine
feature IN can Evening with Richard
Mansfield" Prices win not be raised.
An entirely new version OF Hanlon
Brothers popular pantomime, ''Superba,'
will be seen at the New Academy. week
beginning Monday. March 16. with matt
nees Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday
All summer at the Hanlon studio at
Cohasset. Mass. the work OF building this
production has been In progress. and the
complete scenic investure and mechanical
features wiz hl two sixty-foot baggage