Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-03

the summer.
/ GUY STANDINGS SUPPORT.-Many
tavorites with Washington audiences are
Included in tine stock company which is
10 support Guy Standing during his spe-
fial season at the Belasco. Mr. Standing
has established himself firmly in the ia
Hor of Washingtonians by his two former
-easons at the head of his own stock
,ompany in this city. 1t was this it Is
aid. that caused Mr.. Standing to decline
IN offer from Daniel Frohman to star in
The Thief on the Pacific coast this
GUNNER in order to fulfill his engagement
1T the Belasco Miss Dorothy Hammond
beautiful young English actress, will
gain be seen as the Belasco stars lead
ing woman. and she is pleasantly remem-
hered for her work in the same capacity
when Mr.. Standing last appeared here in
tocko Martin Sabine. who should prove
IN excellent foil for Mr.. Standing. as both
ctors are of the same height-SiX feet
hree inches-is young EngliShman who
as been prominent in many important
London productions and has appeared on
This side of the ocean with several OF
lie most popular American stars. Alfred
hudson. ST., comedian of the new or
canizaton. has appeared with almost
very popular player in the last decade
from Sol Smith Russell down to War
relds triumphal tour in THE Music Mas
was seen here last summer. is shortly to
ppear in the same play with the father.
= lice Butler has appeared oftener in
Washington. perhaps. than any other
member of the company, and she enjoys
an unrivaled local popularity. Frank
C-aven an able young character. come
e an. and Miss Vira Stowe, a young Bos-
tonan. who will take the ingenue parts
are both newcomers in summer stock
work in this city.
Two Washington youths are included
anong the players who will support Mr..
landing. They are Herbert Parker. who
Ill be assistant stage manager at the
elasco throughout the season, and who
As just concluded successful engage
ient with Eugene Blair. and Samuel
lawans, who appeared in the cast of
The Three of Us one of the most sue
g sSful American plays of the past decade
10th actors were seen here last summer
ih support of Miss Charlotte Walker Roy
alrchl1d, who appears in The Mummy
md the Humming Bird as the leading
Juvenile. is said to be d favorite in Chi
dsigo and other western cities.
THE VALUE OF THE PROLOGUE
In no play is the value of the prologue
more apparent than in the stage version
a. The Prisoner of Zenda.'' With few
notable exceptions the prologue has fallen
into desuetude in the modern drama but
centuries ago in England and France the
Prologue was as much the thing as the
Fay itself. Before the play was produced
in London and New York in the late nine
ties certain critics suggested that the pro-
L que really added little to the effective
ness OF the story told on the stage
and might be omitted. But the authors
I'D managers did not think SO. and the
look continues to be followed In this re-
:, ect until today. The success of the
ige version with the prologue corrobo-
lated their judgment. The prologue of
L. Prisoner of Zenda" is spirited and
" nets the appetite of the audience for
tat follows. In this prologue the love
aiiair of Prince Rudolf of Ruritania with
lie wife of the English Earl of Rassen-
dNll is discovered by. her husband, and
tts prologue is closed with a duel between
ths lover and the Infatuated husband. The
70 Rod of the play proper is 1894. in Ruri-
IL 1ia, but that of the prologue is 1873, the
scene a room in the house of the Earl of
Rissendyl. The reproduction of an apart
ment in a splendid mansion of those days
- perfect-the massive. old-fashioned fur
lure. the dim and Anticipated portraits
Oh the walls. the quaint old sideboards,
hs CONS and gobletS and the open fire.
TIe candles are lighted and the move
ment of the persons in the gold-laced
@ ats and knee breeches. with swords and
wigs and patches-the suppressed excite
ent and suggestion of intrigue and mys-
ttry-arouses Immediately the interest of
ary pAygoer. These considerations all
ow the value, after all. of the. prologue
I'd why il has been wisely retained in
/. play. The age of the prologue in the
Wprld's drama is indeterminate. but Mr..
II ,ckett recently received from friend
:! London a copy of a prologue which
s used TO introduce the first English
eaking woman who played a part on
tie English-speaking stage. The play
s tragedy called The Moor of Ven
g. and it was produced Saturday. De-
4" nber $. 1850. at the Veer Street Thea
:, Clare Market, London. The woman
o played DesdemOna was Mrs. Hughes,
10 was afterward taken from the stage
:; Prince Ruperts Their daughter was
-erward married to Lieut.. Gen. Howe,
father of Gen. Howe of revolutionary
ne. This amusing old prologue begins:
came unknown to any OF. the rest.
tell the news saw lady drest-
he woman plays today. Mistake me not
man in gown. no page in petticoats:
woman to my knowledge Hearts of flint
i'll melt in passion when woman's int.
-"RIBUTE. OF OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
k OHara played Dion ODare" at
= Blaney's Lincoln Square Theater, in
Wv York. in the early part of the sea-
ao',. an old Irish lady. who was in one of
~. boxes. asked IL she could meet Mr..
Q lara after the performance Her re-
=. st was readily granted. and. much to
embarrassment and surprise, she
{ sw her arms about his neck and said
IRE, you are broth of a boy, and I
T. Id close me eyes and think l was
ne in dear ould Ireland again." She
- i that she was born five miles from
g )are's tavern. the scene OF the first
IA: and that the scene was a faithful
y reduction. Nothing more was thought
Ell the matter by either Mr.. OHara or