The Washington times., 1908-05-10

round, but its variety IS eNeEn-
pIhed according TO the weather.
mus. the regular theatrical season Is
fDegun by September's fall rush and
hoed by Mays hurly-burly OF moving
tHhe. But tho ends are cuaxed together
oy all sorts OF long runs. the lower
priced shows. roof gardens in hot weeks.
beasiGe spectacularities. the unccasins
vaudeville activity. belated openings in
SpTlng. early adventures in the autumn.
Hhe'e Is mighty eagerness TO reach
AHo hold the public-to acquire its dol
iars- With perhaps three times rs many
actors as are needed. and a reTlarka BILE
corps OF producers, the quantity and
uninterrupted flow OF industry Of the
iAheatrical happenings are assured.
Is only at such breathing points rs
the present week that we can sense the
Eteaiiy greatest and basic interest Of the
Shtire dramatic theme in this country
q" heh TIE more pretentious PLAYS are
sDrouSht up for trial on the boards dur
ishs the regular season. we see the sur
Eaoe' and the rush, and the running Of
fne race. We know and chronicle the
1eSuits Money. fame. are made. or not.
part is advanced. or appreciated. or not
r-frequently not But the witching hour
retrospect. and possibly introspection;
ipf analysis, and counting Up the spoils.
90 devastation. perhaps; the cataloguing
sDf artists. people, efforts. personalities
tpians. etc; the sympathetic mingiing
5of kindred souls who are striving, strus
Shng; now begins 10 perIneate the at
nlosphere Of the Great White Way.
Hot Weather Preparations Begin.
Although the vast floating population
an'iNed with the metropolitan thrOnE
NJ -
sfitude IN the city is larger in summer
4ime than during the winter months
s1here is a realization that there mus,
Zoe at least malce-believe OF q formal
beginning Of another theatrical year;
and now IS the first Of a series Of weeks
when the inside preparations go on
properly to open that year. Meanwhile.
the army Of people who have their
greatest harvest around here in summer
lE,re making ready for appropriatng the
1argess.
I think I perceive helghtenlng Of the
Aslert in all commercial arbiters Of the
Theatrical game They become more
previous IN their endeavors from year 10
year. There are. even now. many per
iIected plans for the summer. The roof
gardens are to TEEN with especially
FURNISHED effulgence and vulgarity.
COney Island is 20 scintlllate as never
before. Although the bigger theaters
which have been sore pressed 70 gain
Sufficient patronage, are closing early,
there never were so many enterprises
under discussion Cohau IS to have a
new thcater soon Maxine Elliott Is 10
have one named for her. The small
priced houses are all going headlong in
a steady, unceasing roar OF weekly bill
nar rorrfr0
steadily at the first-ciass houses are
retained indefinitely. beacuse Of their
intrinsic merits.
Popular Price Grand Opera.
One Of tire best moves l have seen
sn long time among the theaters is
the effort OF Ivan Abramson, with his
Italian company. to essay grand opera
at the American thcaJer. JinEo, and
likewise. burrah. You should go there
and sec and hear. The braves OF the
.nelodraEla crowd. the temperamental
enthusiasm Of the thronC. would swell
your soul. Right here let me record
that Aida" Lucia. '''Trglviata. %
.:-Trovatore, "Faust''-you know. all
distinctly within the schedule or
The Icgitimately ''grand'-in real
ftty the soaring. sweetest. most
inspiring music humanity may hear
-3rc sung there at that pop
ular" theatcr. AT prices ranging from
p cents 10 81. letting in the school
m3rms. the clerks. the truly music-lov-
ing masses. a-Iieuccs the like Of which
for earnest appreciation. sound interest
md eagerncss OF attention. I have not
seen this winter. There are Il few voices
i1 the company that are quite I'D 10
the standards Of the two bis opera
houses OF fashion. The orchestra is
thoroughly good. well balanced. and
competent. The conductor. N. Forna-
RI is slick and sure as a master. The
whole cast Is ft.
Verdi Douizetti. and Gourod would
have glowed at the way their dulcet
strains were rendered. There vas moth
ing 10 be ashamed or auyunere. There
Is much TO be said in approval Of this
popular presentation Of the great lyric
operas The especially interesting point
TO bs mentioned is the fact of the i'm
mense crush of attendance The many
now may go and hear. AZ moderate
rates. the splendid music that little
while ago cost several dollars al the
Metropolitan or the Maaaattan. The
people appreciate it, and II IS worth
q years growth TO see the excited seq
OF faces. The aristocracy of our local
Italy was there in the boxes with dia-
monds as bis as hens eggs i'm their
ears and elsewhere I'll wager there
isn't a better entertained or more per
fectly satisfied aggregation Of human
beings on the American Continent than
these American theater audiences OF the
present week I is an imuicrSC Mace.
ana holds 4 multitude. There is nothing
10 suggest remotely the blase about
those audiences. and that Is relief.
They applaud like an electric shock. and
stin they are perfectly well behaved
and there is a sprinkling or evening
dress.
MISS BUTLER RETURNS.