Evening star., 1909-05-16

The amusements al the leading theaters
during the past week. taken a whole,
were exceptionally good. and this de-
| spite the fact that at the New National
and the Columbia theaters summer prices
prevail. There was good summer opera
at the former and very excellent comedy
at the latter. The Beascos regular sea-
son is still on and grand opera held sway
during the week, drawing fair audiences
| although perhaps not good the
merits of the Madame Butterfly produc-
tion deserved.
Washingtons amusement patrons are as
a rule somewhat peculiar in their meth
DDS. They will not take many chances.
They are not given to exploring unknown
wilds and running the risk of being
''stung," to use a vulgarism that is ex-
pressive, If not elegant. But when they
are assured of a good thing they are very
generous in their patronage and not un-
generous in their criticism If they do
not like thing they simply stay away.
The Columbia Theater has been giving
its patrons class of plays and quality
of performances far in advance of the
| average summer stock company, and in
| some instances quite the equal in presen-
tation of those plays during the regular
season. New scenery has been specially
painted for each production and every
thing done within reason to provide alb
solutey first-class performances. No bet
ter leading woman has ever come to
Washington in a stock company than
Miss Julia Dean. who is really surprising
her warmest admirers in the excellence of
her work in plays made famous by Maude
Adams and Carlotta Nelson.
| AT the New National the Aborns have
provided a summer opera company that,
| notwithstanding little hitch now and
| then, is doing very good work. Its pre-
| sentation of Robin Hood was splendid
one. 1.-The Serenade,' by the same author
and composer. although less popular be-
cause of its own intrinsic merits. was also
| rendered with snap, vim and tone not
| to be denied. One cannot expect a man
agement to furnish grand opera stars at
| summer prices, but the Aborns in Helen
Bertram. FRITZ Won Busing, Howard
Chambers, Sabery d'Orsell. Forrest Huff
and John r. Phillips. with two such fine
comedians as George B. rockingham and
William Herman West are presenting
casts in their productions but seldom sur
| pa ssed in the lighter operas outside of
grand opera.
Madame Butterfly at the Belasco has
\ been a rare treat to those whose love of
musical and dramatic art extends beyond
| the pale of bare amusement. 1t was an ex-
| cellent production and splenddly pre-
! sented. The theme, of course. is not cal
culated to inspire joy or loose the springs
| of laughter. 1t is inexpressibly sad
| one because the conditions with which it
deals are inexpressibly bad. Nevertheless,
| since the great operate composers must
needs have a theme in which all the emo
| tons of the human heart are laid bare to
furnish the inspiration for their finer eff
| forts Madame Butterfly is neither
| worse nor better in it's story than the av-
erage grand opera of later days. 1t is
poetic just "The Darling of the Gods"
was poetic, and magnificent because it
| represents the best musical effort of a
great composer
| The attractions for the week beginning
| tomorrow should fare better than those
of the past two weeks because the public
is gradually becoming acquainted with the
fact that while summer prices prevail as a
rule the summer offerin;s represent a
value far above them.