Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-03
1HE nights were filed with mu-
sic. Ragtime rippled; marches
were dealt forth in ponderous
rhYthmS. the waltz song glided

. rhythmS, the waltz song silueu
its way through mazes of or
chestral establishment, and even the old
time topical ditty was revived. Yet the
public, while substantially appreciative,
did not stampede the box offices in &c
stasies of enthusiasm. The season Is yet
young for the development of a furore
of theater going. and with so much mu-
sic and farce all In a single week even
the liberal patronage that always awaits
this style of amusement had to be d.
vided up and spread more or less thinly.
1t was interesting to see Blanche Ring
! I'm a new piece-a piece in which her
stellar right to the center of the stage
is undisputed. Ordinarily liking for
the center of the stage implies a certain
self-assertion, a determination to get on
regardless of the rights or feelings of
others. 1t is not with Miss Ring.
She does not seek the center of the
stage. Disregarding the laws of physics,
IL rises up and runs after her. Even
when she dons the costume of a chorister
and presents herself as the satellite of
another player the center of the stage
is there on her trail and overtakes her
just as the audience says with chuckle:
It's Blanche Ring. Ha, ha! She
couldn't fool u.s.
The joyously good-natured personality
OF this actress carries the chief burden
of responsibility In The Yankee Girl"
This is the second piece with a Yankee
title that has visited Washington in the
short space of time the theaters have
been open for the regular season. Pa
triotism is coming in for an especial
share of consideration at the hands of
the musical writer's. 1t Is a glorious
tribute to our institutions, this practical
assurance that George Cohan did not use
the American flag up completely that
there was nothing left for George Hobart
to do with It, Patriotism is on the ton
wave of theatric favor. 1t is no longer
the last refuge of a scared dramatist
Yet 1t Is more or less protection. Be
the plot what it will and the dialogue
what 1t may. when Blanche Ring wraps
herself In the Stars and Stripes, let any
dramatic critic shoot If he dare!
If The Yankee Girl does not deyelop
into brilliant record-breaking enter
tainment it will not be for lack of
expert attention. No less distinguished
manufacturers of fun than Lew Fields
been giving it personal considera
ton during the Washington engagement.
1t Is seldom that a musical play energies
complete from its first performance. HUI
NOR Is subtle affair. and a light touch
here and there may make all the differ
ence- The organization has an advantage
in the musical directorship of William I.o
raine, who has given practical and con-
vincing proof of his expe. tness, no. only
In interpreting, but in composing, music
that appeals to the universal ear His in
ter7nezzo, "Sa.ome.'' was hit long be-
fore the theme from which i: takes It's
title provided material for the pets,
operate comp sers and dancers, who have
worn 1t threadbare. Lordine's "Salome"
was an unpretentious composition, yet ir-
resistible In it's popular appeal. 1t is to
the composers credit, though not to his
profit, that 1t did not inspire any of the
contortionate extravagances which dan
GERS have audaciously promoted under a
similar title.
The Ziegfeld annual review has come
to be an annual institution like the Fourth
of July. 1t is creation of hurrah with
a basis of current satire which becomes
more stable in quality from season to sea-
son. Harry b. Smiths travesties on peo-
pie and events show an intelligent grasp
of current matters that is sadly rare
among the people who contribute to the
stage And it is doubtful whether the
pungent burlesques introduced by the
libretist are as much appreciated as the
knockabou turn with the scarecrow or
the ball game, in which the audience is
willy-nilly a participant.
Eva Tanguay Is the live wire of the
production. In the little nursery sketch.
In which she tmpersonates boy, with
that marvellous dancer, Bessie Clayton.
the animated powder puff assuming the
role of the little girl. Miss Tanguay dem
onstrates that she has ability of the more
substantial kind. Her songs elsewhere
are trifie too biographical. Miss Tan
quay seems threatened with exaggerated
ego.
There was the Monday night rush to
see THE Girl From Rector's." which US
taIly occurs when a show of particular
Improperly is heralded T he Columbia
Teeater frankly took its patronage into
confidence and left no opportunity for
auditors to be Unexpectedly shocked. The
advance notices very clearly indicated the
Internationally of the subject, we'll
as the audacity not to say impudence.
with which it was discussed. Much OBJ
jectionable material was removed. but
there was still enough at the close Of the
engagement to ontent the epicures who
enjoy theatrical limburger.
PHILANDER JOHNSON.
s'fLOUIS MANN'S PLAY.-The story OF
.d'-The Man Who Stood STILL" the play in
which Mr.. Louis Mann is starring, and In
which he will come to the Columbia The
alter during the week of October %, is
ncentered about the character of John
-gKrauss. He is product of Switzerland
VINO comes to this country and as a
matchmaker makes fine reputation. But
with the growth of other methods Of work
such as the replacing of the former crafts
man idea with that of the factory, krauss
Lays behind in business. Krauss feels that
whatever was done in his fathers day is
good enough in the present. His daughter
Marie is product OF the new civilization
chat he cannot understand. Therein comes
Tfhe conflict. In spite Of the difficulty the
author has found way of reconciling
father and daughter.
SCENERY IN VAUDEVILI1E-"Brea
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