Evening star., 1909-03-07

- T. course the real entertainment
the main tent-the big show
was out i'm the street-ffee OF
charge-a grand military spec
tacle with thrilling storm cf-
fccts.
But the theaters got their share of at
tention. Wisely, the directors OF MIS-
4rionic destinies refrained from present
ing for consideration at inauguration
time anything whose quality was not
duly tested. There was no call for critl-
cal wise wordness. The goods had all
been inspected and labeled genuine be-
fore they got here and there was nothing
TO do but enjoy the music and the dane
lag.
An engagement in Washington at this
particular time was a theatrical prize
The fortunate attractions were The
Merry Widow" whose card has been so
fu that she has only just found time IN
:hese two years TO give Washington
sa,tZ: Casey at the Bat" supported by
The Pied Piper and the Cohan ard
Harris mnstrels. The Academy of Music
celebrated the occasion with Jollity and
song. with Il new 'Bi1y IZZy' play as
bid for laughter. Chase's had specla!
program as its contribution to the ma
tionaj festivities. The New Lyceum had
an entertainment worthy of its long
established record as a home OF bur
leSque, and the various entertainments
which consist of an electric light display
the outside sufficient to compensate
for far less satisfying entertainment than
might be found within were greeting new
audiences fast as they could reel off
their programs, 1t was holiday week
i'll which all places of amusement played
important parts. And the prospect for
another week is scarcely less favorable.
AS the backwoods adage puts it, them
as has. gts.' Col Henry w. Savage
really didn't need the money. His the
atrical interests were originally only
side line anyhow, in connection with an
already prosperous real estate business.
But one success has trod upon anothers
heels and the continuation of theatriC
beatitude as beatitudes are estimated In
the box office, falls into his already
we'll filed basket. The Merry Widow
is, perhaps, the only attraction eXtant
that could hope for two weeks patron
age in Washington. It's profits are ex-
pressed in long rows of figures, and the
career of the merry little operetta is only
just begun.
DE Wolf Hopper. that big, playful boy.
that megatherian Peter Pan who abso-
lutely refuses to grow up. has in the
Pied Piper vehicle which claims the
utmost consideration as an original con-
ception. But originality is d difficult
commodity TO handle. An author hav-
vol, s-ir, ,ln "A hoc
much and is likely to find his resources
exhausted long before he can compete
with the writer vino delves through
serapbook and library. A little novelty
for seasoning is all that is demanded
nfe41t are dear To the audience. The
:reaIy clever ideas in the "Pied Piper
are indifferently worked out, and only
Hopper's romping with the kisldies can
De relied. on. The diminutive little worn-
afr who plays opposite to him is refresh
ing in her non-professional grace, and
the statuesque impersonator of Fa her
: Time is picturesque: but the remainder
] of the cast. though sometimes efficien,
! in laugh creation, is outside the idyllic
picture that the piece should be. The
scenery and costumes, though elaborate,
are lacking III artistic effect, and the
+: production falls back on the personal
popularity of the star He is sure of his
! welcome, the only comic opera come
dian who can really sing. and, in the
bargain, who can deliver humorous
line without faltering at words of more
than three syllablcs.
To see Raymond Hitchcock donning
the high hat of minstrelsy was some
thing of n surprise to his admirers. Mr.
Hitchcock should have d Carnegie med
al, or. better yet, good comedy
can be written a reward for his
heroism in stepping into the breach
caused by the illness of the chief mono
lOSue man of Conan * Harris minstrels.
IL Was a remarkable demons tration of
versatility, but fortunately not one like
j. to tempt Hitchcock TO permanently
abandon his more familiar and felicitous
methods of entertainment
PHILANDER JOHNSON
OLD ACTORS AND YOUNG.-The
student of things theatrical can readily