The Washington herald., 1910-05-01


The New MISUNDERSTANDING of Aborn
Opera Company I'm "NIIIe. Mo-
diste.v
The COIumbin-The Columbia Play
ers IN "Brewster's Millions"
Chase's-POIite Vaudeville.
The AcRdemy-"Enst Lynne"
The CasinO-cOntinuous Vaudeville.
The Gayety-BurIesque.
The Observation-Disclosures.
Almost before We realized Il, the regu-
lar theater season. SO far as Washing
ton is concerned. came TO an abrupt
termination. Two OF the theaters have
announced stock seasons. beginning with
tomorrow evening-the Columbia Players
back at the scene of the long and sue
cessful run Of last summer. and the
Aborn Opera Company installed for a
limited period at the New National
These announcements make It seei3: as
though summer were here indeed and
yet at this time last year. the regular
attractions were still holding the boards
The Belasco holds forth the promise OF
the New Theater company for next week,
and after that the Ben Greet players for
an extended season, with possibly the
advent Of the Page Stock Company to
follow that; but beyond the New Theater
performances, the regular season Of 1909
10 is thing Of the past.
The season-speaklng OF it as whole
and not only from a local standpoint
events. First and foremost must be
placed the dedication Of the New Theater.
an institution which brought the stage I'm
America at a tremendous bound into an
artistic and dignihed being. Heretofore
productions for arts sake had been very
few. and such as were made were de-
sultory and for the most part &C
complshed little On a firm foundation
the New Theater exists. and while its
first year has being distinguished by no
extraordinary discovery in the way OF
actor. play or playwright, II has de-
veloped a wealth of experience. and has
been at all times beyond the reach OF
vihdctive criticism and petty jealousies.
Tho critics and the artistic and intelIi-
gent public have. at the end Of the New
Ineater'S first year, no fault 70 find with
its accomplishments; nor can they point
out where il has failed in its mission
in any important particular Such mis-
takes as have been made are those which
IN the launching Of an entirely new
venture, with the eyes OF the whole
civilized world upon ii. are trivial indeed
when compared with the great and last
nr~ rt-n hng
for the American stage.
The production OF Rostand's "Chan- |
tecler' ranks with one of the three i'm !
portant events of the season. Probably !
no play has been better advertised. nor
occupied so much space in the public /
print Not since the "Trilby" craze has |
there been anything like the public IN I
tercst in a literary production. That
America is to have a fine presentation /
Of this modern classic there is no Doubt 4
Mr.. Frohman will see to that: but
whether or not he is wise In choosing /
Maude Adams for the leading role re- /
mains a matter Of conjecture II would 4
be a splendid stroke if he would make /
the production at the New Theater and |
thus enjoy the benefits of an atmosphere (
1t will be impossible for him 10 have
elsewhere.
The Actors Fund has occupied the lime
light all winter, and tho elimination OF /
the extraordinary interest which This !
charity has aroused, will eliminate at /
the Fair TO be held I'm New York this /
month. Players everywhere are working /
hard Tor the success Of this enterprise /
and benefits have been held for the past
three months in all parts OF the country. /
that the fund might be swelIed. The
public Interest in this affair. Is a tribute /
in which the actors may well take pride /
as IL proves the affection and esteem /
they are held I'm by the countless tbous-
andS they have entertained Washington
in particular contributed over a thousand |
dollars at the benefit held at the National /
Iheater. 1t is 10 be depored in this
connection that some persons are using
the fund and the coming fair as means |
Of self-advertisement. There sbourd no
more esprit evidenced in a matter in
which no politics can possibly enter ex-
cept to hurt the cause
A feature OF the season in which hap
PLY the theater-going public is little IN
terested in. is the continued war between
the Syndicate and the INDEPENDENTS. II
is fortunate that the settlement OF this
lies directly in the hands Of the patrons
OF the theater. The results are what
count the most; and the managers who
succeed in identifying themselves with
good, clean and artistic forms of amuse-
ment can snap their fingers at those
who offend through stupidity and bad
taste. or who imagine that the public
taste Is for grossness. one has only 10
follow opinions Of reputable critics to
realize that the ideals Of our stage are
being strenuously upheld in spite of the