The Washington herald., 1910-07-03


The CasinO-continuous Vaudeville.
The sudden suspension of the Hippo
drome robbed Washington of its single
outdoor amusement feature. The Mid
way has closed for the summer. and in
the Belaseo, the Columbia. and the
Casino, our sole hopes are centered. II
was with genuine regret that good-by
was said 10 the Aborn Opera Company.
The company had the most successful
season it has ever enjoyedain this city
and amply deserved it. All of the operas
We're well sung, and the concerts on the
two Sunday evenings were a unique
feature OF the engagement. and brought
out many expressions of delight.
The Aborn management Is 10 return
here early in the fall with its special
production of Puccinrs Madam Butter
hy. with possibly one or two other
operas which they have not given here.
II this means that Miss Lois EweH or
Miss Helena are TO sing here again, the
announcement VIII be hailed with two
fold delight. II was at once recognized
that in these two artists the AbOrn Com
pany possessed two singers of the very
first rank. and the fact that neither Of
them has been sought by the Metropoli-
tan Opera House Is beyond the under
standing OF those who enjoyed their
work here. Miss Helena's work in Lucia
and in ''Traviata" can only call out
superlative praise willie Miss EwelI, as
"Gilda" aud as Martha" gave the
best rendering of the two roles heard in
Washington in years 1t was a pity
Miss Ewell could not have been here in
time TO sing Aida, which is one of
her favorite roles and the one in which
she has surpassed all her efforts except
that OF Madam Butterfly"
Miss Ewell Is thinking strongly OF go
ing TO Europe to seek engagements, in
the hope that prestige gained abroad
may more quickly help her to a place
among the elect. But in the humble
opinion of the present scribe this ought
not 10 be necessary. since both Miss
Eweh and Miss Helena are away ahead
Of some of the singers who have held
positions IN the New York and Boston
opera.
Miss Helena. for instance, is a greater
NiOletta in ''Traviata" than Lipkowska,
who sang the role in Baltimore with the
Metropolitan, and yet Lipkowska was
very highly regarded, and has, indeed
made a wonderful impression during her
one season in America.
Forthcoming visits Of the Aborn Opera
Company will mean more to the local
public now than formerly, since what
reputation they had enjoyed by reason
of their light operate performances has
been totally eclipsed by their grand opera
presentations.
The Palace Of Truth" which the Ben
Greet Players viii present Tomorrow
and the rest OF the week at the Belasco.
is by W. S. Gilbert, the famous libret-
list Of the Gilbert and Sullivan operas.
The whimsical humOr and splendid
comedy Of which this author is master.
are brought out strongly in this play
1t had quite run In New York
when the Greet Players were enjoying
their notable run at the Garden Theater,
and it is a favorte in the company's
repertoire. 1t is one Of those comedies
which linger in the memory, and more
over is something which theater-g oers
viii regret having missed. if they do not
take advantage Of the present oppOr-
tunity.
There is strong pressure being brought
to bear upon Mr.. Greet to defer the clos
ing OF his season one week and offer
''Trelawney Of the Wells, which is also
prominent in his repertoire. This SPLEEN
did PinerO comedy has not been seen
in Washington for nearly a decade, al
though it has had recent revivals in
various parts of the theatrical world.
the most notable one being at Charles
Frohman's London Repertoire Theater,
where the charming Vielet Vanbrugh
appeared as Rose Trelawney. Many OF
our present theater-goers will recall the
superb cast which presented the comedy
at Daniel FTOhman's Isyceum Theater.
and later on tour including Mary Man
nering, Henry Woodruff. Edward Nor
gan NOV deceased. Mr.. and Mrs.
Charles Wolcott. Hilda SpOng. Elizabeth
Tyree, William Courtleigh. Grant Stew
art, Charles Butler, Mrs. Thomas Whit
fen, and John Findlay. There were great
casts in those old days of the Lyceum
and Empire Stock companies.
To return to the case of the Greet
Players-they have been somewhat dis
appointed at the patronage at some OF
their plays, and the trouble has undoubt-
edly been that Mr. Greet is over am
bilious and has endeavored to put on
TOO many plays. 1t is not reasonable to
expect a resident stock company to put
en- more than one a week and do il
we'll il Is true that the company is well
up IN It's ShakespeaTean repertoire and
could easily give half a dozen different
ones IN a week A good deal of active
rehearsal is necessary for the other plays.
however, and the company will hence
forth adhere TO the policy of one play
a week Every one who has seen the
Greet Players has come away delighted
with the artistic quality of the produc-
tons, and the unusually excellent COM
pany Of actors Mr.. Greet has surrounded
himself with.
Speaking Of celebrated casts. it is re-
called that the first production in the
United States Of Miss Hobbs was play
ed by a notable company of actors. Miss
Annie Russell was the star, and she had
just finished her highly successful en-
gagement in Catherine so that the
hit made by Miss Hobbs was the
second one of large proportions made by
this popular star. She followed these
with THE Girl and the Judge" and "A
Royal Family" making the unusual rec
ord of a quartet of consecutive successes.
In Miss Hobbs" there We're three per-
sons subsequently destined to become
stars.
Charles Richmond was the original
of Kingsearl Major and later became a
star In his own play. The Jewellers.
Clara Bloodgood was the original of
Mrs. Pereival Kingsearl She later be
came famous as an interpreter Of Clyde
Fitch roles. She died by her own hand.
while starring in Fltch's play. THE
Truth" Mrs. G. II. Gilbert who prob
ably received more applause upon her
entrances than any other player in the
country, was the original of the Aunt
in Miss Hobbs" and she, too, died
while on tour with a Fitch play.
Granny which was written for her.
The aged actress found the rigors of
e winter travelling from place to place
too much for her failing strength and
succumbed in Chicago. She took much
pride in her starring tour" She was
elevated 10 the dignity Of stardOm at the
age of nearly fourscore.