The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-12-04

THE House Next Door, viii serve 70
present TO theatergoers again J. L. Dod-
son. w:;h whose acting in this comedy
most of them are familiar, as the comedy
was presented il this city last season
and greatly pleased those who saw IT,,
Mr.. Dodson is booked for a return en-
gagement in the same play at the New
National Theater beginning a week from
tomorrow night. The popularity of both
play and actor warrants generous turn
ing out Of lovers OF fine acting and good
drama. No life problems. no sex ques-
lions. nothing questionable in argument
or presentation mark the production of
The House Next Door" A simple re-
oital OF family pride as opposed to the
introduction of family OF the new rich
kind into It's circle IS the fundamental
motive Of the play. Largeness Of eX-
preston. moving situations, and violent
opposition are effective In their employ
ment TO broaden the play into comedy
Of most cheerful quality. that has scenes
Of good farce, as well as those that are
sentimental There is no artist ga the
English speaking stage who can co'ApaT c
with Mr.. Dodson as an exponent IF char
acter Interpretation. lie is alone n that
field,
The Regeneration of Aunt Mary" one
Of the really funny comedies of the Fast
decade and one in which the public seems
never 10 tire of the delightful character
izauon OF Aunt Mary by May Robson,
viii be the attraction at the Columbia
Theater next week II was originally
produced al the Garden Theater. Now
York. where is proved a WhirlWind OF
success. which was duplicated later in
London and In all the prominent theateTa
of this country,
The play embraces strong vet natural
development of the humorous and pa
thetic. and Aunt Mary Is a scream,
The same company and effects that were
seen in London win be seen here.
The attraction at the Belasco Theater
next week will be one OF unusual interest
10 Washington theatergoers. as il viii
mark the practical launching before a
metropolitan audience Of Mr.. Preston Glib
sons latest play. a comedy. entitled
Drifting"
This play as outlined by Mr. Gibson
depicts the general tendency OF life among
society people In the smart sets Of New.
port and New York city. and as the
author has got his material atmosphere
and otherwise, at FIRST hand. and not az
is usually portrayed on the stage, the
result is said 10 be absolutely true 10 life
With the scenes OF the comedy laid in
Newport the story is based upon a young
girl who has been brought no In New
York by an old maiden aunt. who al
lowed her no liberty. AZ the death of this
aunt, the girl finds herself alone in the
world, and. meeting Henry Harrison. a
fine citizen Of the West. falls in love and
quickly marlies him. She persuades her
husband OF two months 10 lease villa
al Newport for the season. There. living
with and among the fast set beginning
with cigarettes. cocktails, finally reaching
the champagne stage-she drifts TO the
interesting cOnsummation of the play. The
east will include Walter Hale. Mrs. sam
Sothern. Frank Goldsmith, Edith LucketL
Charles Lamb, Grace Morrissey. Ann
Archer, and Constance Kirkham
John Philip Sousa- brings his famous
band TO Washington next Sunday for
two concerts at the New National Thea
ter. one I'm the afternoon and the other
In the evening. Among Mr.. S0usa's own
uneful and stirring compositions shere
viii be given '"The Fairest OF the Fair
the Three Quotations suite new
character study. The Dwelers i'm the
Western World and "The Glory of
the Yankee Navy List, WieniaWski
Saint-Saens. Wagner. and Rachmanlk0h
are but a few of the famous composers
from whose works the rest Of the two
programmes, which are quite unlike, will
be selected. The sOloists whom Mr.. SOusa
brings are Miss Virginia Root. soprano,
Miss Nicholne Zedeler. violinist: Her
bert L. Clarke, cornetist, and Paul Senne
piccolo.
Critics are perpleXed over the question
\ as 10 what classification to give the per-
forIuances of Anna .Pavlowa, Michael
Mordkin. and the Imperial Russian Bal
let. which has been engaged 20 appear at
the Belasco on December Is tt IS a
moot question whether the attraction is
operate, a spectacle or belongs in the
concert field. Indeed the management
styles the performances Of the famous
Russian dancers ocular opera. "N on
opera in action" This because the pro
grammes include operas or plays espe-
Clally written for Interpretation through
the medium Of this national Russian art
Three complete scenic productions will
be carried and an ensemble Of sixty per
sons. Less than twenty weeks viii be
devoted to the American tour. including