Evening star., 1911-06-04

SnOulQ enOedVOr TO ScI tO tnc
theater in time, or. II that be
impossible, they should at least mufiie the
heels, remove the hats and hold In the
wraps SO as not to interfere with the
pleasure of those who do Several even
ings during the week. notably Monday
evening. the pest of metal heels, large
hats and flowing robes seriously inter-
fered with performances that crowded
houses were trying to enjoy.
Washington playgoers. with but very
few exceptions. indeed. need no instruc-
tions in consideration. Here the custom
Of the women of removing their hats. no
matter how handsome or costly. crept in
to vogue as If by common consent. with
no theater rules to guide 1t. Occasionally,
and only occasionally. thoughtless few
win come late. will wear metal heels.
will wear large hats and flowing robes.
and they seem absolutely Indifferent to
the fact that their late entrance creates
confusion and seriously interferes with
the pleasure of others.
Large hats and flowing robes are bad
enough, but they only obscure the vision
Of perhaps a half dozen people or so.
But those metal heels that beat a tattoo
on the floor like the rattle of kettle
drum, punctuated now and then by the
heavier thumps of the masculine heel. are
calculated to break up any performance.
The Aborn English Grand Opera Com
pany has furnished Washington music
lovers with another week of genuine en-
ioyment Both Lucia di LammermOor
and The Tales of Hoffman," were ex-
cellent productions, and appreciation OF
them was Enthusiastically shown by the
largest audiences of the season. 1t was a
lesson in reciprocity that every one can
easily understand and makes 'insur-
gency" impossible.
1t can do musical comedy, straight
comedy, farce, drama and doubtless
tragedy, if necessary, that splendid or
ganization. the Columbia Players. which
has established for itself unique place
in the interest of Washington playgoers.
Its presentation of George NJ. Cohan's s
"Forty-five Minutes From Broadway"
will rank with its best work. One
dare not criticise any part of 1t in the
face of the approval of capacity audi
ences throughout the entire week. The
management states that several unpleas-
ant incidents have arisen when late COM
ers were told, There are no seats for
sale" Singular as it may be, it Is the
rule. rather than the exception, to find
seats unsold at the Columbia on the
night of the performance. Those who
witness the performances can best ex-
plain the reason.
The vagabonds at the Belasco too, are
learning the lesson that Washington Is
strong for summer stock companies when
they are good and when they present
plays of interest. With Henry Mortimer
as their new leading man, and the con-
tinuance of such splendid productions as
those of Peter Pan and .'Old Heidel-
berg" which marked their opening at
fractions, they seem certain to establish
a confidence that will tax the limit Of the
theater at al performances Warm
weather has 20 effect upon the theatrical
appetite OF washington's thousands of
playgoers when the prices and produc-
lions meet their approval as has been
the case thus far.
II the story of today opened with a hint
to the 1laygoer no one can object If 1t
close wsth hint TO the unfortunate pos
SCISSOR Of the artistic temperament"
''The artistic temperament presents
itself in various forms. 1t is in evidence
when Johnnie, after hit in singing at a
school entertainment, evinces desire to
eschew. school and bask in the joys of
idle imagination. 1t Is apparent when
Mary Iaakes a pretty picture Of cherub
that wins admiration. and then changes
her name TO "Maymye,' wears plain
glasses, snubs her friends and generally
assumes an air of hauteur- 1t may also
be found in embryo when Clarence. not a
bad nor yet an overgood actor, browbeats
the leading lady" snubs the 'ingenue,"
insults the Juvenile and swears at the
stage hands. Sometimes when it gets
tangled up with a resentful audience
Clarence may find his way to a clerk
ship in a clothing store. or some other
less head swelling employment.
Most folks prefer the honest effort of
simple folks, who love art and become its
credtable disciples without getting tan
sled up with a temperament that is al
mos, an invariable characteristic of the
failures of rnediocrity.
A PLEASING TENoR.-salvatore Sci
arrett. one Of the most important of re-
cent additions to the Aborn English
Grand Opera Company at the New Ma
tional Theater. has been in this country a
Couplc Oilly, anu sang TENOR
roles last winter at the metropolitan
Opera House.
Mr.. Sciarretti was born in Naples and
studied at the Conservatoire San Pietro
Naiela. He made his debut at
the Teatro Lirico in Milan. He
afterward sang at the Teatro Cos
tanza in Rome and at the Municipal in
Constantinople for a season each. His
next two seasons were divided between
the Royal Opera House at Madrid, the
San Carlo at Lisbon. the San Carlo at
Naples and what by many is considered
the largest and finest opera house in the
world, ii Massimo, in Palermo, where
patrons can ride In their own automo-
biles up to any floor or balcony In the
auditorium.
He first sang on this side Of the At
lantic with Lillian Nordica at the Haba-
nero. In Havana, Cuba, afterward COM
ing to New ork His work here last
week was a pleasing success.
A TALENTED ACTOR.-Frederick For
rester. whose painstaking effort and
genuine talents have established for him
following second to none Of his fel-
lows In the Columbia Players. Is one OF
the few members OF that organization
who held over from last season. when.
by mere accident. he became member
OF the company.
Mr.. Forester at the time was visiting
a brother. who is q resident Of WASH
ington. and on brief notice was requested
to play part In one Of the offerings at
the Columbia Theater. So evident was