The Washington herald., 1911-05-14

BRADY revival OF The Lights o Lon
'don." the fact remains that it is one of
the best melodramas ever written,
and in the old days made a fortune for
the managers of the Union Square The
ater, where 1t was originally presented
with cast that cannot be equaled to-
day. The role Of Harold Armytage was
originally acted by Charles r. Thorne,
r3r., one of the finest actors of his day.
In the present revival the part is played
by William Courtenay in a decidedly un-
interesting manner. The hits of the per-
formance have been made by Miss JEFF
freys Lewis, Thomas A. .Wist, and Ed
ward Emery. The part of a police
man is taken by Thomas Q. Seabrooke.
Manager Brady is to be praised
for his really handsome presentation
OF the play. The principal scenes are
a police station, a workhouse, Armytage
Hall and London Bridge, with its arch Of
lights. The only fault to be found with
the performance is the lack Of the swift
strokes that made a play Of this sort q
success in the old days.
The Robert 7. Haines Stock Company
has started a spring and summer season
at the West End Theater. Their first
Offering was The Soldiers Of Fortune" a
romantic drama adapted by Augustus
Thomas from novel by Richard Harding
Davis. The opening week was a profit
able one, and the prospects of a success
full season for this company are excellent.
Mr.. Haines, leading man OF the organiza-
ton. is assisted by Beatrice Morgan, a
strong favorite with Harlemites
The decision of Augustus Pitou, one Of
the most prominent, wealthiest, and re-
spected Of theatrical managers, to retire
from business at the end of next season
came as a surprise to his friends, for he
is not past middle age, and is in excellent
health. Moreover, his star, Chauncey OIL
cott, is making more money than ever be-
fore. Mr.. Pttou can afford to retire He
says IN an interview: II have worked
hard for many years, have all the money
L want, and for the rest of my life intend
having good time" During his career
Mr.. Pitou has managed Joseph Murphy,
William ]. Scanlan, Robert Mantell, Rose
Coghlan, and other prominent stars. He
has also produced upwards of one hun
dred plays, several Of which he wrote
himself. Manager Pitou is noted for the
integrity of all his dealings with actors
and managers, and his word is as good as
a government bond, and better than notes
or checks signed by some other we'll
known managers. His only son Is man
aging the new Blackstone Theater in Chi
cago His two daughters are married and
live in this city. 1t is a good bet that
Henry Miller will be Olcott's next man
aSer-
This week at Wallack's Theater
where Mabel Hite is appearing in "a
Certain Party" there is being given
specially organized theater parties,
which include authors night, baseball
night, and police night. Baseball night
will be of particular interest, as
great many knights Of the diamond
will be Mike Donlon's guests on that
occasion. One evening during the week
more beauty than is peculiar to "a
Certain Party" will visit Wallacks on
the invitation of Miss Hite. The lower
boxes of the theater will be occupied
by a party OF prize beauties from the
Catskill Mountains. The Evening Mail,
of the city OF Catskill Is chaperoning
the young women to Bermuda via Wal
lacks. Miss Hite and "A Certain Par
ty'' have caught the public fancy and
are doing so well that they will form a
summer show OF the kind New York
likes after a strenuous winter. This
clever young woman sings extremely
we'll, dances delightfully."-. and keeps the
audience in good humor when she is
upon the stage. An unusually attrac-
beauty chorus, which is all that its
name implies.
Mrs Fiske is in the eighth week of
her engagement at the Lyceum Thea
ter. where she is appearing in Mrs.
Bumstead-Leigh" to a continuous round
of large and swagger audiences. Her
impersonation of the social climber
from Missionary Loop is a delightful
one. The part of the tombstone sales
man is now played by Tim Murphy.
whose Interpretation of that odd char
acter is highly humorous. The other
new members of the cast are Henry
Stephenson and Roburn Mech.
THE Deep Purple" continues its run
at the Maxine Elliott Theater and all
all-summer engagement. This Arm
strong Miner play is the kind Of a
melodrama that most people like 70 see
more than once. I know one man who
already has attended eight or nine per-
formances, and says he will see half a
dozen moro before the piece is with
drawn
A letter from out of the West brings
the Information that Henrietta Crosman
IS appearing in a new comedy entitled
THE Peacock and the Goose" Of which
Gathering Gushing is the author. Her
new vehicle tells the story Of wife
who, when the children come, foreets
she has a husband. and gives all her
time to the children and the household
duties. When they were married she
played tennis and was her husbands
pal but later she forgot that she had
to hold a husband by the same means
with which she caught him. The wife
in the comedy is the goose and her sis
ter the peacock, who Is widow and
breaches the doctrine that il is fatal to
neglect a husband. THE Peacock and
the Goose" is said to be success.
Recently rumor has been circulating
up and down Broadway that a business
has been formed between
Nat c. Goodwin and his former wife
Maxine Elliott. But the story Is with |
out foundation. In the first place Miss
Elliott would take no part in COM
bination which included Mr.. Goodwin, |
and secondly, just before she sailed for |
her annual vacation abroad she said in |
an interview. My next appearance on |
the stage will be in a really big play" |
and this leads Inc to remark that Miss |
Elliott had several long conferences with |
George e. Tyler. managing director OF |
Liebler &; Co. In view of this and sew
eral other happenings, it is moro than |
likely that Miss Elliott will act the lead |
ing role in THE Garden Of Allah when /
that massive spectacular drama is |
launched at the New Theater next fall. |
Here is another ruInor concerning Nat |
Goodwin: 1t is said in certain quarters
that next season he will be seen as a CO.
star with Lillian Russell under the man.
aGement Of klaw & Erlanger and Joseph