The Washington herald., 1911-06-11


rope in search of new material for next
seasons exploitation in America In
greater numbers than ever these gentle
men controlling the American stage are
= Fastening to foreign shores to scour the
lay markets with a zeal that augurs III
COR that infant domestic industry, the
American playwright.
Just why there should be such a gen.
eraI scramble for European dramatic and
light operatIc produce is hard to UNDER
stand when one considers the encouraging
array of native successes presented dur
ing the past season. Apparently, how
ever, 1t is a question of keeping this over
theatered country supplied with fresh
entertainment. There are so many thea
ters that the native dramatist, nbrettist,
and composer prolific though they may be,
cannot keep up with the demand for new
productions and the producing managers
must perforce turn to the foreign writer's
for re-enforcements. This naturally re-
suits in q keen rivalry between the man.
ayers to secure the American rights to
the most recent European successes as
well as the still untried foreign plays and
musical offerings that give promise of
future popularity.
y Washington, therefore, may expect TO
witness the American premiers Of a much
greater number OF adaptations Of foreign
plays next season than ever 1t is GER
tain that large share OF the coming sea
sons new productions will be presented
here before making their New York bows.
Most interesting, perhaps, Of the cable
ant - rnol- T.
Of the purchase by Klaw & Erlanger of
the new operetta, The count Of Luxem-
bourg,' the score Of winch is the first
music to come from the gifted pen of
Franz Lehar since he set the whole
world Waiting with The Merry Widow
Lehar's latest composition achieved a
real success when presented in London
fortnight ago. and in the enthusiastic
audience that attended its premier were
the King and Queen.
In several ways The Count Of Luxen-
bourg'' resembles The Merry Widow"
and the sensation of the new operetta
IS waltz in which the leading char
yacters p!rouette Up and down a lofty
staircase. The frst American prasenta-
ton OF this new musical entertainment
win be made In October, possibly here
iE Washington. MIR. EIaw also snapped
up the dre-nattc success " the moment
IN Lond1r. "K!sElet" a fantastic -lelo-
drama based on Ja!e from the
Arabian Nightz.' Il IS The work Of
Edward Enobla uch. N American, who
resides abroad, an6 who also wrote The .
Faun, In which Mr.. tavarsaam appear /
"a here At the BeIasco last winter
Henry " Savage who has a habit .
Of sl!pp.0g away urUbse Eved TO Europe .
u {. hag= go o,rwi- mis- rivals, has cabIed
c new Of the 3-chase by himself of
De~ Fr=Lc0 Earce called The Million"
'o las o",d a triumphant success
alas loyal, Paris. Mr.. Savage
pa MS piece out early in the
.r n- n. along with Little Boy
&. rw Viennese opera for which
s. secured the rights. This pro-
ma.nt inning silence regarding ,
# h,s other finds.
.s~.es Erohman, as usual, will i'm
aIrnOer OF plays that have been
nm. r.is vear in Paris, London, and
rr -.a:HentaI capitals, among them
Is Inc Quaker Girl a musical
.--edy. now in its second year in Lon
N.
Washingtons two dramatic stock COM
Ianies will endeavor this week TO break
3 Il laughter records. At the Columbia
that breezy farce, Before and After"
will assault the risibiIities of the Players
enthusiastic followers, while the ever
increasing hosts of Relasco patrons will
chortle over Rida Johnson Young's ludi-
crous nonsensicality, The Lottery Man."
presented here in the fall by the original
New York company. The Vagabonds have
been strengthened materially since their
opening appearances in Peter Pan" and
"Old Heidelberg" and much of the credit
for the growing popularity of the COM
pany is due the new leading man, Henry
Mortimer. who has won a secure place
in the esteem of Washington theater-
goers. His performance of JOHN Storm
IN The Christian" last week was the
hest thing ne has done here, and sur
prised even his most ardent admirers.
Among the other new Vagabonds who
have made a decided popular impression
are John King and Osborne Earle.
Without wishing to call into question
5he veracity of our esteemed friend,
George P. Conn, the gentleman who con-
ducts the publicity campaigns for the
Columbia Theater, the writer desires to
remark that when IT comes to publishing
the following astounding story Of super
canine intelligence he disclaims all spon-
sorship for its veraciousness. Brother
Conn sends US the following:
Arthur Ritchie, who is the stage
manager for the Columbia Players, is
proud of the many excellent character
impersonations he has given during the
two seasons he has been with this Or
ganization, but not half so proud on that
score as he is to be the possessor of one
OF the most intelligent dogs, to his mind,
that walks on four legs. IT is the dog
that appeared in 'Strongheart' during
the past week as the mascot that is the
object of his alteration, and with no pur-
pose of indulging in a play upon words,
thereby hangs a tale. The dog, that
answers to about as many names as
there are members Of the company, was
brought tG Washington last season but
this year, on completing his winter en-.
Mr.. Ritchie had a short vaca- y
tion at his home in Allentown. Pa, and :
IN starting for Washington left the dog
With the h,mefolks. But the dog wouldn't s,
ave il that way and shortly afterward :,
isaDpeared Search was made for him, II
- without avail and even the offer of m
l'hers reward failed 70 produce the Ia
nal Ir Ritchie had about recon- 4