Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-23
presentation of 'The Won
an was Itself something IN
the nature OF a dramatic cn-

the nature OF dramatic Gu
max. First productions have
not hecn guarantees OF interest
For some time: even q Belasco inst pro-
suction coming at n time OF year WHICH
indicated that the undertaking was IN
sense experimental. and not dennHe
,-snara.,on for an immediate run. was
rey.rdea With less enthusiasm than tnat
which c,,stomarily accompanies such an
event. Then. too, It became KNOWN thae
Be,asco could not he present In person.
owing to the dangerous illness Oh
daughter 10 whom he was most anectloh-
atety attached. 1t was one or the 1ronies
of fate that the news of one or the most
notable triumphs associated with MS
name should have reached him at 11ne
when personal anxieties must haVe mede
tho successes of the stage seem compare
,,yeIy unirnportant. Mr.. Belasco IL sun
ar Ashev,lle. n. c.. where he has oeen
With his daughter for some time.
When the curtain descended on the hrse
act Of 1.-The Woman there was little
room for doubt as to its success. AS
uicture OF Washington life 1t had SHOWN
the usual tendency to let the 1maslnH-
ton run loose and avoid any serious e1-
fort to secure information. But 1t mao
the co,npulsion OF interest that VIII not
t,e denied. 1t was strictly the washington
of the washington novel" a revelation
OF frank unsophistication in Its efforts TO
keep up with the magazinists VINO pic
ture national politics as vortex or des-
perate iniauity. With buoyant reckless
ness the play assumes that the regulations
of women are banded in the game for
votes and that the press stands ready, on
receipt of a telephone message to lid
crate broadcast an atrocious scandal. But
washington smiled, accepted the premises,
faulty though they were. and heartily
admired the ingenuity Of the logical FAB
rio which the author constructed thereon.
Politics might easily be as deer to Wash
ineton as the show business IL to New
York, where the reflections on certain
theatrical conditions in "Everywoman'
aroused the most hysterical protest.
washington might easily have grown
rabid at the implied censure In THE
woman"-but what was the use. when
good PLAYS are so scarce and vitriolic at
tack is the privilege OF every scribe?
The author. Mr.. H G. De Mile. was
fortunate In not having the restrictions
thrown about him which the presence OF
a distinct and particular star in the cast
involves. Miss Helen Ware is an actress
of aseuredly stellar importance, and her
acting Is Of prime essentially IN Inc
Woman" yet she is denied the privilege
OF being the central and significant hg-
ure In the love story. Sympathetic atten-
ton slips beyond her to the erring "i1e'
whose scenes with forceful man Stir
the emotions more than the clever inter-
views between the telephone operator and
her boyish sweetheart can possibly DO
In making this Juvenile sutton unroman-
tically lifelike, the author, while height
ening the effect OF frank realism, has de-
prived the principal actress in the cast
OF the intense love interest which is the
natural right OF every leading woman.
The structure of the play left Mr.. Court
leigh the commanding figure of the cast,
a position which he maintained by an ex-
cellent performance.
X
The engagement OF French opera
company may be regarded as an event
Of the spring season in Washington. for
the management has expressed the high
est qualification at its reception here and
conte1nplates an engagement next year
ollie, the director Of the company, de-
.clares his confidence in the musical spirit
of Washington as sufficient to support
opera as an institution rather than as
spasnodic episode
The Columbia players have received
their annual welcome, and In testimony
Of their zeal and sincerity went finmedi-
a.ely to work on one OF the most elabo-
rate and difficult Of productions, Sweet
Kitty Bellairs." Tho results justified the
most favorable expectations as to the
artistic merits OF an enterprise for which
popular patronage seems already aDso-
luteiy secure.
PII1I.ANDER JOHNSON.
A CLEVER CHIMPANZEE-Many a
ehimpanzes Is being chased from tree to
tree In African jungles today IN the nope
that one can be found which eventually
oan earn as large a salary as Consul re-
ceiyes. The Hagenbeck circus people or
Berlin ara among the greatest monkey
catchers and through one OF their agents
Consul was found in Uganda, Africa. lie
was the pet of a native IN one OF inc
numerous African villages, and ms ooIIi
ity and cleverness were wen Known
throughout that region. he was Hrss
taken to England and placed for safe
Keeping In the geological gardens there
untiI his examination by Prof.. William
Warner. This famous animal psychoio-
sist made many interesting and exhaust
we scientific studies OF Consul. and then
inc future vaudeville headliner was given
INTO the hands OF Prof. Drowiskey. VINO
alter long and patient Development sup
United Consul TO the Partisan Vauoe'ilie
uublic at the Hippodrome. success anu
:srne were Immediate. He Is larger
heavier and older than Peter ana is
N his prime.