The Washington herald., 1911-09-24

The most welcome announcement that
has come to theatrical Washington In
many months is that proclaiming the
opening of the Belasco Theater with
Maeterllnck's Blue Bird" 1t would be
surerluous to adorn this statement with
words regarding either play or produc-
ton here. To those who hold an abid-
ing interest in the best things of the
stage, the simple fact that The Blue
Bird" will christen the new season at
the Lafayette Square playhouse will be
sufficient to assure a record-breaking
opening week in the Capital
Those who have already seen the spec
tacle-play at the New Theater, in New
York, however, will be interested TO
know that the production to be seen
here has been materially altered from
that of last year. Some new scenes.
partly supplied by Maeterlinck himself
and by Herbert Trench, have supplanted
others, and in every case, according 10
the best authority, a change has been
made for the better.
The booking of The Blue Bird at the
Belasco was made almost on the spur OF
the moment, its engagement at the Cen
tury Theater, New York, closing next
Saturday night, owing to the demands
of the new Liebler spectacle, The Gar
den Of Allah
A new idea of undoubted commercial
value has originated in the offices of
Charles Frohman. 1t relates to that ever
perpIexing theatrical problem-the dupli-
cation and multiplication OF successful
New York productions for the road.
Sometimes excellent plays are ruined on
the one-night stands by miserable COM
panies of actors frequently the manager
gives the provinces what he conCeives to
be g production equal in every respect to
the original. yet it fails because it lacks
the magic glow of a heavily press-agented
name connected with the New York per-
formance.
1t is Mr. Frohman's idea to give two
simultaneous performances of "Passers-
by in New York. The current produc-
tion at the Criterion Theater will be
duplicated with one at the GarriCk The
ater. 1t is expected the latter will meas
ure up in nearly every respect with the
original Since the IS. R. o." sign is
hanging out at the Criterion nightly, the
plan has some logic behind it. Even if it
fails. IT will at least enable Mr.. Frohman
to say with A clean conscience that each
company, when it is TO go on the road, is
''the original New York production"
If Col. Savage can duplicate the sue
cess of Excuse Me" with his new
farce, "A Million" TO he seen at the
Columbia this week, he will be a lucky
man. Although his success with adap-
tations of foreign pIays-with the excep-
tion of musical pieces,-nas not been great
there is no more persistent importer of
Continental novelties than he He has
always admired the French and German
farce.
"A Million is adapted from the French
by Leo DitriChstein, than whom there is
no more skillful adapter in the country.
Savage has done his part by providing a
cast of the highest metropolitan cali
Der, and there is every indicat ton of a
lively week at the F street theater.
The enactment of BeaConsheId by
George Arliss in Parker's "Disraeli' has
caused a furOr in New York. and the
distinguished actor is commonly acknowl-
edged to nave won the greatest artistic
success of his career. Controversy over
his Interpretation has arisen, and some
find him lacking in the physical force
necessary to embOdy the Dizzy who
won the English premiership through
sheer power of will But the great ma
jOrity of critics declare his portrayal to
be little short of perfection.