Evening star., 1911-06-11

low prices as now At the
National Theater the Aborn
English Grand Opera Company has pre-
serted brilliant repertoire of grand
opera. including several operas not often
sung here, with casts of prima donnas
and other principals OF such a high de-
zee Of excellence as to make one marve!
at the admission prices charged for them.
At the Columbia Theater the Columbia
PLAYERS whose productions are too well
and widely known to require comment,
and a. the Belasco Theater. under Sir
Henry Irvings veteran stage manager
Lionel Belmore. the Vasabonds. as the
new stock company is known, nave oeen
presenting weekly standard plays win
such perfection of detail and finish as to
stand favorable comparison with the orig
inal productions and all at a cost 10 the
rheatergoer so low to make 1t possible
IL nine-tenths of the population of the
,itv 10 see them without inconvenience
Truly. Washington amusement lovers
lave been in luck during this supple
,ncntary season.
Sarah Bernhardt announces that she
viii remain on the stage as long as she IS
able TO play .'LAiglon. ''Trat IS the
rouchstone." she says for in II there Is
youth. masculine youth. vivac:ty. energy.
eayety. sadness tragedy. everything.
The great actress SAYS she may produce
"Faus;" when she returns 10 France
Il have always thought she declared
in a recent interview. that the popular
conception of Mephstopheles is erroneous
They always present him in grand opera
as a great, big. muscular person. whereas
he should be portrayed as less material
something et.seral, elusive. mental more
than a physical character, befeve
tan show more real and convincing
Nephistopheles.
Nine Bcrnhardt saws she hss played
woman in all her conceivable s.hases and
j. exhausted with the charac Ger Now
1he. roles that appeal 10 her are those of
th. intellect The mentality "f strong
men.
Il can portray the mnd~ tlIe intellect
OF man But make love like man. That
is impossible and ever will be
HOW HE. DID IT.-Those who believe
the pathway OF an actor is strewn with
roses or that once established he has no
further trouble may find in the expert
cHce of Lionel Be!more, stage director
OF The Vagabonds. at the Belasco Theater.
something to modify the impression
When Nh Belmore first Joined Sir
Henry Irvings company he was an actor
OF several years standing. including an
experience Of three years with Wilson
Barrett, during which he toured the
United States with that English star.
Soon after the close of that engage
ment Mr.. Belmore. through no fault OF
his own. had streak of real bad luck
and his financial status hit the toboggan
Being in London, lie decided to try for
n position with the Irving forces.
frrrf al n
terview with the noted actor or his stage
manager. II. j. Loveday. in the usual
way. he became desperate. and then re-
sourceful. With a bountiful supply of
his own business cards, he stood at the
stage entrance of the Lyceum and sent
in card by every one who passed that
sacred portal Finally a messenger asked
as TO the nature of his business with Mr..
I.oveday. Mr.. Belmore replied il was i'm
portant and personal. and he would re-
main where he was until his request for
an interview was granted After few
more cards had gone in through the same
way he was told to step in. The stage
mana ger. who was conducting re-
hearsal of new production. g ufiiy asked
his business. at the same time pointing
TO the stack of cards which Uttered the
prompt table and floor Mr.. Belmore
quietly informed him of his desire for an
engagement. Loveday said the cast was
filled and all he had to offer was
walking" part. practically super.
worth about 81 a week. Belmore. not
abashed. coolly accepted the offer and
was told TO fall in
During the rehearsal one of the walk
ers-on'' standing near Beimore had
short speech of three four words.
Failing to make himself heard above the
tumuit Of The scene. he was put aside.
Belmore standing alert, caught the eye
or Loveday. who asked if he could Say
the line. Possessing "A strong, clear.
ringing voice at the time. he made good
on the instant. second later he felt
H.
Voice said. You have a splendid voice.
young man." Turning, he saw ii was
Irving himself. who had been quietly
moving about the stage.
This D.ief speech sent Mr.. Belmores
salary uD 10 ST. week.
\ few moments later at the same re-
hearsal a herald had 10 make procla-
nation amid fanfare of trumpets. but
fell down. Irving promptly stopped the
rehearsal. had the player removed. and.
looking around for some one to take his
place. saw Mr. Be,more. Evidently ie-
calling his splendid voice, he said:
iet.ied Mt. selnore. With whom
-. hree years with MIR. Barrett replied
Nr. Belm"re. .'t-mph. You try this part.
NY boy" said Irving. and Belmore's voice
rang clear and distinct above the trum-
pets The part became his. and it meant
&ai week salary. Thus in one re-
hearSal Mr. Belmorc climbed from Sc To
S.:si = week. and married ten DAYS later
on fhe strength of his promotion.
This engagement with Irving lasted fif-
tocu years. and for many of these years
Mr Belm"re was Sir Henry's stage man
acer.
WHO WANTS y HAUNTED IIOISE?
Once upon a time the story goes an
opera singer. ambitious To shine as a
landed proprietor. gathered together all
her loose capital and began to stint
and save for several seasons to buy "A
home near the great metropolis where
she might find the delights and COM
forts that. despite what the managers
and press agents say. are missing on
the road
In time her fund grew to goodly pro-
portions. and dreams Of what kind of n
place she would buy were her hourly
companions. She had idealizea the
hume she wanted. but. to overlook
nothing she confided her secret to her
friends. She soon found what she
wanted they did not like and what
tncv liked she did not want. Then the
cntcrprising real estate men began to
MAX" their calls. Frequent automobile
%urneyS down the Jersey coast and
<-er through Long Island were made.
1T, no matter what was found. IL
ever seemed to exactly suit her
friends even if il suited her. and they
10y this time had begun to feel they had
Il real right to be consulted. DAYS and
weeks passed. hut no title to a home.
cne day, learning by chance of a
beautiful rural seat for sale on Long
Island. the opera singer quietly put on