Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-19

..d a+ Drices less than half those
harrad nv the big metropolitan COM
ranies the choicest offerings IN the neio
- Grand opera. and all of them. excel
1entlv staged and sung at that IL Wouio
Nc folly IN suppose these operas could De
.iven with principals whose names SHINE
n tho brightest armament of the musicai
~-nrId under the circumstances. Yet the
sn9erinrs of the Aborn company both
mis- season and last have in many re-
rpects. especially I'm their staging, been
favorabIy compared to the best, and all
have been sung by principals who are
Finished artists and just as enjoyable III
INC does not know the big stars, which
probably many do not except by name
and heresay.
: One Of the rare treats of the season will
be the presentation next week by the
Aborn company of Humperdinck's fairy
6nors ..Hansel and GreteI." one of the
Spost charming contributions to the oper-
Stic world in a long time. Written orig
raIlv for the entertainment of children
and founded upon the fairy story OF
SThe Rabies in the Woods 1t neverthe-
less possessed such merit and beauties
that the composer was persuaded to build
n up and did so. making of it an oper-
attic gem.
Manager l.. Stoddard- Taylor assumes
control of the Butterfield Players from
shis on and this fact, added to the popu-
3arity of the players themselves, should
make for the continuance of the season
Of stock plays at the Belasco smooth sail
ing and successful results.
.The Dawn of Tomorrow was de-
servedly leading attraction Aside from
the splendid work of Miss Nelson in the
role OF Glad role that carries with II
fhe memory of one of the greatest &C
Presses of her type, there were other
Characterization that will probably make
The play stand out as the best of the
season's offerings by that excellent organ
fzation. the Columbia Players. George
BARRIERS Sir oliver is one of the notable
pnes.
But there has also been great work in
another direction. Miss Jewels i'm
personation of Madame X has been the
talk of the town among those who went
10 see the saddening play. 1t establish
ed Miss Jewels claim as an emotional
actress and makes Washington feel proud
Of her acquisition to its band of enter
ffainers But is that class of play really
3 good summer stock offering?
& And this leads to the thought that
Syashing ton playgoers have reason to be
Especially thankful for the entertainment
offered them thus far this season by the
local stock companies Not only has it
been exceedingly good in quality and
Auantity, but il has put a few happy
hours within the reach of many who dur
ing the regular season can lily Oxford to
patronize the theater. even though enjoy
ment is essentially a part of the
human diet as food and drink.
Already the smell of the green fields
and a glimpse of the waving trees are
pushing themselves to the forefront as
reminders that there is still further pleas
ure within reach for the many, pleasure
that will bring comfort as we'll as enjoy
ment. when the warmer days of the sum-
mer are near. The New Glen Echo's an
nouncement will be interesting to those
whose thoughts run to the country and
the good things promised to come with
atmosphere of cheer.
DIDN'T COUNT THE CQ1-Opera
singers are much the same as other
human beings in their nature and en-
vironments. but some susceptible opera
goers don't seem to see it that way. An
impressive tenor is just as apt to have
jealous wife and beautiful soprano a
jealous husband as clerk in a shoe
store or lady cashier in a lunch
room. DIR. Purdy. the genial manager of
the Aborn company. has discovered the
fact and he tells good story about it.
One season, he says, without mention
ing what season, we We're presenting
very attractive prima donna, with nice
little husband who was very Jealous
and a big. handsome tenor. whose little
wife couldn't bear the thought of another
woman looking at him.
''Lohengrin' is suggestive of love and
marriage. Its very atmosphere breathes
contagion of that kind. and the wedding
march generally puts the serious notion
into the head of the susceptible If the
general trend of the story fails.
One morning i was much astonished to
have brought TO my room a handsome
bouquet or American beauties bearing the
card. God bless you for the happiest
moment of my life. Alice" 1t gave me
the creeps. but ] quickly made way with
the card.
Judge of my surprise about a half hour
later upon being confronted with the wife
Of my tenor and the husband OF my
prima donna each bearing the same kind
Of a card. except that the sopranos card
was signed Charles Both tried to talk
at the same moment and both were very.
very angry. l Couidn I understand their
complaint but | knew they were Jealous.
: soothed them as best | could with the
promise to investigate.
Il did not know where to begin. until
the afternoon paper appeared with
story OF a romantic elopement resulting
from young couple hearing Lohengrin
together. In the hour of their supreme
happiness they thought 1t would be
good idea to send the prima DONNA the
tenor and myself. partly responsible
for It. the same kind of flowers and the
same kind OF card. simply a token of
appreciation and to let us know. But
dear me. they never knew what their
thoughtful offering cost US all
WHAT A GAMBOL IS-The all
star gambol of the Lambs Club repre-
sents. so far as circumstances and con-
di;ions make IL possible. the sublimation.
for purposes Of public entertainment, of
he series of monthly "gambols' held in
the season by the club in its own club
house. for its members and their special
guests: with a difference. That difference
consists in the fact that the skits
sketches. jokes, songs. dialogues, ETC.
III the public 'gambor' were specially
prepared for lay public. whereas the
'gambols" at the club are prepared for
the club. with its special membership of
players. managers. and others whose oc-
oupations. avocation. social alliances or
personal tastes place them in sympathy
with the work. the diversions. the state