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

of Augustus Thomas Huch
,arked of drama 1.-The Witching Hour,
which was so splendidly presented by the
po,i PLAYERS last week. The critic is a
local resident and finds fault because
Of the authors treatment OF the Su-
nreme Court of the United States not
he saws. because of the inherent dignity
~ the court, but because the treatment
of the court made the play ridiculous
He is good enough TO say the actors
did their part nobly.
Judged by the size of the audiences,
which seem to be daily increasing, the
Aborn English Grand Opera Company
.. n,easinp a great many lovers of opera
In Washington. Four operas have been
presented with varying success at the
s,r.rent performances There have been
$50 ,b;ngs TO criticise Why should
there not be when the mammoth task OF
presenting two great operas week Is
considered? But 1t would seem to be
auite evident that lovers OF real music
in Washington have stamped the Messrs
Aborn's venture with an emphatic mark
of approval, and are perfectly willing to
overlook minor defects in their satisfac-
ton with the genuinely good work that
il being uniformly done by the company.
The principals with but the rarest ex-
ceptions have been eminently satisfying,
and the chorus is remarkably good. When
the range of seat prices is borne in mind,
the offerings appear to be excellent be-
yond question.
The Columbia Players have added an
other success to their long list in Green
Stockings and the fact is all the more
remarkable because 1T was but few
months ago, in the same theater that
Margaret Anglin and her splendid star
ring company presented the play. Yet. so
we'll was the production of the Columbia
Players liked that 1t was next to i'm
possible to obtain seats on any day a
performance was given. Capacity audi
ences'' may not mean much to the aver
age public. but they are what help the
management to provide the best. and they
are i'm evidence when one sees the space
back Of the last row of seats crowded
with standing spectators and the seats
themselves filled. Vacant seats sometimes
mean their purchasers have been pre-
vented from using them. not that they
have not been sold. The management
has no reason for refusing to sell seats
that remain unsold.
The Butterfleld Players continue to
draw hosts Of their local admirers. re-
CARELESS Of competition. They could not
do 1t unless their offerings were attrac-
tive and their players fully competent to
meet the demands of the varied plays
they have presented. Stock companies
and stock productions have received a
very strong Endorsement in Washington
thus far this season.
The Academy is again in the field under
new management as a house of high
class. refined vaudeville. Its prices are
very low and it's attractions thus far I'M
usually entertaining and meritorious. The
announced policy Of 1.-The best offerings
at the lowest prices" with special con-
sideration for women and children. pa
irons. should make the new venture
popular and profitable one. 1
DIDN'T APPEAL TO HIM.-Edith Hell
ena. the Aborn soprano. whose friends
are legion in Washington, has son, a
young hopeful of twelve. up at her coun-
try place, Helena Farms, Dykemans, N.
Y, who was the original Buster Brown
and whose sense OF humor often enlivens
any dull moments that may creep into
her life while on the road.
His latest effusion to her, besides being
filled with a hieroglyphic story of the
cold weather and its effect on his over
heated bed chamber. full of real humor
and very laughable, contains story at
the expense of a young companion named
Quirk at the farms.
Young "Bup" az he loves to sign him
self, Ia very fond of music, especially the
music sung by his charming mother. He
has a large and splendidly equipped
songs and reproduces his favorite selec-
tons. Quirk likes music. too. but he is
strong for mems songs and mems voices.
Recently Bup wanted record of the
mother had sung for a special gathering
and which had been reduced to record.
He sent Quirk, his companion. to the vii
lage. which boasts an elaborate music
store for its size. to get another record.
his original record having been broken or
damaged In some way.
After waiting nearly three hours he
saw Quirk numbering up the road, the
picture of detection.
Dear me. Quirk.' shouted Bup. "Wfsere
have you been and where Is my recorl?"
Couldn't get II. Bup." he replied. sadly.
They hunted everywhere and couldn't
find II. and then / took a hunt myself"
You mean to say they have no records
'Oh. yes. they have records of the song,
all right" blurted back Quirk, but every
darn one of 'em Is a womans record"
MISS BONDHILES ''IF."-No profess
sion seems to be governed so completely
by accident or the god of chance as
that Of the actor. Many of the greatest
successes OF the stage have seemed to be
mere matters of coincidence, and failures
seem to be governed by almost as many
happen-sos. An instance of temporary
triumph which may hare been the cause
OF losing an opportunity to star was DEM
onstrated recently in the case of Miss
Gertrude Bondhin. the winsome little
Cincinnati actress ut Polls
Last summer Miss Bondhill was playing
with a stock company in Boston. She re-
ceived a sudden summons one Saturday
night to report to Portland. Me-, to be-
come leading lady at keiths Theater
The offer had come through a sudden
disagreement between the theater mana
ger and Miss Margaret Lawrence, who
had been playing the leading roles.
Miss Lawrence went to New York and
was engaged by William A. Brady for
leading role in a play which every one
predicted could hardly last more than
two weeks on Broadway. That play was
over Night" II made q Sensational
hit. and Miss Lawrence's success was es-
tablished.
Now Miss Bondhill is wondering what
might have happened II. instead Of being
20 fortunate (as she supposed at that
lawrence vacated. she had gone to New
York out Of work just at that psycholog-
icai moment She will play Miss Law
rence's Over Night role this week at