Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-02


beautifully melodious con-
ceit. was one of the real
gems OF the Aborn English
grand opera season. The enthusiastic ap-
uiause that greeted its presentation at
every performance was but partial
manifestation of the real delight the Of
fering gave to those who heard III, many
of them for the first time.
The close of the Aborn season next
sunday evening will cause genuine regret
to those who really love opera and who
have been faithful patrons OF the dozen
fine offerings served during the past six
weeks at the National Theater. La
Boheme," La Tosca." II Trovatore."
"'The Tales of Hoffman,, Madam But
terfy" That's" Aida" '.Lohengrin,
"M!gnon," Lucia di Lammermoor."
.Hansel and Gretel" and "Cavalleria Rus
ticana" are repositories of some of the
choicest music I'm the operate repertoire.
These will be supplemented with Car
men and ''Rigoletto'' this week.
More than thirty spleldli artists have
been heard in these operas AT prices rang
ing from dollar downward All the
operas have been we'll staged and beauti-
the Messrs. Aborn certainly merits the
cordial and continuous support of all who
really love good music.
Six evenings OF unalloyed enjoyment.
with extra matinees, were furnished huI-
dreds of patrons oil the local stock coln-
panies the past week with Seven Days
and. The seven SISTERS" Ii was pure
to regret and great deal to b. pleasantly
remembered.
The famous Lambs and their al-star
gambol have come and gone. Bearing in
mind the naive nerve of The enterprise,
even the lofty prices, i. was nevertheless
4 great enterta nmeRl. The finale, show
ing more than two score OF the greatest
players on the American stag n roles III
which they first won fame. was i'npres-
sive and memorable.
The Gambol will be re- ,alled as the ex-
altation OF the glittering genus as well
as the genial gall of ths:isccal Nav York.
1t was deservedly humored by those who
paid 10 see II.
IT'S DIFFERENT NOW.-Brigham
Royce. the new stage director OF the
Butterfield Players. tells of many in
teresting experiences in his chosen line
of work. but none more lauShable
than that of his endeavor to manage
the stage for Nine. Modjeska and Otis
Skinner when he was but nineteen
years of age. which he says, at
least demonstrated that had nerve.
My first engagement, said Mr..
Royce. was with Marie Wainwright
when she was producing Twelfth
Night That season i acted as stage
manager, which is a position subor-
dinate TO that of stage director. The
manager sees that the directors in
structions are carried out and attends
to the thousand and one mechanical
details of a performance.
THE next season Miss Wainwriehts
manager recommended me. at my re-
quest, to Joseph Buckley. manager for
Modjeska and-Skrnner,-w who were max
Like It.. The Merchant of Venice,
Mary StuaIt, 'Magda' and Macbeth 1
knew notifying about any of the plays
except AS You Like It and The
gagged, and two of the most eventful
weeks of my life commenced. Things
happened every minute and | became
involved in one fast and furious
whirl. which steadily increased the
bewilderment of my Keeling brain and
shattered every rudiment of what lit.
tie knowledge of stage mechanics I
had. MIR. Skinner. was the stage direc
tor of the company, but my luckless
ignorance made his finest efforts go
for naught. Though the son of a min
lister, Mr.. Skinner handed out the
greatest line of profuse and whitening
verbosity for my benefit 1 have ever
heard.
The elimination of this experience
occurred in Toronto. Canada. when Mr..
skinner produced Macbeth for the
first time. and, / believe. the last. 1t
was my finish, and | went down to my
doom in blaze of blithering ignominy.
Macbeth continued Mr.. Royce lis
so difficult that the only person who
ever really acted as stage manager
through one of it's performances with
cut prompt book. so far as / know
was the late Robert Eberle. However.
! went blindly TO my fate. Besides
acting as stage manager | doubled in
two parts-one OF the witches and the
physician in the sleep-walking scene.
My sight being weak at that time l
used gold trimmed glasses. and, of
course. wore them OF stage to read
the prompt book. In my excitement
forgot TO take them on when | went
on as a witch. Imagine witch with
gold-rtmmed glasses, l had the
supers go on at inopportune times.
my thunder and lightning were all
askew. curtains were held or delayed
In raising and finally ! managed to
get Skinner boxed up behind some fiat
scenery Just when he should have been
on tho stage lighting McDuf
i had him so ratified that later he
forgot TO ring down the curtain in
the sleep walking scene and only did
so after Modjeska had given the cue.
CUT damned spot many more times
IMAM Shakespeare wrote IL. The i'm
mortal bard must have turned in his
grave that night. At any rate Mr.
buckley gave me my immediate notice
ana paid me the customary two weeks
SaIary rather than have me continue
| didn't blame him
During all this time Nine. Modieska
Rad never said word of complaint or
otherwise. But as | passed her dress
HS room on my way out or the theater
that night the door was open. madame
looked up and fairly shivered as she
said. Meestcr Royce, OH you aire Won
eedeot But what was the use. /
knew It,.
SCHESTER'S WITTICISMS William
Schuster. the Aborn basso. likes to have
fun with the other fellow He has been
quite successful with dense people but
he yearned for higher victories. and this
is what happened.
Yesterday afternoon. seated around n
table in lfe-givine parlor with Charlie
WuerZ, the Baltimore manager: DR.
Purdy the local manager: James
Stevens the baritone and Karl Schroeder
the stage director. William led off as
follows
Yes. it's all very well 10 talk; but
know English grand opera is a success
and I don't mean to wait for my fortune
In IL BY trying 10 save on salary
Waterous and ] are going to put on