The Washington herald., 1913-02-23
Week Before Inauguration Offers Nothing Startling Local Playhouse
Brutus of d. r. MacLean
Declared Best in America
Bernstein IS Latest Drama Comes to the National
"The Merry Countess" VIII Take on Aspect
of Strauss Festival at the Belasco

Laughing Song" Mabel Burnege, the
famous English beauty: the Dolly twins.
VINO made their first American hit in
terpsichorean art at the New York Win
ter Garden; Lysa Graham. premier dam
seuse, and others equally as delightful
to contemplate in combination with the
captivating music of Johann Strauss.
John Mason comes this week to the
National Theater In the latest of Henry
Bernstein's dramas. THE Attack" which
aroused SO much interest during its ca
reer at the Gymnase Theater. in Paris
that Charles Frohman secured the
American rights, having Mr.. Mason in
mind at the time for the stellar role,
Lucien Guitry.
Both the American star and the French
dramatist have established a large fol-
lowing in this country. The Bernstein
dramas which have had the most bril-
liant success are THE Thief" Israel"
Brother jacques" and Samson"
which was used by william Gillette
John Mason. whose real name is Hill
Belcher. is an American by birth. who
made his first appearance on the stage
at the age Of twenty. in the Walnut
Street Theater. Philadelphia During
that season he appeared in a number of
notable plays. supporting such stars as
Lawrence Barrett, Mary Anderson.
Lotta Crabtree, Joseph X. Emmett.
James c. Williamson. Nine Janauschek,
Fanny Davenport. and Frank c. Bangs.
from the beginning of which remarkab BILE
apprenticeship Mr.. Mason displayed his
trionic ability of an unusual order hav
ing since scored many notable successes.
the best remembered of which were in
The Witching Hour and LAS a Man
Thinks in which latter play Mr.. Mason
was seen In the Belasco Theater here
last season.
Lima CavaIieri. who will appear at the.
Columbia Theater Wednesday afternoon
of this week. was the original That's
when the opera was first produced in
Paris, some months prior to the Ameri
can production. OF all the singers in the
opera world, Composer Massenet selected
Cavalieri his ideal That's. and her
Interpretation of the role has been an
inspiration and a challenge to all others
who attempt the part.
Cavalieri was born in Rome, Italy,
Christmas Day. 1876. AS a child she
danced i'm the streets of Rome. and later
became a dancer. Her beauty brought
her to the attention of the King of Italy,
who arranged for her musical education
under the direction of lombard. Her
opera debut, outside of Italy. was In
Lisbon in 1900 Her first American ap-
pearance was at the Metropolitan Opera
House. December ), 1906, with Caruso
She has been absent from America three
years.
THE Painted Woman the romantic
play in four acts, by Frederick Arnold
Hummer which had its premiere in Bal
timore two weeks ago, and which was
seen here last week in the BelaSco The
ater. went into the hands of The doctor
last night for reconstruction in some OF
its parts, after which il will Be presented
in New York.
Had the piece done nothing more than
afford Florence Reed an opportunity to
acquaint the public with the realism Of
her emotional power, it would not have
been in vain, for, in the title role of the
Hummer drama. she fulfilled the prom
Use of smaller roles, proving herself an
nique would do credit to an artist OF
twice her age and stage experience.
Aside from Miss Reeds remarkable
portrayal of the Spanish heroine of the
play. ''The Painted Woman" with its
wealth of tropical scenery, picturesque
costumes, and underlying stratum of
primitive emotions, has so many points
of interest that when the weakness of
the fourth act is remedied it is safe to
predict its success.
In its rresent construction interest
reaches its height at the close of the
second act. when the one great climax
ot the story comes. leaving the piraticaI
tale of the seventeenth century without
the continued suspense necessary to re-
tain interest through the two acts which
follow.
In the reconstructed presentation Of
the play. some changes will be made in
the minor roles. The principals of the
cast will remain as seen here last week.