Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-02-09

company from New "
present From broadway TO
Paris was not theatrical en-
gagement, it was an invasion.
The purpose was to offer something quite
new In theatrical entertainment and the
purpose was accomplished. Novelty after
all is largely n matter of geography. An
Eskimo might he astonished by bunch
of bananas. and a native of the Kongo
would be no less moved to admiration by
SNOWFALL Much of the surprise in
broadway to Paris arises from seeing
variety program of the broader sort
where II was least expected. There has
been a constant endeavor to revive in
theatrical entertainment something of the
dashing. whimsical spirit that the late ].
Cheever Goodwin threw into ''Evange-
line" The Merry Monarch Wang
and other pieces which combined melody
with true fun. His was the art. of trav-
esty. There Is many show producer to-
day who. il asked about LongfeIlow or
'Evangeline," would remember the first
AZ celebrated race horse and take 1T for
granted that the other was a topicaI
songstress of whose accomplishments he
had not vet heard. MIR. Edgar Smiths
productions reflect the spirit of genuine
burleeQue. In that they base upon thor
oughly known and understood material a
fandful fabric of hunor. 1t is true that
tho basis is itself ephemeral being made
M of the current stage successes, but the
process Is legitimate. As CheeVer Good
win displayed in the pieces he wrote for De
Wolf Hopper and Francis Wilson, the
ability to originate in plot. we'll to
Satirize previously established works, Mr..
Smith has shown until his nightmare
that he is not wholly dependent upon the
Inspiration OF more formal and we'll es-
tablished productions.
Puns a la mode. Some of Barney Bar
nard's stage talk suggests that he is the
man who put the Broad" in Broad
way"
1t Is when satire. attempts to proceed
without the foundation of previous knowl-
edge that chaos reigns> and fun is re-
placed by sheer. boisterous endeavor a
large assemblage of undeniably clever
people is turned loose in a go-as-you-
please match for the laughter and ap-
pIause medal. At the finish 1T was gem
orally conceded that the bicycle acrobats
won out.
Line for a possible epilogue: Now is
the winter garden of our discomfort,
In the style of dancing which she has
studied with evident sincerity. Miss Ger
tr1ade Hoffman, deserves recognition, in
the same category with Isidora Duncan
Ruth ST. Denis or Maude Allen. But
while these are using the music of Bee
thoven, Miss Hoffman, is compelled to dis
play her talents in an atmosphere of rag
time, and not very spirited ragtime at
that The result is shallow. The touch of
poetry is lost in the noisy harangue of
the most garish platitudes known to the
comic stage.
Chorus for. officers of the law who are
called on to do their duty in censuring
musica review: "A POlicemanS Lot Is
Not Happy One"
Managers aver that they cannot produce
plays for the young person" In order
to survive they must please the tired
business man. AS matter of fact the
musical show appears to attract to its
audiences more of the Y. p. element than
of the T. B. NJ. The bald head has dis
appeared from the front row. The high
collar and very large hair blossom in
those former haunts of cranial aridity.
IL the tired business man is there he is
liable to be accompanied by his feminine
family. His surroundings are censorious.
and many times if he fails TO look bored
Il is only because he is a trifie scared.
When he arrives at the theater he usually
looks fresh. alert and happy. The fact
that he is at the theater indicates that
business with him has its pleasures and
rewards and has progressed beyond the
ing the program II may be possible to dis
cover what IL really IS that has made
The tired business man tired.
What has become of the good old at
traction that used 20 use up space the
nilFboards with the announcement that it
had been indorHed alike by press and
pulpit?
Protest (simply matter Of form
and without hope of result: The way
Miss Mary Garden resuscitated Baron
Scarpia and dragged him in front of the
curtain on Friday afternoon was enough
10 make the Eemergency Hospital staff
come around and beg for a copy of the
prescription.
May Irwin progresses gradually hut
!iSfDIy COMEDY.
After she sailed into celebrity with that
Ethiopian classic, The New Bully she
established herself as the foremost in
terpreter of rough comic song among
the women OF the stage She has known
how TO educate her public. Little by
little she depended less on the comic
songs and more on legitimate lines and
situations Now. in The Widow by
Proxy" she has us applaudinS a deli
cate little song OF sentiment which seems
to blossom UP through the story OF the
play like a Wild flower by the roadside
And the play itself. while d variation on
rather familiar theme dealing with in
heritances. mistaken identities and lovers
quarrels, has charming thread of sus-
tanned interest that compels you to wait
until the third act Strengthens out the
tangle OF circumstances May Irwin.
once the lustiest coon shouter of them
all, rs now presenting a bit of sincere and
poetic sentiment with grace that can
not be resisted Maybe Eddie Foy will
get away with that idea Of his about
playing Hamlet yet
PHII.ANDER JOHNSON.
RAYMOND ON FRENCH DRAMA
RAYMOND Hitchcock was called upon