The Washington herald., 1913-11-23

lOfIuS OF amusement 6uppilCu LOr our per
haps too many theaters. any attraction
that is not unusual or exploited liz some
unusual way is likely TO escape general
notice and fan Of general patronage Fer
Instance. here Is Henrietta Crosman, q
most brilliant Coincidence, expert in hef
art. and Of excellent artistic reputation.
She comes to the not conspicuous Harris
Theater in a busy week. starring In q
new play of a great deal more than ordi-
nary interest. She has nothing to Offer
but legitimate entertainment very well
done. but without advertisement to any
special class. It lacks the notoricty OF
sensationalism and depends only on being
able to attract the notice Of those wha
are yet sane enough TO enjoy the theater
for the legitimate and wholesome amuse-
1nent Il affords. It may be that II she has
the capital TO carry her long enough to
have the slow public tnat likes really
good things find out what she Is offering.
the reward Of good work well done mas
come to her.
Miss Crosrnan's play, "The Tongues OF
Men, is from the pen of Mr.. EDWARD
Childs Carpenter, and Is the story Of a
celebrated prima donna whose private
life has been made the subject Of a
scathing sermon by the clergyman Of q
fashionable church.
The author has handled his theme in
vigorous fashion. avoiding the mawkish-
ness that usually goes with stage dis
cussions OF the old antagonism between
church and theater. Miss Crosman shows
all her breezy briliiancy in the depletion
OF the operatic heroine, and has been
wise enough to engage a very excellent
cast. in which Mr.. Frank Gilmore stands
out in the role of a manly clergyman who
Is not a silly ass in broadcloth. and Mr..
Frederick Truesdell has the congenial part
Of a practical doctor who il the wise
friend Of every one concerned This
really excellent play, well acted, ought
to succeed, and would II we were not all
SO busy following the latest fashions In
white slave drama and other sensations
Of the moment
Really Comic opera.
The term comic opera has been ap-
piled to so many mere girl-and-music
shows that when one sees IL used In an
advertisement or preliminary announce
ment il provokes a tendency to shy. In
the case of THE Madcap Duchess" at
the Globe, the designation is for once cor
rect. The book, for instance, has a plot
clever lines, is written in decent English
by Messrs David Stevens and Justin
Huntly Mccarthy. and IFS lyrics are In
singable verse. Mr.. Victor Herbert has
supplied a score which is tuneful with
out being rag-time or worse The Lro-
ducers have mounted 1t exquisitely. the
Louis XIV period. in which II is placed.
allowing for most dainty settings and
costumes, especially those copied from
the paintings OF watteau.
The cast is headed by Ann Swinburne.
who may not have the sensational at
fractions of some OF our musical noto-
rieties, but who can sing and act with
good equipment and good taste.
Cream of the New York Theaters.
Heading the list for sheer artistry we
have to concede the palm to thu i'm
ported actors, Forbes-Robertson and Mr..
Cyril Maude, in their respective roper
tories. Then justified by the sanction of
time came those long-running attractions.
within the Law" and Peg o. Ny
Heart" In the way OF light music.
Adele and The Madcap Duchess will
be found to please. Lovers OF Jewish
character will find 1t artisticslly depicted
by Mr.. David Warfeld in The Auction
eer' and laughably in Potash and PERI
mutter" Those who favor the Irish. or
who enjoy wit and humor, regardless Of
cannot help joying in Cen
eral John Regan." The ladies arc well
represented by Ethel Barrymore in
''Tante" Elsie Ferguson in "A Strange
Woman" and Henrietta Crosman in 'The
Tongues Of Men" Those who are not
squeamish and like spice will be enter
tanned by the playlets at he Princess and
Madam President" at the Garrick. In