Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-11-30


describe Ii pretty bad boy.
How the efforts to provide unfortunate
little Mizzi Hatos with suitable vehicle
overlooked this choice CLEAN of Hoboken
fancy is unexplained. 1t is quite in line
with the standard of taste manifested IN
equipping her. Perhaps her luck is due
10 the fact that F. c. Whitney saw it
first.
The wonderful Russian dancer Pavlowa
preceded '~The Innocent Sinner" at the
Beasco- Her engagement, though brief
as measured by the customary bookings
for this city. was longer than so highly
specialized form of entertainment can
be expected to maintain with capacity
audiences. Pavlowa is thoroughly exotic.
a reminder of the luxurious development
of a civilization still close to the orient.
one in which the entertainment of a po-
tentate is a consideration of as much i'm
portance as informing him to public
policies. Pavlowa is one of the glitterfng
intensities of art, an expression or the
dance so highly developed that 1T is
enabled to reflect emotions and ideas as
well as to express physical grace. She
is personality of peculiar aloofness from
the entertainers customarily seen in
Mordkin-and the rivalry was so strong
it is small wonder that their appearances
on the same stage could not be continued
Julia Sanderson returned with The
sunshine Girl in as complete sympathy
as before with the title role. Miss
Sanderson is one or the young women
of the stage who seem quite content
to be themselves She initiates no one.
Her demure charm makes the en-
phatic comedy of Joe Cawthorne all
the more effective by contrast. Mr..
Cawthorne still plays the concertina.
Perhaps he would like to dismiss this
old friend, as most comedians yearn to
depart from the lines OF early effort.
But the music of concertina as he
plays ii is as different from the ordi-
nary squeak and wneeze as a solo by
Ysaye is from the tunes of the fiddler
officiating at a rural dance. His pubic
would not consider an appearance with
out the concertina complete, any more
than il would be content to let MIR.
Al Jolsen leave the stage without at
least once delivering his explosively
individualized pronunciation of the
word Pittsburgh"
The Old Homestead" is the stand
patter of the theater. 1t does not
change. 1t introduces no current hits
and the dialogue invites no scientific
speculation. Yet the public continues
TO go to see il. 1t represents an old
method of dramatic composition in
which a play was gradually developed
instead of being delivered complete
under contract. The method is slow,
but its results have pro we'd enduring.
The Old Homestead was at first a
variety skit From one short act 1t
was developed into an evenings en-
tertainment, and the rough fun was
eliminated. to make room for the pa
Ihos and sincere humanity which gives
II permanent charm. Denman Thomp-
son loved the play. Perhaps he doubt
ed If il would survive in popularity
without his own personality to animate
its interest, for even when he was
not playing he was usually near at
hand. His conscientiousness was Illus
trated by an episode which also sug-
Sested d certain whimsical obduracy.
The manager of the theater in a New
England town where he was TO play
made the announcement, Last Appear
ance of Denman Thompson The star
Kept. Although he frequently played
IN that part of the country, he never
again appeared in that particular COM
Inuuity.
The gradual development process was
10 Il large extent that which produced
Rip Van Wrinkle under Joseph Jefrer-
son masterful supervision According
10 the chroniclers, the play was by no
means an instantaneous success. The
management OF the Columbia Theater in
casting about for good old-timer with
which TO vary their stock company pres
citations. set up a search for a prompt
book OF Frank Chanfrau's melodrama
KIT the Arkansaw Traveller" No COPY
% the manuscript could be found So
much of the play had been developed in
actual speech that no available record
remained.
The experiences of vaudeville manage
lnent In idealizing all that pertains to II
gives that form of entertainment one of
ITS chief allurements. A holiday be-
comes the peculiar trade mark of a vau-
deville program. 4 Thanksgiving bill
might not be identified as such TO any
great degree in the actual performance.
induce a mood of cheer. Mr.. Chase
whose farewell to the city was, doubtless,
none the less regretful because abrupt.
not only celebrated all the holidays with
great enthusiasm, but devised a calendar
which featured anniversaries in conve-
nient abundance. Mr.. Keith has not
abandoned the CHEEKY custom. 1t Is pos
sibIe to extend it indefinitely. House
warming, birthday, wedding and any
number of other anniversaries may be
mentioned as extra added attractions,
thereby Joining the sentiment of personal
interest to the enjoyment of the stage d.
version The vaudeville anniversary at
present inviting interest is one of gen
uine importance in the world of enter
tainment, and is conspicuous event not
only here but in number of cities night
ly engaged in burning electricity in cele-
bration of Mr.. Keith.
Washington has evinced a decided lik-
ing for the plays that have pleased In
days gone by. Polls is steadily gather
ing an assemblage of actors whose por
trayals command sincere consideration
and who enable some of the performances
10 rate rather as revivals than as imi-
tative reproductions.
r. PHILANDER JOHNSON