The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-12-28
By JULIA CHANDLER MaNz.

Every good wish for prosperous New
Year for Washington theaters gives
promise Of fuIfIlment, not only during
the current week, but through the
months which yet lie ahead of us before
the closing of the present dramatic sea
son; for the attractions promised Wash
ington pIaygoers for the next few months
cover a wide scope of exceptional attrac-
tiVeness.
Following a holiday week of no start
ling interest, We enter tomorrow night
upon the first week of the New Year
with most interesting and comprehen-
sive list of productions. so varied in their
nature as to cover every possible taste
in the matter of theatrical entertainment
At the New National Theater We have
the practical premiere of the first Henry
W. Savage production of the present sea-
son, a Hungarian operetta entitled
"Sari" pronounced as though the was
Ih, and the a as broad as in ARM, which
was given a try-out in Atlantic City
Christmas night
1t brings to us for the second time this
season Miss MizZi Hajos, the little Hun
Earian singer, who made her American
debut two years ago last August in THE
Spring Maid" as the principal member
of a company which included Blanche
DufieId, Harry Davenport, and Charles
Meakins all of whom will be again seen
in her support during the present week.
Henry w. Savage is responsible for the
Viennese invasion of this country. 1t was
ne who brought over 1.-The Merry Widow"
the great success of which he is hopeful
of repeating in Sara hope which is
based on substantial ground, If the charm
Of the operetta equals that of the star
who will interpret the title role, for Miss
Haios exudes magnetism from her every
hnr ar he
Theater earlier in the season in most
delightful performance as Her Little
Highness'' which afterward suffered dis
NAL failure in New York, through no
FAULT of its quaint and original star, how
ever.
.'Sari'' is the first of four new produc-
lions which Mr.. Savage announces Tor
this season, each one of which furnishes
a substantial refutation to the protest
Of disappointed young authors against
the favoritism of theatrical managers,
whom they claim, will give no chance
to budding genius, nor ever read~the
manuscript of one whose name is I'M
known. Noting the names attached to
the authors and adapters of the new piece
listed by Mr.. Savage for production be-
fore the present season closes, hnd tnat
not one of them is a craftsman who has
attained the heights of prominence 10
say nothing of those of fame.
pean success, the music for which was
furnished by Emmerich Kalman, the
admiration for the American stage having
been made by c. S. Gushing and Z. +.
Heath the latter following the most
UNIQUE plan of travelling ahead OF the
operetta which he helped to make in the
interest of press work in its penah-
Neither the name of Mr.. Gushing nor
that of Mr. Heath is to be fund in the
list of authors of produced works
.'OId Reliable" announced as the sec
ond new Savage production for TINS sea-
son. is a three-act comedy written py
Harris Dickson, a name familiar TO
thousands of fiction readers, but one
which has never before appeared upon
a theater program. Along Came Ruth,
third in the Savage prospectus, is the
adaptation of a very successfu FRENCH
comedy made by Holman Day, announcer
cognomen known to fiction readers put
stronge to tbsatersoers. THE King OF
the Mountains the fourth venture
which will be made this season by Mr..
Savage is a Franz Lehar operetta MADE
into English by Carolyn Wells, versiher
and magazine humorist but hitherto IN
identified with stage writing.
The big public which enjoyed the MT
ing waltz music of THE Merry Widow"
will doubtless find new cause for enthu-
siasD in ''Sari' which IS said to De
reminiscent of the former famous wen
nese operetta, and to quite rival IL IN
beauty of musical theme and production.
pIavgoer. who revel in clever trayesty
and shrewd satire; comedy without clap
trap. presented by an excellent COM
pany, will find keen enjoyment this week
in Arnold Benefits dramatic version OF
his famous novel, Buried Alive, the
stage version of-which comes TO us tnls
week at the Belasco Tneater under the
title Of THE Great Adventure with
LYNN Harding and Miss Janet Beecher
in the leading roles.
The Great Adventure" was used py
WinthropSAmes last October to open his
new Booth Theater, proving pleasant
refreshment to New York amusement
seekers after the long course of
malodorous extravaganCes to which they
had been subjected. The production
which comes to the Belasco this week is
identical with that which dedicated the
New York Booth Theater, and is said 10
be a true reflection of Mr.. Ames' arts
tic taste as regards both plays and play
ers.
In 'The Great Acknowledgements
alone by Mr. Bennett-the author makes
as much sport of English customs as is
the habit of Bernard Shaw, although all
the fun is not poked at England, but at
the ludicruous hero worship in many
landslide impassioned eulogy of talent
after its possessor has passed beyond the
reach of any personal gain that might
accrue to him through such praise The
theme is original, and its treatment
clever and whimsical, promising week
of rare fun.
Miss Annie RusseIrs Ola English Com |
edy Company returns this week to Wash |
ington at the Columbia Theater.Nwith
repertory embracing THE School for
ScandaT' and ''She Stops to Conquer.
Miss Russell. whose artistic achieve
ments stand for the very best there Is
in dramatic art, scored her first big sue
cess in Frances Hodgson Burnetts "Es-
mereIda" when the actress was only
girl. The piece was given $50 presenta-
tons in the good old days of the Madi- |
son Square Theater, New York. The 80 s
may seem long way on to the new
generation of playgoers, but not so far
away to those who still recall Miss Rus |
sells girlhood triumphs in the Madison |
SQUARE Stock Company where she |
played ingenue roles and won marked
success as Lady Vavir in w. S. Gilbert's