The Washington herald., 1914-05-31
An Unusual Diversity
OF Summer AnluSenlentS
Warm Weather Brings No Abatement in Efforts
of Washington Managers to Offer Public :
Suitable Entertainment.

The first month of summer finds Wash
ington blessed with more amusement
than we have hitherto enjoyed during the
stock season. The excellent Aborn or
sanization of opera singers is presenting
the greater fayorites Of the grand
operas at popular prices for season
which is yet to last several weeks at the
New National Theater; two well-bai-
anced aggregations OF players are Of
fering excellent plays in stock produc-
tons, at figures which give those who are
not able to pay the winter schedule OF
prices in the theaters an opportunity to
see many worthy dramas, while the vaude-
Vile houses and Glen Echo Park still
further extend the confines of summer
attractions. furnishing a diversity of en-
tertainment which should satisfy the
most fastidious taste.
Following is a guide to plays and play
ers to be seen in local theaters this week:
National-Aborn Opera Company.
The old-time vogue of the Aborn Eng
lish Grand Opera Company in Washing
ton has not only been renewed but has
been Increased in their reappearance at
the New National Theater, where the
first two weeks of their present season
have brought forth larger audiences than
ever. A welcome contrast and conse-
quent musical variety is observed in the
program for their third week, for Puc-
cini's beautiful la Boheme" and Flo
tow's vivacious Martha" will occupy the
first and second halves of the week, re-
spectively.
These two operas. representing two de-
cidedly different schools of operatic COM
position, each have their particular ad-
mirers, but both are popular with music
lovers in general.
While Puccini's La Boheme" is a ia
miliar feature of the grand opera roper
toire in Italian, and ranks in popularity
with the same composers Madam But
terfiy' and La Tosca," its presentation
in English is something out of the ordi-
nary and is to be considered an important
novelty.
While Martha" is given in a grand
opera series. It is technically designated
as an opera comique, and its popularity
is mainly ascribed to the abundance of
melody in its score, and to its light and
attractive character, forming a refresh
ing contrast to the usual grand opera
fare.
The casts for the coming week will in
clude Johanna Kristoffy and Elena
Kirmes, who will appear alternately as
Mimi in La Boheme' and Lady Harriet
in Martha" Albert Amadi and Walter
Wheatley to share the performances in
the tenor roles of both operas; James
Stevens will sing the four performances
OF Marcel in "Boheme," and Alfred Kauf
man will have the role of Colline in the
same opera; Mr.. Stevens and Mr.. Kauf-
man will share the performances of
Plunkett in Martha" Gladys Chandler
as Musetta in the first opera and Louise
lie Baron as Nancy in the second; Paul
Galazzi as Schaunard and Tristan, and
Mario Carboni as Aloindoro and Benoit
In "Boheme."
Columbfa-"Lfbert HAIL.
Manager Fred G. Berger. Of the Colum-
bia Theater, presents the Columbia Play
ers this week in Liberty Hall" 1t is a
comedy in four acts by r. C. Carton, the
euthor of Lord and Lady Algy," and
many other successes. Its original pro-
duction in this country was at the EN-
pire Theater, in New York, August q,
1893, following THE Girl I Left Behind
Me-" with which Mr.. Frohman opened
the house When Mr.. Frohman cast
about him for a play with which he could
appropriately celebrate the Empires
twentieth anniversary he selected Lib
erty Hall" as the most representative
that great home of successes. William
Todman. the kind-hearted old book
seller in the play, is one OF those parts
such as we have become accustomed to
picture David Warfield in. In both pro- |
ductions at the Empire it was played by |
Lennox Pawle. who was last seen here |
in "Pomander Walk" George Barber |
will interpret the role for the Columbia |
company. The so-called Mr.. Owen is an |
other part of exceptional worth. Henry |
Miller played it originally. John Mason |
in the recent revival, and Earl Brown is |
cast for It this week. Among the fem
inine roles. that of Blanche Chilworth |
stands forth as one of exceptional merit. |
Violet Heming will appear in it. Others |
in the cast are Jessie Glendinning as Amy |
Chilworth. Everett Butterfield as Hon. |
Gerald Tanquery; George Darrell as J. |
Brigin John NJ. Kline as Mr.. Ped
rick. Willard Robertson as Mr. Hickson. |
Carrie Thatcher as Miss Hickson, David
Chase as Robert Binks. Julia Blanc as
Crater, and George Marshall as Lus-
combe.
Poli's-''The Spendtkrift."
1.-The Spendthrift" story Of modern
American life written by Porter Emer-
son Browne, author Of "A Fool There
Was" is announced as this weeks at
traction at Polls Theater. The play ran
eleven months at the Hudson Theater In
New York three years ago, and has
since achieved success in every impor-
tant city in the United States and in
London. It tells the story of the wreck
Of family's happiness. brought about
BY the divergence of thought and the
different paths followed in the pursuit
If happiness by a husband and wife The
woman longs for luxuries. and because
of his love for her, the husband makes
every effort to supply her wishes. At the
End of hopeless struggle he Ii forced
nto bankruptcy. When the smash comes
lis wife, realizing that she is responsible
'or his ruin, undertakes to borrow money
10 repair the harm she has done. This
,ction on her part merely leads to more
tragic consequences and brings about
he big moment of cne of the most pow
srful stage stories produced in recent
Years.
The production of "The Spendthrift"
established Porter Emerson Browne as
n school of American playwrights. The
lction OF The Spendthrift" begins in
Richard Wards town house in New
Fork. shifts to Mrs. Wards boudoir In
he same mansion, and ends in a New
FORK boarding house five months later.
Hiss Jewel will be seen in the title role
dr. Buhler will have the character of ,
Richard Ward, the husband. Frank ,
shannon, as Monty Ward: William D. ,
,orbett, as Philip Cartwright: Stanley
lanes. as Suffern Thorne: Cecil Bowser.
g Saunders; Gertrude Bondhill, as Clar-