The Washington herald., 1914-04-19
Nv JULIA CHANDLER MANI.

initial performance at the Belasco Thea-
ter tomorrow evening. 1t is announced as
a rnelodrama with a musical setting, py
Ashley MiIler-a new name on the autnor-
ship rostrum of the theatrical worio-
while ALFRED Solomon is responsible ior
the music, which is said to have sncn
vital connection with the story.
The cast is remarkably brief, there De-
inc hut one male character in the play,
and three women The hero of the story
is a young composer by the name OF Bert
Chester, who will be created tomorro"
night by Charles Maude-a cousin 10
Cyril Maude, who is at present appearihs
in Grumpy in New York City. Charles
Nsude is also a grandson Of the incom-
narable Jenny Lind, which may account
for his gift Of music
Mr. Maude has been in this country
about three months. having come TO New
York from England to create the ttle
mart in The Philanderer, under the
management of Granville Barker. Prior
TO his New York engagement Mr.. Mauoe
created in London the role OF Pierrot IN
s'Prunella" also the leading male part IN
BELLA Donna" and was for three years
leading Juvenile at the Haymarket The
ater He was selected to create the role
Of Bert Chester in Mr.. Miller's new piece
because of his combined dramatic aolllty
and accomplishments as a pianist
In fact, their musical ability had TO De
taken into prime consideration in the Sc
lection of each member OF the cast OF
Ambition" Miss Ethel Browning, the
only American in the play dn private NE
the wife of the author), has been ABROAD
for the past two years rounding out her
musical education in the study OF oper-
attic roles in Italy and Germany. prior to
eEa largely l0enIlneO
with classical drama, although her last
American appearance was in Marta OF
the I.owlands," at the Amsterdam The
ater New York
Another player who will have large
share of the responsibility in Launching
the new drama this week is Miss Margue-
rita St. John. who for the past three
wears has been appearing with george
Arliss in "Disraeli." Miss st. John Is
native of London and came TO TINS coun-
try originally as the star IN reNlNaIs Vi
Old English Comedies.
The fourth member Of the cast OF Am
hition"-Miss Helen Royden, who VIII
create the role of a flashy musical COM
edv prima donna-hails from Dublin. Ire
land. For two years past Miss Royden
has been singing in concert, vaudeville,
and opera. in Stuttgart, Vienna. Berlin,
Munich. Dresden, Budapest and Brus-
sells before which time she was seen In
Now York under the Shubert manage
rnent in THE Vanderbilt Cup" She has
also appeared under the management of
George Tyler and the Lieblers. and Is
said to be the possessor of coloratura
sonrano voice of splendid training.
The announcement Of a new dramatic
production which is neither musical COM
edv nor operetta. but which has dis
tinct musical setting. and a dis
tinguished cast smacks of novelty
and fustifies the curiosity and interest
which has manifested itself on the part
of playgoers concerning It.
Aside from Ambition" Cthe New Ma
tional Theater heing dark this week., vau-
devillc and stock productions hold the
center Of the local stage this week. Anna
Held being headlined at the B. F. keith
Theater Miss Izetta Jewel returning
from well nigh four months vacation to
rejoin the Poll Players, and the Column
hia Company introducing Miss Violet
Hemming as leading lady for the stock
season of 1914 in Miss Billie Burke's for
mer success. THE Runaway" which !
should prove a happy choice for Miss
Hemming's initial appearance here at
the head Of a stock organization.
During the summer of 1912. when Miss
HemminC PLAYED the ingenue roles with !
the Columbia Players in this city. she so !
projected her magnetic beauty across the
footlights that she became a great favor |
ite with the patrons of the F street play |
house having won several distinctive
personal hits during the period of her
connection with the company. as a con- |
sequence of which she received warm |
welcome when she returned to Washing |
ton in one of the leading feminine roles |
in "Disraeli." with George Arliss. last
fall Nor did she rest solely on her lau- |
rels of past achievement during her en-
"a agement with Mr. Arliss at the New |
Theater in November. for she
added to the youthful beauty and
cirlish charm which had captivated her
former audiences that technical facility |
which her earlier work had promised.
Miss Hemming's histrionism is an in |
heritance. going hack on her fathers |
side for many generations. while her
mother was the original GLORY Quayle"
in the London presentation of THE Chris
tian," and the young leading lady has /
been on the stage almost from the time |
she was in swaddlinG clothes. She
played wendy in Peter Pan" was seen
in Fluffy Ruffies," and later as the Gre
ator of "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm"
following which she was with Albert |
Chevelier in Daddy Dufard." and was
later seen here in Armstrong and Misner's
The Deep Purple"
The little English lady has achieved a
rapid and notable stage success with
ease because Of her COM
bined ability. the magnetism of her
youthful beauty. and the cOntagion Of
her enthusiasm.
Her appearance here as leading lady Of
the Columbia Players argues well for a
prosperous stock season at the street !,
playhouse.
It is hard to decide which is the hap
pier. Miss Izetta Jewel to he back in dra-
matte harness, or her loyal public to have
her back. I had a delightful little chat
with her one afternoon last week for the
purpose of learning all about her long
vacation and how she looks upon the
many long weeks of arduous work which
lie ahead of her before the spring and
summer season of the Poll Players shall
nave closed. We have heard a deal of
Miss Jewels gay doings since she re-
ired from the Poll stage for a much
needed vacation the first of last January. Il
And she tells me that reports have not
the good time she has had
n Central and South America, where she
las been attending every variety of So
.ial function in tie almanac, and Incl
lentally adding brightness to the humor-
,us twinkle in her blue eyes. II
You remember those four or five very /
,retty white frocks she wore in The {
Ie'er Do weIr' shortly before she went |
way? S
When she found out that she was to {
Lppear in this piece she consulted certain
Lttaches of the Panama Legation and !