The Washington herald., 1914-02-01
By JULIA CHANDLER MANz.

ing lts grip Is not connneu " "oS'-e
ton managers. Public indifference to the
drama has been so marked all over the
country during the present season az TO
have awakened deal of theorizing and
speculation on the part of those most vi
tally concerned
In an editorial in last weeks New YORK
Dramatic Mirror anent the subject we
are informed that there have never been
SO many players idle as during the past
few years, while four influences that
have sprung into being very recently are
cited as the cause.
The first of these is the automobile, a
large number of former theater patrons
preferring the pleasures obtained through
their ownership of a car to a regular at
tendance upon the drama, as a conse-
quence of which the latter pleasure has
been foregone for the former. The
marked Improvement in vaudeville, at
tracing the folk who formerly ATTENDED
the drama only; the wonderful progress
of cinematograph art from the few spor-
adic films of a few years back to the
present screen presentation Of beautiful
and costly spectacles, and the mania Tor
cabaret and tangoing are offered as three
other baneful influences on the popularity
of the high-priced theaters.
The Mirror suggests that it is high time
that the producing manager arose and
put his house in order. offering as RENE
dial measures a greater attention to the
drama as an important branch of art to
be considered equally with literature,
music painting. and sculpture, with the
elimination of much OF the commercial
ism that has marked the latter-day pro-
ductions, and suggesting to house man
Rgers a greater effort in the matter OF
attractive playhouses. and courteous
treatment Of the patrons thereof, every
theater thus seeking to cultivate a follow
ing. adding that "the theater is sick and
needs a nurse.
All of this is timely talk. and is fraught
with much wisdom. save in the latter
statement
It isn't the theater that is sick and in
need Of a nurse. but a public degenerated
to SO many and varied frivolities that il
is losing its taste for artistic drama
I could cite long list of undeniable
proof of this where Washington is con-
cerned, of which there is no more notable
an example than the small patronage OF
Romance last week.
Edward Sheldon's impassioned love tale
brought to US Miss Doris Keane in the
most vivid and vital expression of dra-
matte art which We have seen in years,
the production received a smaller support
here in the nations capital than in any
other city in which il has been given
since its first presentatiop.
Maria Rosa" which preceded "Ro-
nance by two weeks at the Belasco
afforded local playgoers a chance
to see a colorful picture Of the peasant
life of the Catalonia Mountains and a
depletion of their intense emotionalsm
by Miss Dorothy Donnelly and Lou-Tel-
legen. than whom there are no greater
players. Yet just lit
tie handful of folk embraced the oppor-
tunity.
"Disraeli'' furnishes another example
Of Washington's Interpretation in the
matter of real art in the theater, for
when such productions as these will not
attract capacity houses 1t is the public
indeed that is sick, and the producer
is not to blame.
Among the few personalities which
keep a grip on the public is Raymond
who, no matter how IN
or unvarying his roles may be,
succeeds in injecting into them mel
ancholy drollery and comic sorrow which
are inimitable. Each year he reappears
in our midst in the same manner Of part
original jests and puns which invariably
pull the audience into a happy frame of
mind, fact which is accountable for Mr.. |
reputation of being one of
the real funny comedians (and they are
few and far between), on the American |
stage.
Mr.. Hitchcock pays his annual visit to |
rs this week at the New National The |
ater in THE Beauty Shop musical
comedy by the authors of his last years
Pollock and Rennold !
Wolf being responsible for the book and
yrics, while Charles Gebest wrote the |
music, the purpose of the piece being to |
bring out the Hitchcock eccentricities, or !
so It's said.
The Belasco will be the center of in
terest in diplomatic circles this week
since it will be tenanted by Marrying |
Money" a comedy written by Bertram |
Wsrburg and Washington Pezet, son Of |
the Peruvian Envoy to this country. and |
to Gen. J. A. Pezet.
While young Mr.. Pezet was born in |
Lima, Peru, he has spent a great deal
If his time in America, having BEEN edu- |
,ated at Harvard, and having lived in |
his city for nearly twelve years ]
Marrying Money" WIS given its pre-
niere presentation in Syracuse, n. V,
around the Christmas holidays by Gil |
,ert Miller. There is good authority for |
he statement that Lee Shubert and Will |
am A. Brady have bought a substantial |
interest in the comedy, and that It will |
,e taken Immediately into the Playhouse, |
Mr.. Brady's New York theater, after its |
engagement
Mr. Miller is said to have needed the |
id Of astute managerial advice, and SO |
invited Mr.. Shubert ana Mr.. Brady to |
-un down to Atlantic City and look over
he Pezet-Marburg comedy when it was
presented there last week, an invitation |
which was accepted, and which resulted /
n their buying half interest in the piece. |
OF the cast advertised to present Mar
-ying Money here this week little is
Known locally save in the case of VIII
1eming, whose spirited performance for |,
hree seasons in THE Fortune Hunter"
vas a distinct delight to his audiences.
The Columbia Thearer Will be the
Icene tomorrow night of the final re-
of Columbia the nationaIi
,ageant which will be presented the bal
Lnce Of the week beginning Tuesday
light). by 500 amateur players of Wash
ngton for the benefit of Noel House.
oIlowing which comes The Madcap
CALENDAR OF THE WEEK. |;
NationnI-Raymond Hitchcock l.