Evening star., 1914-11-29


who ever had the courage to
imagine that even a tolerant
public. however deeply its
sympathies might be moved by sugges-
tion. could be prevailed upon to support
them. 1t costs money to produce them,
money to bring a company all the way
across the Atlantic. maybe. to play
them, and money to inspire the un-
abashed press agent to exploit them
and yet they do manage to work their
way down to Washington occasionally.
and when they fail they go back to
New York with the report that the
National Capital is n poor theater
town
The story of the Rosary was
launched locally last week. Where it will
go from here probably no one cares.
1t played upon the sentiment which
made beautiful song popular. upon
the possible existence of a war spirit"
in Washington that does not really
exist. and upon the sympathies of those
who might have foreign predictions
but even these added TO the resplen-
dent pictures of the press agent failed
to convince.
In striking contrast was the operetta
'Sari." with its irresistible little star,
Nizzi Hajos which received quite as
warm a welcome on it's second visit as
was accorded it at its first presenta-
tion. II is a common habit to lnstl-
tute comparisons, but in the case OF
''Sari' none is needed M1zZi HaJoS
nuts it in a class by itself for the SIM
ule reason that she is the chief IN
.sredient OF it's success, as pretty as
NAV be its music and entertaining as
may be it's other charms.
Managers Metzerott and Berger have
taken a heroic stand and concluded TO
keep their house dark during the pres
ant week rather than intict upon its
patrons something they feel they do
not want This means loss financially,
hut IL will confirm the confidence the
public has i'll them, if, perchance, Such
confirmation were ever necessary. And
If il is not, it is simply because of the
spirit that has prompted them to take
their present stand.
y =
Shakespeare and Gilbert and Sullivan.
both presented by leading lights IN
their respective fields, will vie each
with the other during the week to win
popular fancy Mr.. Robert Il. Mantell
has an established reputation as stu
dent of Shakespeare and an accom-
plished actor in the presentation OF
Shakespearean characters. "Plnafore,
.sid. from its original and inherent
charm, because il was presented in
Washington the third time ii was seen
in the United States, and by n COM
pany of talented amateurs of this city,
will have a special interest. And TINS
will be augmented by the fact that IL
will be the first of the mammoth New
York Hippodrome shows to be brought
10 the capital. a real ship on real
water is an alluring catch phrase, and
..Pinafore" is not likely to be slignted
III patronage.
Coming attractions announce Rose
Stahl i'll :, new play. Miss Stahls
standing in Washington is strong
enough to carry almost any play, ana
Washington will be glad to see THE
Chorus Lady" and Maggie Pepper in
q new romance, with comedy"
Paylowa's art, the past week, bea utl-
full and fascinating beyond question, to
the puritanical mind must have sug-
a.ested the inquiry, Where does the
harm end and the harmless-because II
is art-begin?' Yet II would indeed be
:, narrow mind that could see anything
but grace and beauty in Pavlowa's per
formauce.
SHAKESPEARE AND ICONOCLASTS.
Robert B. Manten announces the
theory that "iconoclasts" are not the
originators of condensed versions of
Shakespeare plays, but that Shake
speare himself must have begun the
practice of slashing his own plays to
decent length for stage presentation
Mr. ManteII says Shakespeare must
have written his plays IN glows OF
poetic and dramatic passion, Keeping
his mental eyes on MS characters All
fbe rime never calculating the num-
her of lines they should speak to MI