The Washington herald., 1914-03-29
By JULIA CHANDLER MANI.

By JULIA CHANDLER MANI.
There are indisputable signs that the
springtime is with u.s. One Of these is
the announcement of theatrical managers
all over the country of names Of new
plays When the regular season is on the
wane, the early fall productions either
established successes or reposing in the
the storehouses, and public thought is
turned to summer stock, new plays are
given a trial-usually out Of New York
and the short time remaining until the
close of the dramatic year is spent in
rewriting, pruning. or whatever else may
be necessary to At them for a New York
run as soon as the summer is at an end
and a new theatrical year dawns.
OF course, there are instances OF such
immediate success that the new piece
goes at once to the metropolis for a short
spring run-sometimes, in still fewer in
stances, to stay through the summer
months.
AS accustomed as we are to being asked
TO pass first judgment on a new piece, II
is something unusual for Washington to
have two premieres within a week as will
be the case tomorrow night, when the
Columbia Theater will be the scene Of
William HurIbuts THE Man Who Would
Live" and the Belasco will offer a new
farce from the pen of Mark Swan.
Last fall the premiere of Mr.. Hurlbuts $
The Strange Woman was given here at
the New National Theater. going to
New York run which has won for the
comedy and Miss Elsie Ferguson, its
exquisite young star. much OF praise. 1t
is an interesting coincidence that this
earlier success from one of the most seri-
ous-minded and gifted playwrights of the
present time should play a return en-
gagement next week at the New National
Thester, following the presentation OF
the new play by Mr.. Hurlbut. which is
constructed along such different lines,
and which will have its first metropoli-
tan production at the Columbia Theater
tomorrow night.
Mr. Hurlbut who has just reached his
thirtieth year, halls from Chicago. Un-
like many of his contemporary play
wrights, he boasts no college degree.
When he was very young he gave evil
dences of aptitude for drawing, attended
the Illinois Art School. and from there
went to New York, where he spent few
years in illustrating before trying his
hand at drama. His first play, The
Fighting Hope" was produced by David
Belasco. with Miss Blanche Bates as the
star Then came THE Writing on the
WALL" which Mr.. Hurlbut wrote for Olga
Nethersole, and which she played for
two years. The theme of this piece was
the tenement house conditions in New
York and Trinity Church tenements. and
accomplished the obliteration of many
of the latter.
Since writing THE Strange Woman"
Mr.. HurIbut has done a one-act play
called THE Bride" which was produced
at the Princess Theater, New York. and
which Is included in the repertory of the
Princess Thester Company now on tour.
The Bride" is a complete departure from
Mr.. Hurlbut's usual effort, being done
in the manner of the French farce.
And now comes The Man Who Would
Live" a serious play Of American life,
with scenes shifting from Revolutionary
days TO the present time, the story to be
presented by cast of experienced play
ers, with Elliott Dexter and Miss Grace
Reals in the leading roles.
In lighter vein is the other premiere Of
the week. THE Third Party" farce
which Mark Swan has adapted from an
English source.
Mr.. Swan has been identified with sew
eral New York productions as co-author;
has written miles of lyrics. but did not
come into his own until Winthrop
Ames produced his problematic drama
of domestic life, Her Own Money" at
the Little Theater, New York. last fall.
We saw this comedy with Miss Julia |
Dean in the leading role, earlier in the |
season. 1t proved a sordid tale OF mari |
tai infelicity accruing from continuous
wrangles over finances, and did but small |
business here, despite Miss Deans per-
sonal popularity in Washington.
The Third Party promises something |
very different. From the situations out |
lined in the story elsewhere in this de- |
partment today there is ample ground |
for the anticipation of an hilarious time |
at the Belasco this week.
Add to this cast which includes sew
eral Of the most entertaining farceurs on |
the American stage, including Taylor |
Holmes and Walter Jones, and the prom |
Use of fun is doubled.
Mr.. Swan, with several prominent New
York managers as his guests. will be on |
hand for the first presentation of THE |
Third Party" tomorrow night
Introduction to Broadway is promised |
the piece soon after its Washington en-
gagement.
The musical note of the current week
will be sounded at the New National The
ater. where THE Doll Girl" a musical
farce bearing the stamp OF the London
Gaiety Theater, will feature Richard
Carrie and Miss Hattie Williams
The production promises to be typical of !
several things: Frohman nr-sical produc-
tions for one, Viennese operetta for an
other, and also of Harry B. Smiths handi-
craft and Leo Falls music, in the laby-
rinth Of which Mr.. Carle's fantastic hu-
NOR and Miss Williams pleasing voice !
and personality are said to find ample op-
portunity for further distinguishing their
respective owners.
Aside from all this, The Doll GirI'
brings us this week a new tenor in the /
person OF Robert Evett. who has sung
in concerts and oratorios in England, Il
and, for the last seven years, has ap-
peared in all the musical productions
made at Daly's Theater, London, having |,
taken part in all the revivals of the GIL
bert and Sullivan operas. II
Another member OF the cast who dis
tinguished herself when THE Doll Girl"