National Republican., 1874-05-13
ANUSEAENTS.
FnRn,sn OPERA HOUSE.

series orthe most novel entertainments that have
been presented this season. Schuhmanns Trans
Atlantic Troupe. recently organized in Europe,
are giving g nightly performance to large and
very appreclative audience The style Of the en-
tertainment is exceedingly odd, inasmuch as 1t
Is neither spectacle nor q play, but series Of
variety acts Of high order. such as there seems
to be plenty of room for, the public taste Just
now appears to run in favor Of fun and variety,
instead Off more serious and intellectual chan
nel The performance begins with q series OF
athletic feats performed by the Almonte Brothers,
who are exceedingly clever In their line Of bust
ness. Following them Is one OF the most singular
beings ever discovered. He is no more nor less
than Q sword-ester, who seems to eschew the or
dinary diet and subsst upon side-arms, which he
swallows as easy as Q Teuton Of large dimenslon
disposes of a his .zwei lager" This Slgnor Bene-
dettI Is no humbug: neither is he at all selfish,
for he passes the swords around among the au-
dlence and offers to permit any one to dine upon
them whose appetite needs whettlng with
sharp-edged side-arm. So far as was observed,
the invitation was last evening politely declined,
and the Signor given q monopoly Of that species
of diet. . -".
The third feature Of the performance is the
''skatorial ballet" which is hardly q novelty, in
asmuch as that sort Of amusement has been fire.
quently provided on tho stage here, although
hsrdly in SO high style Of art as presented by
Mile Fredrlka and her assistants. 1t is but just
to the lady to state that her move 'nts are the
very poetry Of motion, for she is sfaceful as q
lily, and astonished the audience by the ease
with which she danced and glided around the
stage upon the troublesome skates. Mons. ELL
otis comic skating efforts were exceedingly
amusing and kept those present In the best Of
humor.
Mons Beckman did some very clever feats Of
ffrflf hall and
eral plates he kept the air filled with visions Of
whirIing brass and flying china, after which he
did some things with q brace OF fsharp-pointed and
keen-edged knives that quite made the audience
shudder. Herr Schulze, man with remark
ably mobile face, followed the juggler In an en-
trely now entertainment, termed the "man Of
masks and faces" Without changing his atti-
tude he compelled his features to assume all
styles OF expression, some Of which were very
comIcaI, while others were SO natural and so re-
ssmbled the persons he attempted to mimic or
represent, as to earn him liberal applause.
The second act began with the feats Of Mr.. ].
B. johnson. styled the msn-fish with most happy
appropriateness. Mr.. johnson was discovered
standing In huge tank OF water up to his arm
pits rs the curtain arose. The front Of the tank
was composed Of glass, so that all his movements
were visible to the audience, and which were rem
dered additionally distinct by the flood Of light
thrown upon It by q row OF footlights placed
above It. Mr.. johnson SMOKED, etc, and drank
bottle of milk under the water with apparent
ease; after which he sank to the bottom Of the
tank, and remained motioaless, as If asleep, for
three minutes and thirteen seconds. Upon rising
to the surface he was rewarded with hearty ap-
plause by the audience, who seemed relieved from
the breathless anxiety this feat occasoned. Mr..
johnson is simply phenomenon, and must pos
sess enormous lungs to contain sufficient amount
OF air to sustain life for so long 9 time without
suction.
Perhaps the most enjoyable feature Of the
entertainment was the performance Of the Brown
VelocIpede Combination. This is composed Of
Prof Henry Brown and six young ladies, each Of
the latter being remarkable for their beauty and
symmetrical figures. They were attired In very
pretty costumes, With trunks and tights, and
were quite capable OF creating havoc among the
hearts Of the susceptible young men present.
The Veloclpedists rode in o very graceful but per-
fectly reckless manner and did some things on
their bycieles that few people could do on their
feet. Professor Brown then gave an exhibition
of his proficiency In the art Of riding, one Of his
feats being to carry two OF the young ladies
around the stage on his bycicle with third one
upon his shoulders. The feats OF these yelocl-
psdsts quite astonIshed the audience, and Pro-
fessor Brown and his captivating lady assistants
were greeted at the close Of their exhibition with
hearty applause.
Don Ferrayra, "the man flute" performed some
sweet and difficult music in imitation ofa flute
upon his fingers, after which the performance
was brought to q close by very cleverly-aeted
pantomIme. Mr.. Tom Lowell proved very COM
ical clown, and Miss Addie Scarcy one OF the
most captivating "ooquettes" that Washington
has ever seen. From the above brief description
Of the "Parlsian Folly" It viii be seen that the
entertainments being given at Ford's do not lack
variety, while their excellence is beyond question.
The style Of performance, as before remarked,
fills a want in the amusement line that has long
been felt, and provides an evening Of enjoyment
such as cannot fail to please all tastes. The
troupe will remain during the week.
THE NATIONAL
"Mons. Alphonse" was repeated last evening
to q large audience comprising the fashion and
intelligence Of the capital. From the manner In
which the play and the artists were applauded, 1t
is quite evident that those present were than
delighted with the entertainment provided by
Mr.. Daly'sbrilliant company, and proves that the
critical public Of Washington is ever ready to
accord to excellence It's merited need Of praise;
and tina: It will literally patronize performances
that are fully worthy Of its support.
So fully have the merits of the artists who
play the parts in .'Monsisur AIphonse'' been
discussed that little more concerning their cepa-
Dilities need be said. Mr.. Dsly's company Is COM
posed of ladies and gentlemen who have no supe-
rIors as actresses and actors In the profession.
The leading parts-enacted by Miss Jewett and
Mr.. Harkins-are at times most painfully
natural, and the nearness with which they ap-
proach reality proves that they verge very closely
upon the perfect in dramatic art. II Is rarely
that they who represent those who live and move
in real Life SO closely upon the mimic stage as to
carry their hearers with them and move them to
tears at will. Yet this is the power that Miss
Jewett and Mr.. Harkins possess over their audi
ence, and no higher compliment can be paid them.
Little Saidee Vivian, too possesses o marvellous
mastery over the audience. When she speaks It is
with voice so full Of sweetness and tenderness
as literally to entwine herself around the hearts
Of the listeners and make them, too, wish to fold
her in their arms and give her the kiss and the
embrace bestowed upon her by her mimic pa
rents. na...... . s.r
Mr.. Parkes has a dIsagreeable part, but he dis
plays Judgment and quietness in his acting that
at once enlist the attention OF the audience and
gains for him increased admiration fol his good
in not OVERRIDING part which, in less skill
full hands, would be narred with the ranting which
the situations render tempting. Mr.. Hardenburg
is q very comical and sensible old salt, Mr.. Faw-
cett an amusing and eccentric shadow" while
Miss Grifhth and Miss Congdon acquit them
sclNcs III = s4IAoAaoeoAy AhnuuoE. GAios nun
Gray is hardly equal to Miss Davenport as Mad
anne Guichard, yet she is perhaps moro accept
able to those who prefer the quiet to the bolster
GUS In the rendering of 'loud" characters.
MONS Alphonse" Is decidedly the most orr
ginaI comedy of the day, and one that is destined
to provoke o vast deal Of comment wherever II
may be presented.
EDWIN BOOTH.
A dispatch from Baltimore says that Mr. Booth
was last evening favored with one Of the largest
and most select audiences ever gathered within
Mr.. Ford's beautiful theatre. This evening
:" Richelieu" will be again presented. Tomorrow
Mr.. Booth will appear as Shylock, and on Friday
as 0thello. 1t will be remembered that Mr.. Ford
has arranged for 9 special train to leave Balti-
more Tor Washington at the conclusion OF the per-
formance nightly, thus enabling the admirers Of
the eminent tragedian In this city witness their
favorite In his most famous characters at small
expense and Inconvenience. Choice seats may be
secured ct Ford's opera-houss here for either OF
Mr. Booths nights, the tickets being also good
for the round trip on the cars. This stroke Of
terprise on the part Of Mr.. Ford Will be duly APP
preciated by the public, who have 80 often been
indebted to that energetic manager for his inter-
est In the public's welfare and happiness.
THEATRE CoMIQUE.
There viii be grand mstinee at the Comique
this afternoon, when all the members Of Manager
Rogers large and talented troupe will appear.