The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1880-04-11
THE NATIONAL THEATRE.
Review Of the Efforts of the Manage
meut. pnst mud 70 Come.

'Hcusf NuN W NVtNCs
There is no cause why tho season at our
largest temple Of the drama should not he seriously
canvassed and discussed with reference to tho highest
standards though not necessarily with rigid appllca
tlon OF them under the peculiar circumstances OF tho
case Tho theatre Is now recognized as an important
factor In education 1t Is not only exponent OF the
tastes feelings, manners, and morals OF the people,
but 1t reacts strongly In all these directions, and be-
comes in Itself Of the Influences that 20 to form
their character. When the theatre Is neglected by
the artistic and refined, the masses injured by
crudlty. When It is unduly neglected by tho good
las there Is yet much danger under the linger
Ing Influence OF rurtansm,) tide of corruption sets
in that cannot be semmed by the churches. An are
coming more and more to agree with Matthew Arnold
In his maxim. The theatre is irresistible; organize
the theatre' although It will require much progress
in ideas before It properly stimulated and pro-
ylded Tor by the state municipality.
When Mr.. Albaugh took the lease OF the National
last summer may be said that, although his man
agement OF the Hoidry- street in baltimore and Al
| bany Opera House gave good augurles our people
scarcely knew what to expect. The previous control
though possessed Of all the means for giving satisac
ton, had somehow failed to do through indiffer
cnce too great confidence In Its practical monopoly
that Mr.. Aibaugh hasalready won confidence and pop
ularity. No wishes to return to the old sys-
TEN, which promised so much at first In the way Of
| dircctness and harmony of management
| Details seem trivial, but when tho new lessee
showed desire to ret his theatre and keep It inyar
| ably neat and clean; when he gave his pa
| irons a handsome programme paper to read, aud
corrected chronic grievance, tic niggardiy use OF
the lighting apparatus he gave carnests OF the right
spirit toward his patrons that went far to concilate
Tho stock company plan Ito discarded, doubtless pr',-
dently, and In these days Of telegraph and express
York and other centres leave little to regret Of the
| other aud tine-honored Institution.
mann, the magician. Next came Mr.. Bonifacc, with
the English meo-drama, I" Queen's Evidence, "
iieve% a they the ensuing week % by % the Ada % Riehmoni
| troupe in comic opera. Mr. Albaugh then had the
happy thought of making his bow TO his new friends
In his proper person. together with Ills acc0mplishe,
wife tthe sister of Maggie MITCHELL which he did In
BARLEY Campbell's play of Van, tho virgnan. V
hailed on his own boards with pleasure Rice's Sur
prise Party that carnival OF mirth and dancing, sue
seeaed and did ,Gccecd @ as i % deserved being the
! formed ''Faust' and ''Aida !" October is and II,
our largest theatre being Inevitably SURRENDERED
| at times from dramatic uses to music In
latter The week was hilca out by the inevitable
lists made their memorable visit and capture OF tn,
city, which they repeated we may mention here fc
convenience, on the Esd OF February. October .7tl
Mr.. and Mrs. Florence with their annual ovation
playing the 'NTighty Dollar and the a. Ticket Of
Leave Man. The hrst week in November was wei
filled by another welcome visitor-Maggie Mitchell
in her usual round OF characters. Next came Mr.
sargent's comedy company In those French droeries
o, & oSnr. r. nma ,vom @ II trm
Abbott Opera Company-and then came ono Of th
solid fcasts of the seasontwo weeks of John McCul
Il
Kee Rankin in "The Danites;'' then Hayerly'
church choir company, who proved with their fres
voices that "Pinafore Is not "played out. '
Christmas week filled with "Evangelinc, '
generally considered a falling of from tho excel
lence of the ''surprise Party" and Kate Claxto
closed this year with her two fine plays, ''The Double
| Marrlage'' and "Two Orphans.r A. ID. 1880 wa
royalty begun by the Strakosch opera for whole week
followed In succession by those standard artist,
sothern. Lotta, and Fanny Davenport. Then cam
10 Emmett In "Fritz, ~ the first visit In years
} during which he seems to have lost his voice. The
Harry Jarrett's remarkable cOncOctOn, 90 Fun on til
Bristol. ~ palpable imitation Of the "Tourists.
Miss Ada Cavcndsh was the next bright episode OF til
, and admirer, and with March camo our native Mar
Anderson to contest tho palm, spending two woek.
: during which the ''Kentucky delegation " coul
scarcely have devoted much thought to the dry detail
, Across the Continent Aldrlch and Parsloe |
"My Partner,'' ''The Bankers Daughter
, and Mr.. Lawrence Barrett are too recer
to need renewed MENTION Glancing over til
list, emitting the operate portions. ito which as
have said the National is necessarily surrendered
Intervals, and the light interludes that must ha,
place to please ALL 1t will be what considerab
share of the time has been devoted to the legtimat
and Improving, and that no considerable star, poss
BILE to be secured has been kept away from our peop
brought before usinadequately. This is rs 1t shou
be, and course in which we desire to see our mana
GERS hands held up by our 'best people,
i For the remainder of the season, consisting rs
: does of the merry sprngtinle, the management HI
: appropriately arranged for number OF light dive
. tisements, calculated to attract and anuse wltho
fatigulng. Such Carncross's Mnstrels this wee
to be followed ut short intervals by return OF Il
o favorite Abbott English Opera Company, Grau
famous French opera combination, return OF Rice
Surprise Party, and other similar treats intersper
: perhaps with some speciaties not heard before tn
season, which Will keep up the reputation OF the hou
: for enterprise and variety.