The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1880-11-14
ADJUSTMENTS.

d" The Spectre Knight and Charity Be-
gins at Hoine'' formed an entertainment agreeable
enough, perhaps, though very, very light, at the
National Theatre all last week. The name of Mr..
Rice prenxed to that OF the 'Biou Opera Company
led inevitably to disappointment the part of most
OF the attendance: necessarily berause there
no "ieg show, has been satlricay said, but be-
cause Mr.. Rice's companies have hitherto been
marked by exquisite finish In all they did, resulting
evidently from thorough drill and great for de-
tails to nothing OF their strength OF numbers aud
tudicious expense The 90 BiIou'' is limited In size,
economically run, In point OF both talent and APP
pOintments, and defaced TO apprehension by
fatal anateurshness spread 1t like pail. This
IS eyinced, with some exceptions, by lack Of snap
In the acting, failure To make the pieces "go, -
and hide the thinness OF the dramatic fabric by tax
Ing advantage ofevery good point" Miss Carrie
pretty Cambridge girl OF the quaint and seductive
Yankee type which has made the fortune Of all Mr.
Rice's companies, sings chafmingy, and las capaci
Ties Tor becoming great popular favorte.
Fords Opera House re-opens tomorrow
evening with the striking play, "One Hundred
Wives, presented by Mr.. DeWolf Hopper and
strong combination. The title perhaps suggests
buresque to most readers, especially 1t is
reminder OF the Z" Cent Nierges ~ OF boufe memory:
but while there is q well-presented comic element
which relieves the darker portions the piece a
whole is serious and substantial drama. 1t deals
with what has always been looked to as promising
field for the American writer, MormOnism In
Utah. with its tragic fanaticism, its reversals of
the sanctity OF home, Its Avenging Angels, and
Iron bound hierarchy. Satire, denunciatiOn, and
that vivid presentnent OF moral deformlty that
be given by means well as the stage. all fnd
their scope here. At the same time there is nothing
repulsive TO good taste In the OF handling and
the moral Is made subservent to the artistic purpose.
From the notices which have been given the play and
actors where they have appeared, ''One Hundred
Wives" is clearly well worth seeing. Among
the company observe the of the ris
Ing young actor, Mr.. John Il. Ince, who made
such success OF the part OF the Chnaman In "a But
tons ~ and who also played the Professor In Minnie
Palmer's - Boarding School,
Miss Ada Cavendish, the handsome and
spirited English actress Of distinction. who made
such profound impression on her first visit here
year ago, returns To the National Theatre this week
and 1t Is 10 be hoped Will receive fstieriDg recep-
tion creditabe at To her powers and the
critical perception OF Washington audiences. Miss
Cavends In addition TO her other merits and the ad
vantages Of ne stage presence and musical voice, is
art as unlike AS possible the futering, nerveless
style Of much modern playing. There Is nothing
morbid but all is healthful, natural and unsraned
Her new play, 1.-The Soul Of an Actress ~ by the
successful writer, Mr.. A. q. Gunter is said 10 be a
fine romantic and quas-hst0rical DRAMA and the
part OF Josephine Clarion, who mistakenly sends her
lover To the Bas.ie and nearly ruins him. then
him by prodigy OF devotion and sef-abDegati0n Is
reported TO be of the best Ia which Miss Cavern
dish has yet appeared.