National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-03-22
BRILLIANT COMEDY.
DR.. PANGLoss AND MR.. TooDLEs.
Splendid Audicnce Greets the Greatest OF Anieri-
can Comedians at Ford's Opera-HOase-
Two Funny Plays Horrors
nj the National.

An audience which filled Ford's Opera
House welcomed Mr.. John s. Clarke last night on
his first appearance in Washington after an alb
sence of about eight years. Ii was an audience OF
remarkable intelligence and culture, embracing
the most brilliant intellects which to be found
in this city, fast becoming the centre of learning
and discriminating judgment, as it is the centre
of governmental power Scattered through
the auditorium were seen members OF
the Cabinet, Senators and members OF
Congress. judges of the supreme and lesser courts,
and in fact the best representatives of our most
cultured society. These were generally accom-
panied BY ladies, and their appearance, in the
elegance of their toilettes, contributed i'll large
degree TO the brlliancy of the aSsemblage. 1t was
naturally highly critical audience, and the
liberal applause must have been a crafty
ing evidence to the distinguished comedian that
his efforts were thoroughly appreciated Mr..
Clarke's first appearance as d.. PaEgiOSs was the
signal for the most enthusiastic applause, and 1t
was some minutes before he was permitted to go
on with the text. This ovation showed how
warmly he was remembered here. His imper-
sonation of the pedantic tutor is marked by a
smoothness, close attention to all the minor
details. whether of costume, action or facial
expression-ln short perfect finish, that is rarely
met with. He loses his own identity entirely, and
is for the time being the actual, sordid graSping
pedagogue, made so by his poverty, but still with
trace of finer feeling as is evidenced by his re-
turn of the note dropped by Zekiel which act is
warded In a manner that impels him to exelaim
with new emphasis: Honesty Is the best policy"
There is an unctuous humor about Clarke's Pun
gloss that neither Owens nor Jefferson can give,
and makes it performance which viii live in the
memory and is worthy to be reckoned among the
stage classics.
Aside fr0m Mr. HlarYp who JVnc Of the
central figure in the play the entire performance
was one to be remembered, the cast embracing
artists who have successfully appeared as stellar
attractions. Miss Rose Wood, who sustained the
part of Ciccly HomespuH, invested that character
with an innocence and purity that made it pecu-
iarly attractive and in the street scene with Dick
D0,clds. especially, showed herself most accom-
plished actress. Mrs Farren was the Lady Duberly,
and played the part with finish and perfection
gained by long experience. This lady brings to
mind recollections of earlier years. when she was
the leading tragic actress of the American stage,
making most decided success in such characters as
Eradne, Lucretid BOrgia, andthe like. Now, in her
mature years. she plays the line of characters of
which Lady Duberly is type with an excellence
that cannot be surpassed. Mr.. ". II. Vernon as
Dick DO,eas, Mr.. W. A. Chapman as Lord Duberiy
Mr.. W. Herbert as Zekid HomeSpun, and Miss
Emma Eaders as Caroline DoYner all deserve praise
for the excellence of their respective impersona-
tons.
The farce of " Toodles," in which Mr.. Clarke as
sumed the title role, afforded an opportunity for
Witnessing performance which is only second to
that of the late Mr. Burton and is In some respects
fully equal to that great actor In the drunken
scene Mr.. Clarke appears to be drunk from the
crown of his head TO the sole of his feet Every
motion, every play of feature every information of
voice proclaims the thoroughly soaked inebriate,
and the entire scene is greeted with uproarious
and prolonged laughter. The full cast of the
Heir at Law" was as follows Dr.. Peter Pangloss
ILL., d. and 4. S. S. Mr.. J. S. Clarke from the Lon
don Theatre, his first appearance in America);
Dick DO1clas Mr.. w. II. Vernon; Lord DuberEy, W.
A. Chapman: Zekiel Homespnn, Mr.. W. Herbert;
Henry NoreldRd, Mr.W. Colville; KeTnie Mr.. Samuel
Hsnple; Haiter at the Blue Boar, Mr. L. Taylor:
John Mr.. Townsend; CTcely HOmespUD, Miss Rose
Wood; Lady Dlbery, Mrs Farren; Cdroiile Dor
T'er, Miss Emma Vaders. The same bill will be re-
peated to-n night.
NATIONAL THEArRE-RICEs SURPRISE PARTY
This large organization presented last night the
amusing extravaganza Horrors" which Is filed
with amusing incidents, with light and catching
melodies, with good dancing: to all of which
great number Of decidly pretty girls happily con-
tribute, the principal being Misses Marion Elmore,
TOpSy Fenn, Layinia Bennett, and Marion Singer.
OF the male members OF the troupe MessrS. John
G0urlay, George Howard, Henry Dixie, and John
Mackay are the most noticeable the limitations by
the last-named being decidedly clever and cor
rect. Horrors" viii be repeated tonight and at
to -morrows matinee.
THEATRE CONJQUE.
Jake Budd in his new sketches last night was
perhaps the leading attraction, although all the
special artists engaged for the current week were
excellent in their several acts. Jake, however,
has become an institution here and his popularity
is ever on the increase. There will be the usual
matinee this afternoon.