National Republican., 1883-12-25

with many pathetic scenes, and vein OF well
sustained humor
As presented last night, the performance
was decidedly successful The scenic effects
were surprisingly good the costumes appro-
pirate, and the action rapid aud spirited. The
cast embraces very large number Of actors,
whose personation generally was commenda-
BILE. Indeed, it may bo said that tho entire
acting was satisfactory, there being nothing
atwhich tho conscientious critic, bearing in
mind tho character of the play and
its peculiar demands, could justly
find serious fault with. As the
cast embraces thirty-six characters,
exclusive of fsupernumeraries, it would be in
vidious to single out any special performers
for notice. Nevertheless, Mr.. Frank Weston
as Ned Drayton may be mentioned as pre-
senting clear, natural, personation of tho
young English gentleman. Mr.. J. III. Fitz-
patrick as Farmer Herrick gives, all in all,
the most satisfactory portrait Of the well-to-
do British farmer that has been seen
for years on tho Washington stage, most
personations of this class of persons
being caricatures untrue to nature and
offensive to good taste. Mr.. J. X. Crawford
as Gideon Blake, the villain of the play, Is
heavily handicapped by tho requirements of
the play in showing his villainy from tho
start. His acting Is mertorious and he
never overdoes the part but the audience
generally loses sight of the good acting in
their detestation of the villainy. Mr.. Leslie
Allen as Col. Wynter faithfully portrayed
the irascibe, hot tempered, yet easily pla-
Gated, kind hearted old gentleman. Miss
Kate Forsyth as Ruth Herricls gives
us quiet, natural, unaffected portrait
Of the loving, tender faithful English
girl, character always amiable Off MS well rs
on the stage,a which is not oftener presented
naturally than tho cognate character of the
British farmer. General commendation may
bc justly given the whole cast especially Mr..
Sidney NJ Howard's Joe Buzzard, which is
really one of the most artistic portraitures of
the entire performance.
Upon tho whole, in acting, in mounting,
and in dramatic interest, "In the Ranks" is
one of tho bcst melodramas ever performed
in Washington. 1t will be repeated every
night this week, with matinees to-day and
Saturday.
Tho National is beautifully trimmed with
greenery and decorated for tho holidays with
mucn JASUe anu arUlStlc SKILL
FoRD's-" IRISH ARIsToCRAcY."
For pure and genuine fun, which provokes
laughter from the outset and keeps it up,
nothing has been presented on the Washing
ton stage for years past that surpasses Irish
"Aristocracy" as performed at Ford's last night
by Barry and Fay's musical comedy company.
The play itself is rollicking low comedy,
which in its broadcast scenes never degen-
crates into coarseness or vulgarity. Its action is
necessarily rapid, and it crowds into three
acts about as much genuine humor, intricate
and funny plotting, and mirth provoking
climaxes as ever a whole village of traditional
Irish could invent or participate in. And
the present company do moi permit the comedy
to run upon its own merits alone, for the
audience last night was given generally
artistic personaton of each character, that did
not fail to command admiration. The
play itself is we'll known, but has not been
presented in this city so often as to
become stale. Mr.. Hugh Fay, as Michael
Muldoon, and Mr.. William Barry, as Michael
Mulcahy, were decidedly artistic. In make
up, in just enough of the "brogue." in per.
fectly natural representation of national
characteristic acting upon ind ividual pecu
liarities of character, these gentlemen were
strong and admirable. There was no exag
geration in all their performance, althou gl
the tendency to do so would have been ire
sistible in actors of less artistic percep-
ton and less careful training. Mr.
Barry, as the least diluted Iris hman, mus
be awarded the palm in the favor of the au
dience, but the excellence Of the two is sin
h..Il
Mulcahy are the central figures, but the re
mainder of the cast must be commended fol
conscientious acting, always good, and a
times especially fine. Maggie Fielding, a
Mrs. Muldoon was very good, particularly il
those minor points which tend to make up al
harmonious representation. Miss Edith Aims
worth made very acceptable Honoria Mul
doom. Miss Ainsworth is young, yer,
pretty, and bright qualities with whicl
Miss Muldoon is largely gifted. He
voice is full and rich, and her pretty song
"My Heart is Lonely and Sad," was raptuI
ously encored. Little Jessie Storey made
decided hit as Jennie Muldoon, and san
with pleasing effect I" He Gave Me a Prett
Red Rose" Mr.. t. F. Brenner as Pete
Belcher, Mr.. Sidney Barnes as DIR. Riddl,
MT. SihT6uCo hctilaBc 10 cohh
and Mr.. w. j. Donnalley as O'Roger Mul
cahey, just landed, and Agnes Earle as PhGb
: Plymkins together presented an excep
tionally strong case. The fun eliminates il
the third act in Muldoons picnic
The piece will run every night this weel
with matinees to-day and Wednesday an
i Saturday afternoons.
5 THEODORE THOMAS AT LINCOLN HALL.
= Tonight Theodore Thomas and his justl
3 celebrated orchestra will appear at Lincol
0 hall, rendering severely classical pre-
S gramme The opening number is a syn
Q phony from Beethoven by the orchestri
t sixty instruments, followed by the scena an
d aria from Weber, ocean, Thou Mighty Nor
G ster," by Nine. Gabrielle Boema, whose s,
prano voice has been commended by tn
IS severest critics. Nine. Boema will also sin
p the first scene from second act of Tam
i hauser." The orchestra will render th
# Vorspiel from "Parsifal," the Bridal Proce
s. sion," from "Lohengrin," and the famol
y "Rde of the Valkyries," concluding with
% symphony poem from Liszt.
Metzerott & Co. will keep their store opC
to-day from o'clock in the morning to
s o'clock p m. for the sale of seats to this col
T. cert and the box Office at Lincoln hall wi
1T open at p. m.