National Republican., 1883-10-17
AMUSENIENTs.
Emma

IHo superb O&CcllenCc oil inc blNr ana thc
generally satisfactory acting of her support.
The play, Belmonts Bride" is misnamod
comedy. 1t is a highly wrought and care
fully elaborated drama of real life, with many
striking situations and plot of we'll sus-
tanned and intense interest. Indeed intense
is tho word to apply TO this play, both in its
tragic and comic situations and to the acting,
both grave and gay" which brought down
the house so frequently. Miss Prescott at the
beginning was rather strained and artificial,
but very soon warmed up, and in tho real
work of tho play acted naturally, strongly,
and conscientously The varied calls made
upon her dramatic expression by the demands
of the plot were fully met, and sho rose equal
to every occasion. From the naughty in
dignation with which sho repels the sus.
picion of tho confederate captain that
federal officer is concealed in her fathers
house to the absolute and hopeless despair
which speaks in her every feature and lends
u strange, apathetic calmness to her tone
when she prays forgiveness of her betrayed
lover, Miss Prescott was natural and effect
i've, presenting q picture of realistic force
and strength that her admirers may well be
proud of. Her support was generally very
good. Mr.. Plympton, as Clarence Belmont,
the union officer, possesses the advantages of
rich musical voice and a handsome person, adj
vantagos that are finely set of'by true and con-
scientious acting. Both he and Miss Prescott
were repeatedly called TO the footlights at the
close of each act Miss Lillian Andrews, as
Rose, the betrothed bride of Virgie's mur.
dcrod brother while unequal at times to the
requirements of her part, at others moro than
fulfilled them, notably in the scono with the
confederate colonel and the weeping Virgie,
before sho hears of her betrotheds death in
the intensely realistic passage whore she con-
fronts the confederate and seeks from his own
uniform evidences of the truth of her suspi-
cions rs to his guilt, and lastly, in the superb
closing scene where she rushcs between the
rebels and the betrayed unionist and bids
tho murderer halt, Tho deep tragedy of
the play is relieved by Miss Maggie
Harold, who, as Ada, q simple hearted, joy
ous healthy girl, brim full of fun and girl
hood, scored brilliant success; and by W.
Davidge, ir., as Christopher Randolph Carter
esq, special artist and war correspondent, &c.
The lovemaking of this happy couple is deli
cious, bit of MS pure comedy and as well rem
dcrcd as has ever been seen on Washington
stage. Tho "heavy villain" of the piece, st.
John Harper, as played by Mr.. l.. S. Outram,
was conscicntiously rendered, but Mr.. Outram
lacks the force, the sardonic ease, the devilish
cunning necessary to make perfectly salts.
factory rendition Of this part. 1t is, perhaps,
the most difficult characterization in the play,
and only an actor of the very highest ability
can meet its requirements successfully.
The minor characters were all we'll done,
and the play was decided success. The
scene is laid in Kentucky, and Of course there
is a negro in the cast, but it might as well
have been laid in Alaska or Siberia for such
negro was never seen in Kentucky or out
of it, He is named Calamity, and rightly
named for the conception Of the part and its
rendition last night were equally calamitous
to any attempt to find nature in them
NATIONAL THEATER.
Despite her physicians prediction, Miss
Darlington was unable to sing last night, and
era Diavolo" was substituted for "Martha.i
This is one of tine most pleasing of light
operas, being full of melody from overture Ia
finale, while the concerted numbers arc all
excellent. 1t is an opera also which ac.
fords an opportunity for good acting, and
in this particular the Hess company is
exceptionally strong. Miss Blanche Chap.
mans Zerinn was q most agreeable surprise
Heretofore this lady has been seen only in
roles which have been Of the hoydenish, ol
broadly comic character, and the self-con
tanned and graceful manner in which she por
trayed Aubors village maiden developed
n higher class of ability than it was generally
believed she possessed. The music of the roll
also received good treatment at her hands
and her Yes, Tomorrow" solo in tn,
chamber scene was capitally rendered.
f Lord Allcash was excellently rendered b,
4 Mr. James Peakes, whose acting, in it finisl
t and nicely, brought forcibly to minc
q the late Mr. Seguin, who made this characte
peculiarly his own. OF MIR. Henry Peakes'
Beppo, but little need be said, as he has beel
: seen so often that his excellent rendition
S thoroughly familiar to the most Of our opera
+ going public. Mr.. Percy Cooper proved made
bquate to the role of Fra Diavolo his voice fail
ing to meet the requirements ofthev vocal score
compelling the omission of the beautiful sole
b "Young Agnes" in the second act thoug
It the slumber song which he introduced in ii
@ stead, and which was exactly within hi
@ range, was eXcollently given and received
a mertod encore.
-, At the matinee to-day the Pirates of Por
i zanco" will be given, and tonight Balfe
= Bohemian Girl" will be presented, with NJ
It Henry Peakes in his great role of Devils
s. heof
u