National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-01-10
DnAMArIC FgUILLgroN.


FORK dramatic paper intimatcs that Manager
,lbaugh has already lost several thousand
Ollars on the season at the armory opera house.
me IS apt to be mistaken about the business at
his house Il conclusions arc drawn from the
cats that are empty and not from them that
re filled. 1t will scat over 1000 people, aud
Though the auditorium looks cold aud bare
when only 1000 are present, things are snug
md comfortable enough in the box ONCE.
Till, the patronage Of the house thus far has
lot been entirely satisfactory, | am inclined
o think. The soned.yoiced and gentleman
,ered business manager has been heard on
,cycral occasions to demonstrate with late In
ais meek, appealing way. But
wo weeks Of really heavy business
nave been done since the opening in
November. One was with Excelsior
when those closc.tlstcd Modyar Hebrews, the
Siralfys, "hogged" the profits; the other was
with Lawrence Barrett. During the rest of
he time poor attractions have done poor bust
ness. Tho house Is not running on Its tradi.
lions but on the genuine merit Of the enter
.aiumcnts offered. This is shown by the fact
hat the attractions have drawn just In pro-
portion us they were good or bad. For reasons
not far to seek. Manager Albaugh was COM
PEELED this season to I'LL in his earlier dates
with combinations probably not at all to his
own satisfaction. From this on the attractions
will, as II rule, be Of a much higher grade.
increase Of patronage Is pretty
Washingtonians long complained
that they had no theater which, within and
without was worthy Of the national capital.
The Light Infantry at last gives them mag
nifcent play house. An enterprislng and in
tellIgent manager puts upon It's stage the best
he can command. Now II should
be seen to that the house gets tho support 1t
deserves.
That the theatrical season thus far has been
one OF the worst ever known is pretty gen.
orally understood, The dramatic papers are
full of complaints to this effect from all parts
OF the country. In view of this fact, II is with
pardonablc pride that the enterprising mana
gers of the National Theater declare they have
yet to encounter Il week Of losing business.
They had narrow escape when the Milan
Opera Troupe was here, but even that week
the balance, though small, was on the right
side of the ledger If this statement Is true,
which have no doubt 1t is, the new manage.
ment of the National may well feel enCour
aged Like almost all the managers in the
country they have this season been obliged Il
put in some attractions unworthy of the tradi
tons OF the house but on the whole they
have offered their patrons very satisfactory en-
tertainments.
In enumerating the various sums Of money
young Barton Key sunk for divers people in
his venture with the Milan troup, the New
York Dramatic Times puts Manager Rapley, Of
the National theater down for $1,000. Mr.
Rapley, hear from good authority did ad'
vance young Key some funds to help him out
with his enterprise, and the amount was con-
sideraby larger than that named above
However part Of the advance has already
been repaid, and the balance, It is understood
is secured. The fact that Mr.. Rapley eX
tended helping hand to the extent indicated
speaks volumes for his appreciation of goot
thing in the opera line. The failure of tn,
American public to support the excellent or
ganlzatlon which young Key so brayely I'm
dertook to lead is one Of those strange freak
with which the history of the theater abounds
-.
That the people are tired of stage Carpentr
and the total.depravity drama new evidence
is afforded every week. The latest case ii
point is Burr Oaks" ut Ford's, which, by tn
way, President Arthur had the fortltude to 81
out on Monday night-a fact which none O
the papers discovered, by the way. OF cours
the President went out between the third an
fourth acts to catch his breath and gather in
new stock of patience, but that detrActs littl
from the heroic endurance he displayed
Burr oaks" despite its fine scenery, was nc
much of Il success, even the minute realisI
Of II stage covered with birch bark and blac
walnut shaylngs failing to draw big houses
Barring May Brooklyn and Walter Bentle,
neither of whom is strikingly good, there
not u tolerable actor in the company.
-
The qualities which most admire in tn
average American actor are his modesty, an
good taste, and q certain comprehensive
thoughtfulness Of the mutual capacity of h
auditors. All this is happily illustrated O
| Albaugh's Opera House this week. There Nj
! j. Is. Polk and a company have been moyin
many auditors to laughter and some to teal
in Il Wild weird, wicked, Frenchy thin
| called Three Wives to one Husband"
| the bill Mr. Polk, evidently considered Il
! prima donna Of the troupe, unObtrusively al
nOunces himself as "the eninont comedian
| If the gentleman had not been held In |
| innate modesty and discreet good taste ne, !
| doubt, would have been printed down
| 'that mighty master OF soul-sanitating smile
| lord of laughter, and car of comedians" ,
something Of that sort, The programme al
| informs the public that "Nlss Julia A. Po
possesses one OF the best soprano voices
America" for which Information the publ
IS, no doubt duly gratlAcd. Had they n
! ~ "a npinf m of thp,
who heard the lady sing In the last act wou
have gone away not knowing what Il tire
they had had.
Next week each Of the three houses will ha
an excellent attraction, and the result in Il
way OF business afford good idea Of VIII
Washington can stand in the amusement lin
Each house will offer something OF distinct
different character from either Of Its rival
thus bringing out all classes OF thoater patron
Mile Rhea will come almost ds H0uo, as h
whole engagement will be given up to two N,
pieces II Robson aud Crane only equal The
former selves no one will ask anything new
them. The Carleton opera Troupe roturni
at the height OF tho season with their loo
reputation firmly established by their visit
last month, should have week Of big bu
I ness ana no NOllDl Will IlNt huGu hEklHla
Miss Dora Wiley Mrs. Jessie Bartlett.DaN
Mr. Carleton, Mr., ClarE and Herr Adolphl 4
not frequently got together in one compal
Mrs, Davis has been at her home, in ChiCal
resting but, of course, win rejoln the trou
for the Washington engagement. She Is
; revelation to the operate stage, and her
licous contralto voice, spirited acting, a
charming presence have made an impress
; that cannot be easily etiaced, MAX EssF
MRtinees will be given at all the place
amusement to-day, as follows; burr oaks
Fords, "Three Wives 10 one Husband ut
, baugh's, aud "Our Governor" by Mr.. {
( Mrs Florence, at the National. The "a
/, pieces will DO repeated tonight except at
National where 1.-THE Ticket-ofLeaye Nj
win .be presented with Mr., Florence in
great role Of Bob Briefly At Albaugh'
0 benefit Tor the Hooking NallGy sufferers will
l given in the evening.