National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-02-17
AMUsENIENTs.


fNllN EMMhl NJ AAhNihh ~
Tho singing, dancing, love.makiug, and |
broken English Of MIR, ]. X. Emmett in the
familiar guise Of the big, good natured German
boy Fritz last night amused a good-natured
audience at Abaugh's Opera House, The bills
announced the important fact that Mr.. Emmet
would appear in a new play, but, as the even
ing wore on, It became apparent that the prin-
cipal novelty OF the thing was in the name
"Thc Strange Marriage Of Fritz" To be sure
there was n strange marriage-a very strange
marringe-and several other strange things
about the play; but Fritz was no stranger,
and that's evidently all the audiences VINO 70
10 see Enmet care for. IL was the same Olu
Fritz null of silly, simple ways childish gayetyi
and catchy songs; aud the audience smiled and
laughed and applaudcd and then smiled ana
laughed again, much us fritzs nudlohCes
have been In the habit Of doing for
years and years. The story Of the play tells
how Fritz finds young lady in disguise aud
distress, who requires that some one snail
marry her nj once, and mo questions asked
Fritz, of course with hlsusuaf accommodating
spirit, marries the young lady oh.hand as
cheeriully as he would surround schooner OF
lager and 10 this riddle is out. This occurs IN
the prologue. In the play Fritz ialls IN love
with another young lady, or thinks he does,
but she does not TALL in love with him. so
when Fritz asks her to marry him she refuses;
and then Fritz discovers 4 was some one l.s g.se
| ho loved all the time, and that some one Csc
OF course, is the disguised damsol OF the pro
| logue This will go ON all the week.
THE IDEALS IN "FANcHoNErTE."
There was the usual large audience at Ford's
last night to see and hear the Ideals in the
| new opera, "FauChonette." This work might
| be more Justly termed II musical comedy than
! an opera, The musical numbers do NOS bear
the proportion 10 the whole that Is usual IN
comic opera or opera boufe, and they do not
flow out of the story with that spontanoity
aud naturalness necessary to give the impress
sion OF II musical whole. Theyare Incidents OF
| the representation rather than essential paris
of IT, However, the comedy OF the work Is
pquant and lively, and the whole was rem.
dcred with spirit by nearly the iull strength OF
| the company There are portions OF the hrsI
and second acts that drag perceptlHly; but ine ,
send the audience away In tho best OF
humor and with agreeable rccollections oil
the piece. The plot hinges ON the re-
markable resemblance OF two visitors one
of whom is an opera singer and the other
milllner. Miss Marie Stone In the role OF
Clarico Fanchonette did some excellent
acting, and improved to the fullest the slight
musical possibilities of the part. In the
second act she and Lavigny (MacDonaldl have
a very pretty duet, which was warmly rede-
manded. Their wooden shoe dance and song
In the third act were also vastly amusing, and
In the opera Is the sextctto ut the end ol
the second act This is far above the average
of the work, and Is really an admirable
concerted piece The detectives chorus
in the third act is another notably
good feature of the composition and was en-
cored. Mr.. II. c. Barnabee, while not afforded
exceptional opportunity by the role of De Cara
) melle, the stuped old head of the police de
, partment, was at times very funny. His ap
pearance as butterfly in the third act, threw
the house into a commotion. Mr.. Georgt
rockingham as Bilou, a mulatto, had par
1 which was rather In his line. Mr.. Herndor
9 Morsell had but slight opportunity in the roll
I of Larose, Mr.. A. ]. Hubbards strong bas
7 voice was heard pleasantly in the seXtette
I While "Fanchonette' may be presented will
7 advantage occasionally by the Ideals, II vii
hardly prove 80 popular as to justify giving IL
leading place in tho company,s reportory. Thl
will be sung.
9 NATIONAL THEATER,
! The general comment on skipped by thu
! Light of the MoOn,' produced last evening n
the National Theater, was that II is funny
: very very iunny" Before the curtain rose oi
was displayed In the lobby, and the house wa
=, crowded In every part. While not POSSESSING
any particular coherGncy of plot or action, tn
play affords ample opportunity Tor the dtspla!
of the comic abilities OF Messrs Harrison AM
Gourlay. While these gentlemen were on tn
stage, the audience was kept In n constan
: roar of laughter at their antics Mr.. Harri
% sons humor Is of q style peculiarly his own
. very dry and effective, and that OF Mr. Gourla
is equally as unotious, The musical number
e introduced were mostly new and good, whic
u Is certainly relief after the selections frOr
/, threadbare operas which are usually foiste
II ! upon the public in plays of this character
The supporting company was good, and In tn
: characters of the Mcintyre and Mrs. DinglC
= Ed. Morris and Mrs, Annie Ward gave tw
!. character sketches which caught the hous,
u u Taken altogethar skipped by the Light {
U the Moon" is one continual laugh from begir
l. ming to end, and fully merits the reputation f
, ~ fun which preceded It.