The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1885-12-06
AMUSE MENTS.

oituNS ~ cuSllN III SpfhNilE ihVic tuSht w
singing hold the attention OF this great loudtaking
welldresscd, mostly hcattless mob that confronis
her? Unknown TO him the little witch has begun TO
weave her spell about him when he asks the ques-
ton and grows Interested In Its solution. AS she
goes on with her childlike, delicate, almost pathetic
efforts TO please-in the play OF last week, her hus
band, but also In reality, the audlenceeyery one in
the house gets more AMI more Interested In the
solution until toward the end 1t is really Interesting
TO watch how the audience, like the loving friends
In Hoods little pocm seem anxious to lend their
own strength to exc out hers. IL she cannot speak
loud they will make 1t up by listening ntenily; II
she Is petite In form aud feature, they will gaze more
closely with all their eyes; II she cannot score a
climax by vehemence, let her faint away and they
Will supply the yehemence In their applause. In
stead of dsmlssng this as freak Of public fancy
the critic would do well to seek out the OF 1t.
An acute writer in an English review has pointed
out that the highest and rarest achievement OF the
actor Is that momcn'ary touch OF perfect truth TO
nature which makes. or seems to make the whole
scene real to him aud TO the audience. 1t can never
last but moment, for the next instant reason over
takes imagination AMI recalls us to the surround.
lngs, but II Is worth all that goes before and follows
for 1t Is fash OF the Promethean lre OF genius and
cannot be attained by any correctness OF elocution
SSH less by any aids OF scenery or dress. II can
easily he recognized, for 1t through audience
as Enthusiastically as the spark from a Leyden Jar
These moments, with all her physical weakness,
Miss Maddern has, and they are what win ana hold
her hearers even those tho canld moi possibly define
what 1t is that moves them. 1t can truihfuy be
said of her almost unconscious methods that
mature Is made better by no mean
But nature makes that mean; so DER that art
Which you say adds to nature. Is an art
That nature makes"
Women, swayed rs they by intuition and feeling,
and with their dner nerves. are peculiarly suscepi-
BILE 10 this influence, AMI hence 1t Is not surprising
that Miss Madden Is the darling Of the ladies, the
| stauuchest friends a stage favorlte can have, as
Rosd,ind long since limited In her eplogue Her
very weakness is to some extent her strength. She
has that niorbidezzd that nerrose, that "magnet-
ISM, as has been variousy Called that has chiefly
made the OF Clara Morris, OF Magg Mitchell,
and others more or less gifted with the same in
delnable quality. II she were more robust, II, 10
quote sydney Smith, her soul were not almost In
state OF indecent exposure for lack OF neshly vest
ment, In more delicate phrase, If she were not
like one OF those rare sea creatures whose dlmy
| bodies show every movement Of the delicate vital
fuld within them, she might lose this. AS is she
Is like some spre that has Just fitted upon The
stage, and seems as II she might fade from view
easily. Mr.. Steele Mackaye has toned down Sardous
| very French play TO a little episode drama well
adapted TO her. though with rather strained iitle
"In Spite OF ALL" II is a story that might happen
| any day, the reckless chase OF man Of the world
after pretty opera singer, and 1t derives
| Its tragedy and suspense from the fact that
we see and readily believe that II not checked
1t will Kill his little, ktensh delicate, loving wife,
| The company is OF unusual strength. Mile. Nadia
the stage name of Baroness de Rotchkofl makes a
great of the role of S,e,la which seems well
and exactly within her range. She is entitled to the
greatest credit for the good sense she has displayed
In accepting subordinate part In order to t herself
for the more ambitious path to which she aspires on
the American stage 1t Is the very best earnest for
her future success as star. The part Qhe name of
which ought to be ausplcious) is not so subordinate
either when marked by the grace, spirit, and know!-
edge of stage effect which she throws into IT, but
that very fairly divides the hsnors and adds greatly
TO the acceptance OF the piece from Its real opening
to the very climax. Mr.. Richard Mansfield as the
cynical German impressario, Herr Intonius Kydn,
repeats in makeup, accent and gesture his previous
trumphs character actor far as the limits Of
this part will allow. 1t is Ingenious, unctnous and
perfect. lie is evidently the legitimate successor to
Warren and Stoddard, now passing on the stage, II
not, in fact to Owens, Clarke Matthew's If he will
submit to the same arduous training that they did.
Miss Lillian Wallach, Messrs GeoGf. Hawley,
Joseph Franklin, and Cyril Scott are all worthy OF
commentator, though the last named does not
make the most of the part of the good old jeweler
Barlow, Wilson, and Rankin with Rankin uhfor-
tunately missing gave good old fashioned minstrel
show onthe spacious stage of the Grand Opera House
last week.
Miss Myra Goodwin in 81 Sis " did better business
than was expected for new and uLtred star al
Ford's last week, and seems TO have future in The
sOubrete line she has adopted.
Ford's Opera House has great anu notable at.
traction this week in Angustn Days latest success
"a Night on one of his bright and mrihfu adap
taions from the German OF Schonthau. 1t Is pre-
senied by the Rehan comedy company, with all The
original business and the same careful attention IL
detail that marked the New York production. The
escapaie which 1t portrays is livery terrible, being
the first night OF certain tragedy, written In his
youth by venerable professor, and rendered al his
expense by company Of barn slormlng tragedilns
, The professor and his son .naw steal of to see i
without the knowledge of the formers rather slric
and pnrltaniral wife OF course they are deiecte,
love match between the professors younger daugh
ter and the "leadng man OF the dramatic CON
paDy, who turns out 10 he the son of an English
baronet who has only temporarily quarreled with nil
g wealthy father and all ends happily; The sal
Francisco AfgondW, which Is closely CRITICAL says
"The play itself is breezy rafting comedy, trench
ing close upon the line of farce, and Is full of brigh
dialogue a and immensely funny situations From
terest OF the audience never lag for an instant bu
move smoothly on together to the music of continu
= Gus laughter. To the actors, and 10 their carefu
drilling, much praise Is due, for in their Performance
there Is not point that can be called really weak
while much of 1t ranks with the best comedy ACTIN
of the day. Nsbe Is winsome lasse, full Of girlis
fobles, and yet very charming withal--a quick WI
ted, happy lille butterfly who iils OF and on IN
stage In the most eccentric fashion, whose mouth
full of qneer-ideaed childish prattle, and who's
every movement Is followed by smile "
. This evening is signazed by grand concert i
the New National Theatre, with the full strength q
the Marine Band, led by Professor Sousa, All
several distinguished soloists. 1t IL rather slrang
that there has been no similar enterprise undertake
here for SO many years. II Is feature Of the III
: OF many other cities. day Of rest AMI recreato
like Sunday, especially after most Of the churche
are closed, 10 we'll adapted to the enjoyment OF IN
elevating and refining influence OF good music.
q may keep many who become weary OF enforce
. Jonge, soprano, makes her first appearance befOT
8 the Washlngton public. She Is petite, vIyaciou,
and handsome, and has a voice noted for its bri
liancy, sustained quality, and power OF execution
= She is sure to become fayorile. Mr.. Ernest Lei
y is well known as amaster OF that rich and swee
toned instrument the violoncei.o. He VIII play tn
o souvenir de Spa Of Seryais Mr., Walter +. Smitl
ne s'lo sornetisi, T. new acquisition ,oihe Marin
mist. The orchestral pieces will be Of Populs
rather tnan dry or classical character ne d.
i. Life, by Bandmaster kappey, of the Royal Marin
T. Band Will be sure To please here, as has done
concert, "Faerie Voices" by Mr. Gwyllym Grow
D. conductor OF the famous Crystal Palace Orchestra
|
The event OF this week Will be the appearance
l. Mr.. Joseph Jefferson al the New National Theat
In several Of the representations that have made h
e name immortal. This will lie his only appearan,
~ In Washington this season. On Monday, Tuesda
h and Wednesday he will give his beautiful and touc
I. ing embodiment OF the dear old loy-maker cal.
10 PiuDunei, in the acting version OF Dckens's "Crck
. on the Hearth" followed by his Irresistible Mr.. q
Hghtiy In the Jolly afterpiece. - Lend Ne Five Sn
lngs" The rest OF the week Will be devoted TO m
- Van wnkle," which the public always redemand, m
only because everybody sees II more than once soH
Is annually but because there children growing
all the time that have right 10 weep and laugh Oy
l. II also, before II disappears from the stage fOrey
this truly great actors retirement. 1t mas alwa
er been easy for Mr.. Jefferson 10 command The be
" talent for his well and pleasantly managed compaD
le and this season Ia no exception. Among the nam
al are Messrs H. varrey r. A. Eberle q. Il. JeiieIso
"a j. Kahn. L. Hurst, aud g. Lynch, Misses May Wa
,e colt, Lillian Lee, Adelaide Slanhope, Z. Jackso
a aud Dora Leslie, Mrs. Gonzales, anftwo clever oh
dren, little Fannie and Bessie.
@ Among all Mr.. Barley CampDels plays siber
seems 10 be The most steadily successful, which Ii
II very sign that II has genuine clements OF dr.
N maic strength and effectiveness II Ia Highly 7