National Republican., 1885-01-14
ADJUSTMENTS.


THE RETURN or MILE. RHEA
Arcadia" the play in which Mile. Rhea
appeared at the National Thcater last night, is
called mos Bons Villageois' in the original
French Of Yictoren sardou. The present is
not the first version of 1t seon on the American
STAGE as one called "a Dangerous Came"
which more nearly followed the lines Of the
original than this of Mr.. Walter j. Brooks, was
successfully produced not many seasons ago in
Boston. While Mr. Brooks has, in adaptation,
expanded tho part Of Helene, originally a
secondary role to make IL more worthy of
Mile, Rhca, aud otherwise altered the proper
tions and relative Importance of the characters
OF mos BOns Nillapcois," he has preserved the
ingenious framework of sardous drama. Tho
slight, almost timsy nature of the dramatic
materials with which, by nice adjustment OF
scenes aud incidents and delt ENHANCEMENT
OF motive, interest is aroused and maintained
through four acts, betrnys the master touch of
the skilled playwright. A less cunning hand
would have made nothing. Of the story which
Sardou elaborated into pleasant little drama,
which, while not calculated to stand the wear
and tear of years of stage life, may well bo the
success of Il season If the season be
not too long. The sun Of domestic
felicity does not suffer total eclipse II only
for n moment hovcrs In the penumhra, then
emorgcs more radiant than ever from the
shadows. Tho plot hinges on the inconsidcr.
nte action Of an impetuOus lover who, going to
the house of his betrothcd At an unusual hour,
llllib ullubtAl III lut hIuINlutulh VI Hlh hMNNN-
hearts married sister, the Baroness dc Trou.
vile, with whom he had previously had a
slight Irritation. Threatened with discovery
by tho husband he seizes the Baronesss dia.
monds, resolving to save her reputation even
at the cost OF being himself branded as thief
The husbands suspicion Is aroused, however,
and even his wife sassurances of her innocence
fail to allay IT, lie refuses to hear what the
lover would say, and duel to the death !;
about to take place when all is happily cleared
up BY the ingenious confession Of Helene, the
wronged wiio's innocent sister, and the real
cause of the whole trouble. As Helene Mile
Rhea was seen perhaps at her best, Nothing
she has heretofore done In Washington ha,
been so entirely In the line Of her powers and
so calculated TO display her many charms OF
manner as this part: Love makes her bold
but even boldness does not rob hci
of her maidenly charms She Is neyci
at a disadvantage throughout the play, and al
all times is bright, innocent, and attractive
In tho last act she was peculiarly effective
and drew from the audience in the midst o
the scene burst of spontaneous applause. II
every way there is noticeable n marked i'm
provement in this always pleasing actress
she Is decidedly more at ease with her Eng
lish, nnd,her mispronunciation merely adds
piquanoy to the delivery Of her lines A
times, however, particularly in rapidly uttereC
passages the cadence Of her sentences IL not
pleasant, and she has not entirely got ovel
the French habit of running her words
together. Taken as a whole, however, hel
Helene is pretty and artistic bit of work, anC
those who were pleased with her IN other role
will be charmed with this. ALilo. Rhea's com
pany is good throughout, Mr.. John T. sulli
van as the Baron wafcasy and strong. Th,
performance. Miss Mae Clarke's Baroness wal
quiet and woll!judged, while the remainder o
the cast were all equal TO their parts. ''Ar
cadiaE Will be repeated at the matinee to-day
ALBAuGH's GRAND OPERA HOUSE.
The comedians Robson and Crane received
FOnnWaA aN nf ari fr n Ia
large audience that gathered at Albaugh'
Grand Opera House last night to witness "For
hidden Fruit" AS its title indicates the
comedy touches on the gaycties. Of life in
| metropolis, and involves the neophyte as wei
as his mentor In endless and intricate dilen
mas, Cato Dove, II young lawyer rs well n
devoted husband, has fair client named Zul
she OF the circus-and Is discovered in al
interview with her by his friend Sergeant Bus
ter, who at once proposes quiet little part.
| of four at the CremOrne Gardens altc
the circus isover. Dove with much reluctanc
consents. Just as they have sent messages Z
| their respective wives announcing the posi-
bility of absence from home on account o
| pressing business at a distance from town thcS
| ladies make their appearance and veto an
arrangement that Will take the gentlemen tro1
| home. Buster devises a scheme by which I
dispose Of the ladies and still keep their ap
| pOintment. Mrs Buster, however, is su,
| piCiOus, and takes the sergeant I'm ChnrgC
| leaving Dove to carry out the progTamm
/ NUM- Until u lhleT UOuT. vi fOuIht III bOt
| contrary to expectation, and the inexserlence
| Cato Dove finds himself In ascOre of dilemma
| without means TO extrlCatc himself A long
absent brother Of his wife consents to be-
come the scapegoat, and all is satisfactorily ea
| planned. Mr.. Cranes Sergeant Buster Is brim
| full Of humor, with a keen appreciation Of III
| importance of Mrs. Buster. In Cato Dove Nj
| Robson finds ample opportunity for the dis
| play of his peculiar kind of fun, which keep
| the audience in a continual roar Of laughtG
! without any apparent effort on his part. The
! were ably supported by Mrs. GeOrglo Dickso
as Mrs. Buster, Miss Bigelow as Zula, and MI;
| Flora May Henry as Mrs. Cato Dove. The pin
| Is pTettily set, and striking feature OF th
stage effects was the introduction oftwo horst
| aud n coach upon the stage, making the seen
remarkably realistic. "Forbidden Fruit, wi
| be repeated at the Saturday matinee perform
| hnCe. For tonight "Our Boarding House.
announced, while on Thursday and FridR
nights THE Cherubs' will be given.
| FoRDs OPERA HOUSE.
| The Carleton English Opera Company WI
| again greeted By Il large audience last nigh
and seems TO be growing 20 its proper place 1
the popular estimation. The opera presente
has been given number of times within III
past year or two, so that the story as we'll d
the. bright, sparkling music Is quite "a
iniliar. OF the performance last night llttl
but praise can be said. Miss Dora Wiley d
Violelta had far better opportunity to show he
powers as an actress as well us vocalist tina
| on the previous night, and she made sue
good use Of them that she was repeatedly er
| cored, Miss Bartlett Us Else, the peasant
wife, showed herself as possessed of Il charm
| ing mezZO sOprauo voice fairly cultivated, an
made very favorable impression. The Art
mesia Of Miss Rose Beaudet, while at times
little OVerdrawn, was good. Mr. Carleton
| Umperto Spinyla was acted and sung wit
good taste. In the first act he introduced
| song, written iOr him by Mai. ID. A. DOrlin
| Aug higuon), which Is admirably adapted
his tlno barytone voice, and on which he s
cured very emphatic encore. The com
dian, Herr Gustave Adolphi, while not giitG
with "a voice remarkable for It's compass, san
IN an uproar by his wonderful changes {
facial expression, The remaining parts In IN
! cast were well sustained The chorus Is strOn
and vol drilled, most Of the voices beih
fresh aud pleasant, In addition to which 1t
richly and appropriately costumed.. one
/ the features OF the performance was the silel
drill, by squad OF young ladies of the GhOru
the various movements OF which elioited fri
/ quent applause, and a repetition had to
/ granted. The presentation was In every respei
satisfactory, so far as the performance on Il
stage was concerned. A marked improyemer
might, however, be made In the orchestra b
tho substitution OF additional wind instrl
menta In place of tho plano now used.
| conductor has sufficient work on hand In d
| recting the opera without undertaking 10 II
! out defective hGrmonies with one hand. HOl
/ James q. Blaine, accompanied by his sol
from a private box, "The Mascot Is a
uounced for tonight, Fra Dlayolo", {,
/ Thursday on Friday 1.-THE Mascot" will !
repeated, on Saturday there will be two pc
fofmances-in the afternoon ERA Diayolo,
aud at night "Morry War" will be repeated.
"The American Countess"
| tppha A AnnaFipan (nrutaaait will \