The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1885-02-17
lAsr N1oHr,s AMusEMENrs.


Every seat was taken ut FOrd's last night,
and the audience was earnest and emphatic
in its demonstrations Of approval of the
light and merry music, the amusing stua-
tiOns and tho bubbling fun that overflow
every scene Of Fanchonetto and give n
peculiar charm to tho new production that
insures its success and popularity IL may
be true that Fanchonette does not rise
TO The dignity Of an opera, but It Is certain
that no one would wish to have it amended.
IL is charming little comedy, with less
music than might be expected in the
libretto, but full Of fun and afiording
ample scope for the dramatic powers Of
the Ideals. The sextet at the close of the
second act, the detective chorus the wooden
shoe dance and other novelties were most
ingenious and effective. Fanchonetto"
was beautifully put upon the STAGE tho
costuming being unusually effective aud
elaborate, even for tho Ideals. Tho "Bo-
hemian Girl will bo given this evening.
National Theatre.
Messrs. Harrison aud Gourlay and their
inimitable company were greeted by full
house at the National Theatre last night.
skipped by the Light of the Moon" proved
to be an eminent success. The play Is an
extravagant farce aud in the hands OF two
such artists as Louis Harrison aud John
Gourlay 10 could not fail TO be uproariously
funny. Tho audience was kept in q con-
tinual roar Of laughter throughout the por-
Torrance. Messrs Harrison and Gourlay,
as Feiir Crdekle and Obadiah Dingle tho two
husbands of on lark, have checkered
and lively experience, which is brought to
q climax by the arrival OF their wives, who
find them at Saratoga instead Of ut camp
meeting. Tho scenery and costumes are
original, ingenious, elaborate and amusing.
The comedians were ably supported by W.
ii. Collins as James Wdjfeld; Ed Morris as
u, III. -.
Frank Pelham; William II. Reeves as John
Shdrpleigh; Charles Helmych rs Francois;
Miss Lille Brush as Sarah Miss Annie
Wood as Mrs. Dingle, Miss Eleanor Lane as
Ms. Crdckie; Miss Adele Bray as MiiiceRt
IPdrfed. The play will be given every
evening during the week, and the sale of
seats for each performance has been large.
Aibaugh's Grand Opern-HOuse.
The audience that witnessed Mr.. En-
NETS new play, " The Strange Marriage
of Fitz," last evening at Albaugh's was
large and appreciative. Rollicking, merry,
careless, winning Fits was the same as
ever. OF course he cannot sing, and his
attempts at German dialect are strained
and weak but lie still retains his mex
plicable hold upon his audiences. His
good nature is ever bubbling over, aud is
so infectious that it would be hard for an
audience not TO he pleased with his sayings
anu his plhuk5. l. nc nONCl ledJuTe OF Gue
play Is his strange marriage. 1t is strange,
for theIeason that 1t IS so improbable that
one can hardly see how u playwright could 4.
have the hardihood to put such thing in
play. His songs were all applauded, and
IL was only by pleading the lateness of the
hour that ne escaped more oncores. The
support was fair, the players generally
making the mistake in thinking that the
play was thrilling melo.drama and in
utrtfi Nkafr 30, nh OH IN
whereas the play is nothing but an absurd,
wellworD, nonsensical frame in which
Fii.'s merry face is all that is to be seen.
The Theatre Comiquc.
This resort of masculinity contained
large audience last evening, attracted by
Ida Siddons' Mastodon Female Minstrels,
whose performance was thoroughly enjoy
able. Tho songs, dances, the Amazon
march and the nac-nac dancers were all
excellent and each number on the pro-
gramme was loudly applauded. The fe-
male drum jors created favorable inn
preston. There will be matinee at the
Comique every day during the balance of
the week. This company has been much
strengthened since its appearance in this
city early in the winter. There is u dash
and sparkle, about the concluding piece,
prince Faithful" that has been added.
Dime Museum.
The great New York Minstrel Troupe,
headed by Mills, Rice and Barton, gave rich
entertainments at the Dime Museum, on
Pennsylvania avenue, yesterday afternoon
and evening to large aud fashionable au
dieDees. This morning the troupe made n
street parade that attracted the admiration
| of every body. They will continue their
beautiful performances every afternoon and
night during the week, and no lover of
melody and mirth should miss seeing them.
| In the opening part tho charming senti'
| mental songs, the eccentric dances and the
| witticisms of the END men" draw down
richly-nlerited applause, and in the second
| part the coniical sketchesand comicalities of
the Ministries delight every one in the au-
| dience. The museum down stairs shows
| the bearded woman, the fre.queen, Pro-
fessor Everett, the magician; Punch and
| Judy and hosts of other attractions.
1erzeg's Museum.
There was hut fair-sized audience in
attendance to witness the performance ut
| Herzog's Museum last evening. The pro-
| gramme this week has drifted from the
| thrilling dramas into the sea of variety
| This is the first complete variety enter
tainment given at this popular resort
since its opening, and that the audience
was pleased was fully shown by the fire.
quent bursts of applause calling perform
ers to the front again TO repeat their per-
formances. The programme consists Of the
following: Mr.. and Mrs, Harry Osborne,
the prominent dramatic stars, presenting
unique pOrtTaitures and original oddities;
Madame Lees English Lilliputian Ballet
Troupe in the graceful ballet, entitled Tho
Duchess of Puddledock." This should DO
seen by all the children it will surely
please them Miss Fannie Osborn, in dra-
matte recitations; the premier ventrilo-
quist, Val Vose in his grand ventriloquial
entertainment; Mile. Eta, assisted by
Madame Lee, whose astonishing powers of
mental force and conception are an enigma
to the thousands who have had the
pleasure of witnessing her remarkable
seances exhibiting the power of mind
over matter Professor Wallace, the
great bird man, initiating all kinds of birds,
animals and farm-yard ditties, Professor
Wallace was tho recipient of unbounded APP
plausc, to which he pleasantly responded.
At one time it looked as though the audi
ence was determined TO keep him before
them the remainder of the evening. The
programme was concluded With Professor
Hampton's school of educated dogs, cats,
monkeys, goats, geese, etc, the performance
I ..TN H.. -. 4.