National Republican., 1885-09-12
BEFORE THE FoorLIGurs.

has been blessed with good wen her, aud ths |
usual hot spell that we have in September has |
been postponed. hope twill fail to put In an |
appearance this season. Tho we'll known me.- !
drama, "Romany Rye" has held the boar Is at |
Allorgh's to t0p.hcayy hous s. an tho ish 1t |
is probable thnt some money has b ,on m ulc |
Curing tie week the company hts gained no
reputation No, won't say that, fOs among |
the intelligent lovers of the drama, It has made /
such nm impression that they don't want to see
1t again. There was single glimpse of good |
acting last night when Walter Dennis made |
his appearance Gs jack Heumc Walter Is |
Washington boy. and am glnd to record his
success in his profession yet he has been seen
TO better adyan,augc In the same character, for
lis surroundings were better Hnd he could On.
ter more fully into the spirit of the part.
a"a
| suppose We must expect thrcadbarc pieces
and ECcond.rptc companies at the commence.
mcut of the season, for the managers know
that the lest portion Of our resident popIlu-
tion DO not return to the city before the lst Of
October and they don't want to play n really
good attraction to thin houaes So they have
followed the time c.honored custom of opening
about the 1st OF September with anything that
could be booked, and running along for n
month or so, satisfied II expenses are paid
This seems to me to he bad policy, for there is
n sufficient number of persons In town at NIL
seasons of the year to hll Il thcatcr If the in
duccmcnts are sufficient This was proven by
the success Of the summer opera season at Al-
Iaugh's, when the large opera house was filed
night after night for weeks. True, the cheap
price was an especial inducomont, but If the
performances of the Winston and Bcebc
troupCs were worth but 25 and so cents those
ofthc "Romany Rye" combination ought to
come down TO the dime museum rates.
80
Speaking Of dime museums, want to con.
gra,ulatc Manager Herzog upon the improve.
mcnt that has been made in his establishment
which he now dignihes as the Ninth Street
Opera House. The changes have been many
ana effective. The stage has been enlarged
and is now fully MS roomy rs that Of Foti's
Opera House across the way. The entire in.
terror has been painted and decorated so that
1t now presents most attractive appearance.
His opening attraction was goot one, m
Miss Katherine Rogers has played to full hou'c3
during the entire week. Miss Rogers, though
somewhat past the bloom of her powers, is an
earnest and effective actress and does con-
scientious and honest work. Her company Is
q fair one and rendered good support. Ifthis
standard is maintained during the season the
Ninth Street Opera House will prove highly
profitable investment. The class Of persons
that have attended during the past week has
been such as any manager might be proud of
The time for sneerng against the performances
of n dime museum has gone by, at least III this
city, and the cheap, but good average show has
become fixed institution.
~
After tho performance of tho "Misnao' at
Albaugh's there was naturally considerable
curiosity to witness this latest production by
Gilbert and Sullivan presented by what was
announced TO be hrst.class company under
the direction of Mr. Ford, who had secured the
sole right to produce this opera in Maryland,
the District OF Columbia, aud the solth Con.
scquently large audience assomOledat Fogd's
on Monday night. prepared to be pleased with
all the delicate humor of Gilbert aud the
pleasing music Of Sullivan. In f,c!, the simon
pure "NIikudo was promised with original OF.
chcstral score and all that sort orthlng. Charlie
Ford's company has scored Il popular sic.
cess in that the audiences have roarcd with
laughter. and some of the members
have been again and again cucorcd. From
critical standpoint there is but one of the fe
| male principals who shows voice of any par
! tlcuar melody or culture, and that Is Miss
| May She made the very most OF the part al
| lottCd to her, and Is the one bright star of the
| organization. Joe GrecnsfeldCr does his best
with the par; of the Mikado, and sings his p).-
| tion Of the score with good effect | have
heard him three times this week, an on
neither occasion was the habit of singing Off
the key, which used to mar his eGorts, Gp-
parent. The low notes which ne ihterpJldies
Hrc effectively rendered, and never EIil to be
applaudcd.
George Dcnhan,-is one OF the funniest low
comedians on the stage, aud he gets II heap of
fun out of the part of the Lord High E.iicu.
toner. He causes the most inten 'e mctrment
whenever he is upon the stage. and in fact il
Tic life OF the whole performance Blg he
burlCsques the character. lie don't play it as
was intended by Gilbert, but he does play it
| intensely funny. cont know Of any Ameri.
can comedian, except old BIrnabee, of the
| Boston Ideals, who can take olo of Gilbert !
| caricaturc creations, such rs Sir Joseph Porter,
Mai. Gen. Stanley, and Bunthorne, aIl play
them straight and have them funny; so per-
haps Denham knew that his only chance of
success in the "Allkado' lay in his ability TO
broadly burlcsquc the old japanese officer.
The chorus is large and effective, and the girls
are pretty. The acting of all the people is fair,
and the whole piece goes with a snap that the
Beebe troupe lacked.
s@a
| Inc WOrk upon INC new NnllOnal Incatef Is
nearly completed, and the house will b. fully
ready for opening by the time fixed. Indeed,
/ believe 1t could be prepared for performances
next week If the occasion required Mr.
Rapley has shown great energy and dispatch
in rebuilding his thcater, and his pluck de.
serves substantial encouragement. / have n
doubt he will receive that when the money
begins to 60 int the box office. Mile. Rhea
who will open the new house, Is great
fayoritc here, and she will present new play,
which will be au additional attraction. Harry
Rapley and Sam Kinsley will be the gcnii ot
the box office: RomaIne will have his old p,Si-
lion at the main door, ana jim Jamison will be
at the dress circle entrance N)st of tn,
former ushers will be rc.employed AMI the
number increased as the occasion may H..
maud.
a%s
understand Bob Downing and his complny
are doing well since they have lett this city
am glad Of that. want Bob to succeed, for hC
is hard working conscientious, pllastaSlng
actor, with splendid stage presence, II ilno
rich resonant voice, and good deal OF talent
lie has carried with him Il wcl.baanccd com
pany, all the people being of fair ability. l;
fact, Bob and his company arc II good deal bet
ter than the play, aud If they should como t
grief it would be on account of the piece ant
not because each member failed to do the boi
with the character assigned him.
JouN MILDHAY.
Gen, Drums Way.
EDITOR NATIONAL REPUBLICAN,: In your arti
Gle OF tOday's paper about the G1utant gen
cral of the United States army, signed "Fife,
please add, his discOurtesy toward old friend