National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-01-03
DRAMATIC FEUiLLEroN.

YUAN tney might nave been,
!
DRAMATIC FEUiLLEToN.
Not infrequcntly the local boards groan un.
der distressingly bad ATTRACTIONS" Seldom,
however is the badness so devoid of mit.
! eating circumstances asso make the blttercst
critic wish that he himself may be the only
one to witness It, Some folks might think this
due to hankering for company characteristic
| of misery from Of old rather than to any re-
! gard for actors or managers but this is point
| ] will not discuss here. / have writhed be-
meath many dramatic nightmares one only
| do recall so exasporatlngly bad as to have
| bred in mo malignant desire that 1t might be
| inflicted solely on those best able to bear it
| empty benches That ono was Ada Gray in
East Lynne" and I am not quite sure my
total deprayty In this instance was not due to
the fact that the manager threatened TO thrash
| me for an adverse criticism more than to any
thing else. And perhaps the manager was right;
for If Ada's Aaccid performance was not re-
| spectacle in dramatic point of view, 1t was
more than respectable otherwise-it was ven
cradle.
But peace to the dramatic ashes Of Ada
| What l was trying to say is that am glad
/
business at the theatcrs this week. Improve
ment was ACKNOWLEDGEMENT In fact,
and let us hope 1t will continue. The attrac-
tons at the houses are not specially strong.
They were selected with good judgment, being
OF mediocre merits, respectable and good
enough to draw well at q point in the season
when people really want to go to the theater.
| The HanlOns are really excellent in their line
of business "Young Mrs Winthrop" which
your critic on Tuesday mildly designated as
mild" young friend Of mine much more
APPLY described as dramatic eau sucTee OF Sin
the Ranks" as play, and OF the company pre-
senting 1t with one or two exceptions), will
say that the scenery is really beautiful and
ingenious.
To return to the Hanlons imagine good
many people in Philadelphia and in Washing.
ton have this week wondered who was being
swindled. In Philadelphia the papers said
the Hanlon Brothers were making the
children laugh and the old folks smile in
"Fantasma." In Washington the papers said
the Hanlon Brothers were making the dittos
ditto and the dittos ditto in lie Voyage en-
Suisse" In view OF the well.known tricks of
the trade this looked suspicious. But when ii
is learned that there are five Hanlon brothers
theie used TO be six things become simpllhcd,
and our faith in mankind gets fresh grip
The brothers are now all old men, or at least
well along in years They have delighted
several generations, rs athletes, tumblers,
gymnasts, and pantomimists. Edward and
Frederick, who have been seen this week In
"Ie Voyage en- Suisse" are still agile and flex-
lille enough. Alfred who is with them here,
Is something of an invalid and sensbly dc.
clines to lagsuperauous on the stnge william
and George are managing "Fantasma, but,
believe, take no part in IL.
~
From all can learn, the Washington public
has reason to be grateful that Brooks & Dick
son made an assignment just in time TO save
us an intiiction of Ia Charbonniere," which
was looked for next week at Albaugh's. The
play is of that spectacular melodrama type of
which nearly every one is heartily tired. OF
course we would have all been glad to well
come Mrs. Bowers, but 1t Is Just as well that
the dear old lady should take rest and give
us one. And our rejoicing at the change of
attraction should not be merely negative.
The fact that we get "Three Wives
to One Husband" ought to make 1t
| positive, If the New York critics are to be
believed. This piece of Mr.. sarceys is said to
be one of the best things done from the French
! in yearS, and II took immensely at the Union
| Square. If II is presented here next week by
competent company land the Union Square
management usually sends out none other).
Three Wives' should prove n most grateful
diversion from tho wearisome routine OF stupid
melodrama which has of late afflicted US.
~
The American people are VIGOROUSLY long
suffering but knew they would at last turn
on the foreign actresses who come here and
try to enchant them in broken English. am
sorry, however that their wrath did not fall
on some one about whom less noble memories
cling than Ristori. II is strange and sad that
the igeon'English Of many Sinking medic
critics should have been endured and
applauded all these years, and that now
when the great mistress of tho pas
sion comes US last favor to play
10 us In our own language she should be re.
jected and revied Such has been the fate of
RisIori in New York 1t seems Not only has
she failed TO draw large audiences, but some
of the critics have found 1t in them to say vi
perish things about tho effect of her struggle
with the language or her acting Some of the
New YORK critics, of course, are brilliant
blackguards, but l am afraid there is a con-
currence of opinion that Ristori done into
English Is scarcely more than tolerabe para
phase, If not veritablo travesty, of the yo.
hement, electric RisLorl OF the Italian.
-.
Twas pleased to learn that the Florences
would wind up their engagement at the Ma
tional Theater next week with performance
of THE Ticket.ofLeave Man" This piece
shows the worthy pair at their best, aflording
them serious opportunity to exercise the solid
substantial dramatic talent and the natural
schooling which people who see them only in
"1he Mighty Dollar" and plays of that Tx
hardly suspect that they possess, i should be
sorry 10 insinuate that our theateT.goors
give any ono occasion for suspecting
that they do not appreciate and
enjoy tho solidest dramatic pabulum;
but somehow certain class OF artists who
come here frequently fail to produce the par
ticular thing which in other cities Is regarded
as their best. There is Lawrence Barrett for
instance. YOrlck Is generally admitted to be
the role which, on the whole, shows him at
his very best. When did he produce ii In
Washington? There was Irving last year. As
great hit as he made in New York was in
the dual role of Dubosc and Lesurcq in "The
Lyons Mail" When he reached Washington
no repeated some of his less interesting and
less merltorlous roles, but 1.-THE Lyons Mailr
did not arrive So with several other dstln.
gulshed artists whom could name.
MAX ESsE.
NEXT WEEKS ATTRACTIONS.
'Burr oaks" drama IN Ave acta will be
presented at Foris Opera House next week.
The plot IL said to be good, and to resemble
that Of "The Silver King" The play Is full of
strong dramatic situations, while the dialogue
Is crisp aud sparkling, The scenery is new
and magnificent, and some of the mechanical
effects unusually striking. Tho company
which produces 1t here has. met with marked
success wherever 1t has appeared
1.-THE Mighty Dollar" one of the most popu.
lar Of American comedies, will be given at
the National Theator next week. Billy Flor
ence is so well known and so thoroughly ap.
preclated in this city that the mere announce
ment Of his presence Is sufficient guarantee