The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1885-10-04
AMUsEMENTs. A

came In the guise Of acalamity, the destruction by
| fire OF the National Theatre last February, has
brought about this result, in the erection by Mr..
Rapey OF the Ne,c National Theatre on the ancient
and favorlie site looking out upon Pennsylvania ave-
| nue.. Past generations who sat In the old.time
structure that nearly fell in their ncads IN lssi
| those who at later date gazed on the amazing
curtain covered with advertisements or beheld the
other evidences OF poverty and shabbness in the
past worship OF the muses. here would indeed be as
tonished II suddenly confronted with the lofty facade
OF the new playhouse, towering nvc stories toward
the sky, and still more II taken within to see what
progress has wrought In the past half century.
II Ia somewhat OF q coincidence that The first
theatre on this site opened in 1885 "A little later
In the year, however, Monday, December I. The
present management are Justified In the pride with
which they can announce at the head OF their bills
for tomorrow night, Opening OF the F1fticth An.
nua Season." In this new country this Is n long
record to look back upon.
The New National has attracted wide attention
and has been often described during Its rapid ad
vance toward completion. The special features to
which attention may be directed, besides the good
taste OF the design aud decorations, which will
strike every eye upon the first Inspection, lie In the
safety, convenience. and exact adaptation OF the
structure to Its purposes. II may te said that there
are three buildings. The irons, which gives such an
imposing appearance upon the street, contains
suVps, Vf"cNs, uuu OtneT apartments 10 DC used
rentc and is rayerscd by the broad entrances to the
inner building, or auditorium, where the audience
Is seated. Beyond this rises massive wall OF brick
with only three openings, namely, the proscenum,
spanned by one Of the largest arches ever con.
structed, and door on each side, lower down.
heavy nreproof curtain Of asbestos always ready to
be dropped and two iron doors, when closed complete
the isolation OF the regions OF the stage, where the
dangerous fires originate, and which form the third
hpf Uhr
than the middle portion.
The property-rooin, nioteover, Is separated from
the stage by brick wall With metal doors while the
boilers and engine are In separate brick building
beyohd the alley on the right. All In all, the fire
fend has been thoroughly outgeneraed, and one can
Imagine him prowling in impotent rage around the
scene OF his four previous victories.
Removal Of the danger OF fire, however, is but n
negative measure. People might not 60 to thea
tire only because they will be safe from burning up
IN 1t, since they could attain that result by staying
outside. Mr.. kapley and his architects have been
mindful that there must he solid comfort, easy an
proaches TO all parts Of the house. an equal chance
to hear and see, plenty OF light, and cheerful pleas
Ing decorations. All these have been provided to
suit the most fastidious. rise OF i've steps from
the street conducts to the broad entrance lobby 30
by 40 feet paved with black and white marble tiles
These steps, by the way, have been criticised but
they give the right inclination TO the oor OF the a,
dtorium without putting the front seats of the or
chestra virtually in the cellar As heretofore. Wide
staircases conduct 10 the dress circle The entrance
to the gallery Is separate. There additional ways
OF exit INTO alleys and adjoining buildings In case OF
panic. The whole house has Dcmorest folding
chairs, twenty or twentyone inches wide They are
arranged so that every spectator has fair sight of
the stage, and acoustics have been so studied that
all have fair chance to hear. The private boxes
are eight IN number, in pairs, divided with nickel
MIA ntnt al
| crimson plush, fringed with orange and gold satin
and hand-embroidered, thus adding greatly to the
appearance OF the theatre. This effect Is aided by
the maroon hangings OF the rest Of the house, the
artistic frescong of the ceiling and proscenium arch
the Wilton carpets on the floor, and the food of light
from central chandelier Of one hundred burners
and innumerable side lights. 1t would be easy to
pursue the subject almost indehnitly into multi
tude OF details, for which Mr. Rapeys skill, expert
ence, and liberallty have provided, but all may be
summed up in saying that this is theatre OF which
Washington and the country may well be proud.
Nile. Rhea has just opened In her own charming
way the renovated Walnut-sreet Theatre In Phila-
delphia and comes TO Washington in time to per-
form the same ceremony for the rebuilt National. She
Is thus taking up Emma Abbotts recent line Of busi-
ness, and no doubt Will prove as much or even more
OF mascotte. Every season gives more reason to
be grati1ed that this finished artistic, the pupil of
Fechter and SAMSON. Of Beauvallet at the Con-
servaolre, and Of John Ryder In London was led by
her ambition for rapid success and impatience of
the slow progress possible in Paris to cast her lot
with the Engllsh-speakng stage. She has In this
way performed service for the dramatic art In ex-
employing refined and thorough methods as well as
leading the way for successors like Madame Jauish,
that could not have been rendered otherwise. The
special feature tomorrow evening will be a poem
by Mr.. George Edgar Montgomery, recited by Miss
julia Wheeler. Washington lady In Mile Rhcas
company. The performance will be new play,
Lady Ashley" written for Rhea by Mr.. Elwyn A.
Barron, OF the Chicago Inter- Ocean, and Mr.. Morgan
Bates, joint authors of A Moral Crlme.n which has
proved such great success at the Union Square
Theatre. An outline Of the plot may here be given.
Margaret Vernon by the death OF an uncle becomes
the heiress Of Ashley Manor and by her gentle bear
Ing and acts OF charity wins the affection OF all about
her, including Lady Norman, a wealthy widow
in the ncighborhood This lady has
son for whom Margaret forms deep at
tachment, which for time she hopes is returned.
But heavy misfortune falls upon her. The family
lawyer appears and breaks to her the intelligence
that, her uncle having had son who died In India,
widow and child Of the latter have arrived In Eng.
land with proofs sufficient to dispossess Margaret
She thus finds herself reduced from the position of
mistress to that of dependent upon the new heir
and his mother. which she accepts that she may still
be near the young Lord Norman. No sooner does
the latter see the new Lazy shieythan he becomes
fascinated with her, and Margaret seems Likely to
lose her love as well as her fortune, when a Mai
Drummond arrives from India. Lddy Ashtey
swoons at first sight Of him. and he quickly denounces
her as an impostor, and not the widow of his friend
The shock OF exposure costs the unhappy woman
her reason and then her life. This strong drama
will be repeated Tuesday evening and at the
Wednesday matinee. Wednesday and Thursday
| evenings and at the Saturday matinee Rhea will ap-
pear In her new and effective version OF Frou-
Frou." Friday evening she will appear In one of
Sardou's best comedies, " Dangerous Game,r and
Saturday evening, a still greater novelty, In his
"The Power OF Love- In which she dons The cos
| tune OF young Italian student. As handsome
boy Mile Rhea Is said TO be very "cue and fetch
ing, and the week Will no doubt conclude as bril-
liantly as 1t begins
At Albaugh's Grand Opera House this week the
heroic Michael StrogoH, Courier Of the Gar" will
pursue his daring journey from MOSCOW to Irkuisk
In Siberia through terrible pers and Of alter
| mating desolation and magnincencc. All these viii
be rendered In the most vivid style by Mr.. Charles
| L. Andrews dramatic and spectacular combination,
specially strengthened for the tour Of this season.
D'Ennery's dramatizaton OF verne's romance has
| enjoyed great run In the leading cities here and
Abroad for II possesses elements OF novelty, pictur-
esQueness and excitement that appeal TO all classes
| In the audience. Even those who do not admire the
Czar must sympathize with the smple-he and
faithful stro0oG. The battlefield OF Kolyvan, the
camp Of The Kmr, and the Illuminated fete at Mos
| cow some OF the best specimens OF vocg,ns
work. and, with the grand national ballet led by three
prcmieres, Miles. Brianza, Carullo, and Suze, and
superb corps de ballet, leave nothing to be desired
In the spectacular features OF the play. With nearly
sixty persons in the regular cast and ballet and a
small army OF extras and supernumeraries the mag
nincent proportions Of the Grand Opera House stage
will be for once taxed to the utmost. The play will
continue through the week, with the usual Wednes-
day and Saturday matinees.
| Managers Kinsiey and Rapley evidently intend TO
Keep the New National Theatre up to the standard
OF Its predecessor and worthy OF Its splendor In
the attractions 1t presents. A glance ahead shows
that they have already secured Lolita, Clara Morris,
Fanny Davenport and Annie Pixley among the
lady stars, Joseph Jefferson, Thomas W. Keene, and
others Of the scrner sex, comedians like Mr.. and
Mrs. Florence, Harrison and Gourlay, and others,
and varied list OF dramas grave and gay, such as
"a Prisoner for Life,"" Storm Beaten,"" The Prl-
vats secretary,"" We, Us Co.." "Wages OF SIM"
| "shadows OF Great city," "Count OF Monte
| Cristo,' etc.
For the week Of November Is promised "a Rag
Baby" that amusing takeon OF the rural drug store