The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1885-11-29
AMUSEMENT


"a Bunch OF Keys held the stage at Albauehs
during the week. and, though the Oldest appeared to
excel In drawing power any OF the other Hoyt plays
Good houses indeed were the rule. Yet those who
saw the original With Edouin as snooos could not
fatl TO observe considerable falling o6 As there
are opportunities in this extravaganza for the intro
duction OF songs and dances the managers have
made mistake In not Strengthening rather than
weakening their attraction. However, this is the
Fort of blunder that is almost universal A man.
ager gets something funny, puts the most amusing
people he can employ into II, and does rousing
business everywhere. Though his profits have been
big enough 10 Justify little liberalty the second
season, he gets the big head thinks all In the play
and In his precious managerial self though for neither
does the public, which only wants TO be amused, care
Hg, and 80 he cuts out some OF the best
people to save salaries, and goes around the next
year with all the finest touches In his performance
missing. Audiences are disappointed, and the play,
which, II II had been strengthened lnstead.of weak
encd, would have continued to draw, Is thereafter
dead. And II serves him right. The curse Of
managers Is their contempt for the public and their
belief that poor, cheap play, with cheap actors, Is
Just as likely to catch the public fancy as good
play well acted. IA Bunch OF Keys" II II had
been brought around this year with people who
could sing better than those OF last year and few
who could dance little, might have taken better
AS 1t was considerably weaker in every respect than
last year, and was last year weaker than the year
before.
Some OF those who crltlcise our managers so
sharply for giving them just what they can get from
travelling combna,ions-and that as rule Is really
all 1t Is In the power OF the local managers to do
would he wiser II they would consider fairly what
has happened when the manager has riskcd his
money more largely to bring here really high class
case In point. Manager Rapey saw from the ac-
counts OF their performances In the san Francisco
and New York journals that here was really good
strong company. lie rlsked 5000 In advance pay
ments aud guarantees to bring them TO Washington.
They sang and acted the standard grand operas
magnincently. Here at last the public were getting
what they had so long been growing for-grand
italian opera given In athorougy rst-c,ass style at
fair prices. They had superb tenor and baritone,
two excellent sopranos, and really good ensemble,
yet they sang to empty benches. The knowing few
who came applauded heartily, praised without re.
serve, and came again and again, but the public
stayed away. Mr.. Rapley paid the neat sum OF
1000 in one week for the fun of giving good opera
at low prices in Washington We have nothing but
praise for those managers who give good and pure
dramatic entertainment at prices which bring them
within the reach OF the most modest purse. But
there are some things on the stage which cannot be
had without paying for them. And the trouble with
many Of the carpers Is that they want the manager
to bankrupt himself to give them hlgh.class show
at dime museum prices.
"The Wages Of Sin were paid, or played, IL the
latter word can be used about such n sombre pro-
duction at the New National Theatre all last week.
| In going over the whole field Of human sentiment
to end themes for melodrama 1t Is natural that
authors should strike the very deepest notes in the
| scale, but "The Wages Of Sin goes to the limit
even for a melodrama. TO increase the sorrows Of
the suffering heroine, not only ia she cursed with
the usual villainous husband, but rather prggish
philanthropist, her guardian, is made to act like
brute an English army ocer like heartless cad and
even the policeman is represented as lying away the
character OF mother while she Ia weeping over the
corpse Of her nrst born Snug clergyman, who is
not amiss In the earlier acts develops in the fourth
into bowling Bowery hero, strips TO his Shirt and
proposes to kill the villain In single combat to the
great delight of the galleries In fact, everybody be-
| haves In the most extraordinary way, and instead
Of :" The Wages Of Sin 1t might better be called
the wages Of the extraordinary folly, and worse, Of
the heroine In the first act. The merits of the com.
pany are beyond those of the play, and Messrs Maui
bury, oyerton, and wesford, Misses Eleanor Carey,
| Emma Courtaine, Emma Cliefden, Abbie Pierce,
and Susie Russell make the utmost of their reepec-
| tive parts, especially in the comedy portions.
| Music held the leading place in the performances
| OF the past week. and none were more noticeable
| than the concert by Madame Camilla Urso at Con-
| gregational Church, which opened the South
Washington star lecture course" Madame urso
retains her place the greatest lady performer upon
| an instrument which peculiarly repays feminine
decacy OF touch and ear, and is one Of the leading
violin vrtuosos Of the world. Her selections Tues.
day evening were the first movement of Mozart's
violin concerto in ID, a transcription by herself of
Chopin's waltz, op. 81, and Schumann's familiar
"Traumerei,' and finally the Z" Witches Dance" OF
Pagann. In all Of them she displayed her marvel
| Gus technique, alternate power and 1neness in
phrasing, and the fire and enthusiasm which belong
to genius She has certainly played better In
Washington. and this Will convey the whole truth 10
her admirers; that Is to say, all musical people. II
Is to be wished that she may return again, for
her concerts are musical education. NJ. Auguste
Sauret, an accomplished pianist and accompanist;
soprano solos by Miss Alice May Esey, and readings
by Miss jamie G. Savage diversified the programme
very agreeaby. The many friends Of Miss Savage
turned out en- masse to hear her on this her second
visit Her greatest success was In the rendering Of
a scene from " Hazel Kirke," which was given with
an intellectual appreciation and dramatic power
rarely equaled. In her response TO encores Miss
Savage displayed keen appreciation of the humor.
GUS and mastery OF dialect. A brilliant future
awaits this young and talented artist Miss Esty's
rich soprano voice was heard TO excellent advantage
In an aria from Handels "JOshua,' which was sung
with great depth of feeling, while the ballads, The
Nightingae's Till " and "Golden Love-" were rem
dered with much beauty OF expression.
The feature OF the second concert by Theodore
Thomass unrivaled orchestra at Congregational
Church last evening was the appearance Of Mrs
Annie Louise Powell, OF this city, contralto 30.
lOist, having just returned from Europe. Her sue
cess was immediate and great, amounting to an ova
ton. In GlucSs famous aria Che fara she proved
that her voice, style, and execution have been de
veloped In the hest school Of art. Being enthusas
tically recalled, she was presented with magnin
cent bouquet from the White House conservatory
and large silver bowl filled with flowers from the
order Of Elks in this city. After singing the
" Bedouin Love Song" she was still more heartily
encored, and was handed large brentwood cylinder
filed with flowers. white dove spread Its wing
above 1t, while around the base was worked in VIC
lets, Home, Sweet Home" This was from citizen
of Washington. Catching the inspiratlon, Mrs. Pow
ell sang Paynes Immortal ballad as II would seer
1t has never before been sung in this city, and even
the members OF the orchestra well the audience
were carried away by 1t and Joined In the demon
sration which followed. Mrs. Powells friends ar,
greatly delighted with her reception, and predict fol
her brilliant future.
One Of the most striking successes which has beer
seen In New York this season, II we can credit IN,
|
sardous great play, In Spite Of An. In Its notic
! Of the production Of This piece In that city III,
Herald said "Victorian Sardou is great dra
Q matist. Steele Mackaye Is an admirable adapter
NJ. Sardou wrote Andrea which he sold 10 Mis-
i Agnes Ethel She had II adapted into 'Agnes.'
ran, and she made success. Both have thei
merits, but In both the original author, except a
far language goes, Is Undecided. With the adapta
tion Of Mr. Steele Mackaye II Is different. The pla
4 called In Spite OF ALI, which was produced las
4 evening at the Lyceum Theatre before q large an
i dlence Ia not alone an adaptation 1t Ia q conden
n sation. Mr.. Mackaye has acted as an intellectual
= cotton press TO The French dramatisf. The stapl
furnished by NJ. Sardou Ia OF good quality. As con
deDsed by Mr. Mackaye 1t is still Of good quality, au'
perhaps better suited to the home market. There
a good deal In NJ. sardou's play and Its tw.
previous adaptations that shocks the sensitive mind
g and especially the sensitive female mind. There 4
little or nothing either In the action OF Mr. Mackayei
y plays or It's dialogue that does In fact It might b
Y said that MIR. Mackaye has made almost new play
= The staple OF sardon ID there, but you would hard
e Know the rich and at times more than luxurou
growth OF the French dramaiists brains In the
u compact, welordered package by the America
!. playwright. Miss Minnie Madden was charming a
u the much-loyng wife, Alice Ctaadennfag. NTH
10 lighter scenes she was very attractive and natural
and as the play progressed her acting Increased Il
l. strength. There WAS much applause and many re
ptuta Inn anda IN