National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-04-17
THE PLAY AND THE PLAYERS.


Coming Attractions at the Local The
aters.
Mr.. william ]. Davis, in advance Of the
American Opera, is in the city, and announces
a season Of four performances OF Grand Opera
in English" at Albaugh's Opera House on the
nights Of May 3, 4, and 8, with a special after
noon performance on the 9th. The long and
successful season of this pioneer Of American
opera will close in New York with the present
week. It has be en- MS full Of qualification to its
projectors and indorsers as II has of wonder
and chagrin to the wiseacres who foretold
that Americans could not produce grand opera
in acceptable manner. The fact is opera has
never been so well presented in America, and
never better presented anywhere. Sixty-six
performances have been given In fifteen weeks,
and when the season began last January but
two operas were ready for production. Seven
works have been studied, costumed, and elab-
orately staged since then, which shows q ca
pacity in this direction hitherto considered
impossible In any country. When 1t Is remem-
bered that most OF these operas had TO be trans
lated into our language and the parts copied
out for artists and chorus, the magnitude of
the labor accomplished by managers and
singers will be understood by the general
public, while the labor and money expended
In costumes, scenery, and the various mechan-
ical departments would surpass belief Suffice
pronounce tho misc en- scene OF the American
opera superior to that Of nine-tenths OF the
continental subsidized opera houses. The ar
ray of names OF the PRINCIPAL artists includes
many with when the public is more or less
familiar. It comprises Pauline LAllemand
Helene Hast eiter, Charlotte Walker, Christine
Dessert May Fielding, and Emma Juch among
the sopranos; Helen Dudley Campbell, Ma.
thilde Phillips, and Jessie Bartlett Davis, con.
tTaltos Whitney MockTidge, W. u. Fessenden
Albert pGulet, and William Candidos, tenors;
A
wig, baritones, and W. II, Hamilton, Edward
OMohony, and Myron w. Whitney among tho
bassos. This admirable gathering of vocalists
Is supported by the superb and unrivaled
| Thomas orchestra. n chorus Of 40 voices and
Il ballet of eighty dancers.
The means required for tho TRANSPORTATION
Of the company (Which numbers 300 people,,
and the paraphcrnalia is something unusual
| in theatrical transportation: Three parlor
| cars and six coaches are required for the com.
| pany, nine baggage cars for the scenery, ward
| lobe, and properties; one car for the musical
| Instruments of the Thomas orchestra and one
! car for personal baggage. Add to this tho
| Thomas and their staff, and total OF twenty.
one cars is formed, or, In other words, two
| trains which, throughout the entire tour, will
| run on n special time schedule.
feature of the engagement here which
| will command attention Is the novelties in the
announced repertory, which includes Gluok's
S6 0pP Neons EcrTy wiSos Of wndsop
neither of which have been sung In Washing.
ton. The closing performance, "l.ohengrln,"
| has never been heard here In the English Ian
| cuage so II IN practically novelty. Novelties,
| MS these operas arc, they arc nevertheless ex-
Hmples Of the best composers and works of the
highest forms of musical expression, selected
expressly by Theodore Thomas as the best
compositions for such an admirable ensemble
as the American 0pera Company presents.
Mr.. Charles f.. Locke, the general manager,
has issued neat, sixteen. page prospectus for
the brief Washington season, from which we
quote 10 emphasize the distinct features to
wit First-Grand opera sung in our own lau-
guagc by the most competent artists. Second
The musical guidance OF Theodore Thomas
Third - The unrivaled Thomas orchestra
Fourth-The largest regularly trained chorus
composed entirely OF young and fresh voices.
Fifth--The largest ballet corps ever presented
| in grand opera in America, and as far as posi-
BILE American IN It's composition Sixth-Four
! thousand new and correct costumes for which
no expense has been spared in fabric or manu-.
| iacture. Scventh-The armor, properties, and
| paraphernalia. the handiwork Of artisans en-
| ployed solely for this department, and made
from models designed BY the best hHIltIh6oritisS
York, The exclusive property of t;is American lean
Opera Company; designed by the Associated
Artists OF New York, and painted by the most
eminent scenic artists in America. The mar-
agement confidently believes that the stage
pictures revealed In this engagement will
prove Delightful surprises to the patrons of
In a word, the object OF the American opern
Company Is to present ensemble opera, giving
no single feature undue prominence to tho in.
Jury 81 Others and distinctly discoursgng the
nsnccd in continental Europe.
NEW NATIONAL THEATER.
Mr.. Joseph Jefferson and his comedy com.
pany will be at the National next week. For
the first three nights a double bill will be pre-
sented-"CTicket on the Hearth" and LEND
Me Five Shillings." For the remainder ofthe
week and matinee, 81 Rip Van WinkIe."
ALBAUGH's GRAND OPERA HOUSE.
Commencing Monday evening next, the
English melodrama, THE Silver King" will
Frank G. Bangs, assisted by the New York
company. Mr.. Bangs is well known in Wash.
ington as an actor of merit, his. success in
."Corsican Brothers." at Booths Theater, New
York, viii long be remembered. The new and
beautiful scenery constructed from the original
England, and Wallack's Theater, New York,
will be seen.
HARRIss BIJoU THRATER.
The Wilbur Opera Company, which has crea.
ted such ~ furore by their excellent perform
retained for one more week, when they will
present ON Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
matinees and nights Lecoeq's charming three
act comic opera, "Geroile Geroha," and on
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday matinees and
NIGHTS ! Audrans most successful and brilliant
opera The A Maseotte.n New scenery and cos
and all can rest assured of a highly satisfact.
DRY entertainment. The night prices Will still
remain % cents to all parts Of the house. Mat
inees special attention will BIO paid to the
ladies and children.
THE COWBOY PIANIST
40. Babel. the cowboy pianist. nm Texas,
Will give recital at the National Theater TO.
morrow night. Mr. Babel is said !? be very
He never fails to cast HIS lariatlike fingers on
the key desired, even when the keys are COW
cred with table cloth; He IA said to have
TO 'pul" through the exhibition, when Is
said to have about 1t the wild western scent
OF the untutored savage. While Mr.. Babel Is
enee IN a cowboy pinnOforte manner visions
Of Indian fights, 'round ups" the throwing of
me lasso pony races AMI prairie fires. In his
OF volts, the bark Of the coyote, and the below
Of the steer. When the humor strikes him he
also gives musical pictures Of the buck of the
'Broncho" COW riding, and representations OF
ranch life. Next 10 "Texas blizzard, !" Mr..
Babel is said to give the most wonderful per-
fOrmance on earth, which is perfectly harm
less, as he uses no firearms.
HEROES OPERA HOUSE.
Herzog' will be Fun on the Brlstolr through
next week, Notices from all over the land
certify that 'Iun" Is It's true designation Miss
81 George Hussey IL perfect Widow o. Brlen
Her dialect IL natural her style easy and
graceful, pnd she isn't herself Fat ALL at all"
N the character, but simply and solely the
charming widow She sings, too, like
an lrishwoman-Or an angel f. d. Tannchill'
as Capt, Cranberry, extracts many cubic feet of
jolllty from cut his part.
THE DIME MUSEUM.
Circus, comedy, and speciality are TO be pre.
scented at the Dime through next week BY
Watson y McDowells new company Tho
funniest Dutchman In the world Is the said
Watson, surnamed Harry; Alfred Mcdowell,
the irresistible eccentric aud character actor.
Miss Alice Watson, the prettiest woman and
sweetest singer possible. Others remain whom
TO mention properly would require much space
beyond our limits. To sec and hear win be
found TO enjoy.
HAL CLARENDON.
The talented artist, Hal Clarendon, has been
starring as Victor Blanchard in "I.ynwo0dj
the past week, lie gives very manly imper-
sonntion OF the character, equal 10 the leading
actors who have appeared among us In Il be.
fore. His physiguoand magnetic voice iii him
for such parts, Ho made a hit few years ago
as Capt. MOlineuX with Dion Bouccioault IN
tue "Shaugfaun." We hope TO see him among