The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1886-03-07
ADJUSTMENTS.

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Tomorrow night, at the National Theatre, the
romantic and thrilling drama, vautour the Exlle,"
will receive Its lrst presentation upon any stage in
America. This play Is from the pen OF that great
French playwright, Adolphe d EMERY, and claimed
TO be the strongest drama e:ot presented to the
American public. 1t has been translated and
adapted to the American stage by Messrs. George
iIoey and Frank Willard especially for Mr.. r. L.
Downing. 1t ia powerful romantic drama In
prologue and four acts, and unlike most French
productions, the majority OF the scenes are laid in
this country. The prologue plays In France and
the drama proper in Louisiana, when she was a
penal colony, in the romantic period Of 1880 Every
character is well drawn aud essential TO the plot.
1t deals with all the human passions in an intense
manner, with rich vein Of humor that blends well
with the stronger passions. Tdutour is q beas,
tanner, whose wife has been betrayed by an East
Indian trader named Hercules, who is in the habit
OF bringing him wild animals from the East indian
jupges His vainy Is discovered and there is a
terrible struggle between the two men. Hercules
Is getting the better Of the conflict when TdutoW
loosens the tigers cage. His tiger, Nero springs
upon the trader and Kills him. For this crime
rdutoW is sentenced to penal servltude in
Louisiana. There Is a counter plot which tells how
young girl, Lorete, the foster-daughter OF mar.
quse, is accused by her foser-brothe (who wishes
to marry her and Is repulsed) OF theft and murder
She is also sentenced 10 servitude. While serving
their time the convicts are assigned wives, which
they draw by lot Loretts falls 10 the hands OF ru-
tour, who is a confirmed woman hater. Lorette
tames him, al Tngon,dJ is tanned. Finally 1t Is
learned that Lorete Is wrongfully sentenced which
releases her from her marriage, and she is free to
marry her own lover. II is discovered that she Is
the daughter of the Governor of the colony. Ta,i-
tour, who is instrumental in returning TO her her
rights Is stabbed to death by her foster-bro Their
while SO doing. The character OF Tuutou is one
Mr.. Downing is well adapted for, both mentally and
physically. lie is an actor Of rare ability possess.
ing an unusua! amount Of personal magnetism. and
with years of experience with Booth Fechter, Nc
Cullough. Mary Anderson, and other tragic stars,
has justly earned the position he now holds "a ner-
fca's Tragic Ictor.' tIlef sketch Of MIR. Down.
Ing will be interesting reading He was born Octo-
Der 2s, 1851, at Washington d. G. He left college
at the age of sixteen, entered into the mercantile
business, was successful; but soon tired of that,
then adopted the stage profession; entered into
John T. Ford's stock company at $40 per week, play.
lug the smallest parts aud holding the lowest posi-.
tlon In the company. by hard work and persever-
anoe he rose in the RANKS. At the end OF his first
he had played some very good parts The next
| season he was promoted from utility position to
| that OF responsible man. During the season OF
ls's'e he was playing the heavy lines OF the thea
| tire. From that Mr.. Downing was promoted to
leading business, having played such parts as
| Othetto. Bruus, BdsSdnio, King Ciaudius in
| Hamlet with MIR. Booth; also hid played with
Charles Fechter, John Mccullough Lawrence Barrett
| F. c. Bangs, Joseph Jefferson, Thomas Keene; was
the leading man the season before he accepted the
l frnr ATr Inhn
went with Miss Mary Anderson to play what is
known as "heavy business" playing such parts as
Ludocico in "Eyadne," Bedusednt In LADY OF
Lyons the Duke in "Fazlo," etc.. played the said
parts for two seasons then accepted the ener tc
play leading support TO Miss Anderson in such parts
as Romeo, Claude Aelnotte, Huop, Fazio, Ingondr
Ppgnd'ton, CLIFFORD, Gerald in daughter OF
Roland" Guy Nunnerin9, etc. Miss Anderson
then went to England. Not wishing to go abroad
Mr.. Downing accepted position with that master
OF dramatic art Mr. Joseph Jefferson, playing will
| him Capt. Absolute In 1.-THE Rivals" John PERT
otRge In "Cricket on the HEARTH spent two year.
| with him, then went starring in joaquin Miller.
play, ITALY Ho," in which he created the part Of
Hank lonh, and played said part over two hundred
and fty times In all parts of the United States alsC
| Canada and Mexico. Press and public were unani
nous in their praise. He then purchased from Mr.
George Hoey hatmasterpece of Adolph D'Ennery's
| "Vautour, the Exile" have also in contemplation
| "The CorsicaD," "The Uncrowned King" "Tht
| Gladiator, p and "yirginlus."
In "Held by the Enemy" Mr.. William Gillette hal
| founded drama on supposed Incidents of tn,
American Civil War, an attempt previously made
with Indifferent popular success, by Dion Bouci
cault, by the author of "Belmonts Bride" an,
| others. The general outlines are the same-Federa
ohicers Southern beauties, capture, wounds death
| and final marriage. Mr.. Gillette has varied thu
development OF his plot with considerable ingenuity
and his dialogue, though not on lofty strain, 1
always lively and to the purpose. 1t Is seldom tina
a new play meets with such hearty acceptance from
an audience disposed to be coldy critical as d
"Held by the Enemy" Monday evening" The unex
pec,ed climax OF the second act, where Gordo,
Hayne refuses to be saved by false charge agains
an honorable foe, evoked an enthusiasm that was q
spontaneous as earnest. The climax of the third act
| where feigned passes into real death, though of
risky kind, was so well managed to be completed
effective. Much of this was due to the excellen
| work OF the company, which is OF an even order O
merit not often seen on the road. The stage effects
notably of the "drum head court-Inartial and tn
hospital In the old church, are very good In III
interest OF realism, censure might be passed on III
dainty appearance 1.-THE Federal officers. Uniform
In active service did not exhibit such dude-like free
dom from single wrinkle or speck Of dust as thos
worn on the stage at the National Theatre last week
Moreover, wounded officer going to the hospita
would scarcely wear tight-1ttng regulation Goa
buttoned to the chin as dill Col. ELLSWORTH In tn
| last act.
| ,.....
"Rough on Rats, or the Pied Piper OF HamelIn
produced at Albaughs last week. is on a somewha
different order from previous productions OF tn
Kiralfy Brothers, and perhaps for that reason fae
to command such instant success In order o
merit, the features take rank thus: First. Mr.. Hu
bert Wilkes acting and singing as the Piper; sec
ond, the acting Of Miss Julia Stuart, Mrs. GermoI
and others In the subordinate parts, and lastly, tn
ballet. This Is reversing the usual Kiralfy scale
Some Interesting features appeared to be caviare
the general. Such were the fidelity Of the qualr
medieval costumes aud trade procession, and tn
genuine gypsy song and dance by Mr.. Wilke In tn
second act, which is full Of IRE and passion, ant
well exempliaes the abrupt measures OF the tsarda
While the children one sees on the streets are 8
generally pretty. why are the children seen on tn
stage so very ugly7 The scenic effects had ampl
room on the big stage Of the Opera House, and wer
loudly appauded
Nine. Anna Jude is incontestlbly the greatest In
terpreter OF comic opera ever heardi America. O
her return engagement In New York last week tn
World said: "Seldom IL there seen on the stag
such exquisite work as that she does in the secon
act OF La Femme Papa the scene after the dir
ner where she takes on the laughing mood. lie
arr mere ~ 30 renned that you TALL TO see that Ii 10
at all and feel that you have @ picture before 20
from real life. Every expression Of face, ever
movement Of hand, head, or body, every wor
spoken harmonizes with the situation and ITS In
make the picture complete. Her singing, toe
though there Ia but little OF 1t, Is OF such feline
character and so well adapted TO the situation tina
all hearers are at once captlyated. There were del
bits OF acting In her performance last night that
appreclatiye audience could not fail to catch an
keenly enjoy. She won her way completely aud IN
generous applause extended 10 her throughout he
performance must have assured her that sh
has won a strong following In New York. jude
acting and singing grow on one; they do no
at once appear for what they are worth;
10 like learning 10 like good picture, who's
depths OF beauty you do not al once discover" tn
Herald on the same subject dlscoursed as follows
! "When she trpped on demurely In the first act as
newly welded wife fresh from convent buzz q
delight greeted the artist nrst only 10 be followe
up by a aalyo OF applause. Nine Jude IL apparent
particularly fond OF the type fresh from convent
!, II runs through her repertoire like eitn0tiy 4
, Wagners opera. And barring, perhaps, q certai
enlbonDotnt OF personality, 1t may be admitted tina
she 10 rarely endowed for characters OF the KIND
Her trennlous, virginia. voice, her downcast eyes
her dewy lips, her bright smile, and the modesty an
naivete OF her manners give wonderful pralsem
bidnce to such characters. In the second act o
| most yaudeVlllcB the DuDll throw