The Washington critic., 1886-12-14
RARHErIeS mHIENEL.0
An Enthusiastic Approval of His
Latest Undertaking.

YAH the world" as the FrenChm0u
would cay, were ot Albaugh's last night TO
witness Mr.. Barrett's initial presentation Of
Miss Mltford's "RIenzI, the Last of the
Trbunes," Judges, Senators, Members,
Generals, Cabinet Ministers, students Of
history, Government officials, the leaders of
fashion--all assembled to pass verdict on
Mr.. Barretts latest undertaking. Shortly
before the curtain went up the President
and Mrs. Cleveland arrived, with Colonel La
mont and party,and took the lower boxes on
the north side Of the house. All the boxes
were occupied. Among the occupants were
General and Mrs. Phil. Sheridan and General
sherman, ChlofJustlce Waite, speaker and
Mrs. Carlisle. Mrs Don Cameron, Mr.; John
W. Albaugh, the, Misses West, Hon. Schuyler
Crosby, Judge John Davis, Hon. S. $, Cox
and senator Mitchell, The audience was not
what would be called q fashionable one. It
did not compare In that respect with the
gatherings that witnessed Paul and Vir-
ginia,' the Italian or the American opera
companies. Yet IL comprised the best of all
classes. such enthusiastic approval as II
gave Mr. Barrett must have been gratifying.
NJ. II must be admitted that in some respects
the performance was disappointing. Steele
Mackaye has probably done his best TO en-.
drama, more suitable for the library than the
stage. lie has filed II with spectacular foa
lures, and Judging from the applause last
night, he did wisely, for they received the
tlon, there are none. "Rienzi' is declama-
tory. but never dramatic. IL terminates In
an anti.climax. COid III Riensi, the student
patriot of the first act, Is overthrown by the
consequence Of his unbridled ambition IN the
sixth. Surely this Is no theme TO fire an
actors heart. angelo CoiOnHa, who
TbgTs TTfbSss ths SSSen enemy OF 0h t9e
tion and bravely goes to death, Is rather
the more heroic character. That Mr.. Barrett
does not make the character clear cut and
a. - saVla 4.N ff1
fault as Il is that of the author who fails TO
present consistent conception of the Tri-
bune's character MIR. Barretts genius Is
fettorod by this defect of the play and i Is
not strange that he could throw no feeling
into his defamation, The audience was
most generous and vigorously cheered the
sentiment when the action failed to merit
approval. At the end OF the fourth act the
curtain was rung up six times and Mr.. Bar.
rett Acknowledged the compliment by few
wellturncd grateful phrases. What there
was IN the scene to Inspire such enthusiasm
1t is hard 70 determine. There was no strong
acting The scene was the hackneycd one OF
Right trumphiDg over Wrong. Probably the
excellent stage settings had much to do with
awakening the popular appreciation. Miss
Gale made a sweet claudia, Mr., Wellos a
manly 1ngdo. who, at times, divided the
honors of the star; Miss Monk, "A theatric and
very declamatory L0dy C0ioHHd, while the
rest were only fair.
The usual difficulties of n first perform
ance were apparent, and even Mr.. Barrett at
times showed his nervousness. The settings
were exceedingly handsome. the banquet nall
scene being especially beautiful in the rich
ness and harmony of color. Mr.. Barrett's
"RienZi' will never be one of his greatest
representations. The character lacks the in
teliectualty in which Mr. Barrett is at his
best. There Is much room for improvement,
and the Improvement will come, but "Renz"
will never be popular play, nor will IL, after
Us first season, be salient feature in Mr..
Barretts repertoire.
GOSSIP OF TIE EVENING.
That was pretty little tribute paid to the
Associated and United Press by Mr. Barrett in
bis charming entr' act speech. IL called for
recognition, and the wires caught on.
The man who sat behind the highest bonnet
In the house is consoled by the thought that
the wearer sat behind the next highest, aad
also twisted her neck out of JOINT trying to see
what was on the. stage. The women will learn
how 1t is themselves some day.
For the benefit of several dozen people who
didn't know whether Renzi lived b. O. or A.
pdssdnt. that the years of his life were from
1913 to 1854, A. ID.
General Sheridan occupied two or three
boxes. He flew around as If he We're In the
Shenandoah Valley.
Miss Mitchell. the daughter OF the Oregon
Senator, was one of the very handsomest
women In the audience.
1t might be suggested that II Claudia could
reach her father and her husband in the
Cathedral scenes without running clear
stairs, it would save a great deal OF wear
and tear on the emotions and be In much
better form.
THE NATIoNAL-"DoN CESAR"
A fairly good audience met the Thalla
Opera Company in Don Cesar at the Ma
tional last night, snd although everybody
| couldn't understand the German dialogue
everybody could understand the music and 1t
was husiastically received because 1t was
music. Whatever the Germans do In music
IN 1Alt aa1 fl,n
Italia Companyi Is second to none In America
Mr.. Rathjens as D0H C.esar has baritone
voice which is a symphony in sound so to
speak, and every no'e is music. Miss
krouod's lia,itGna was very fine, the other
voices were excellent, the choru ses superior
and everything was Just as 1t should be, ex-
cept tie librCttos, which had no English text.
Tonight Gear and Zimmerman.
KERNAN's- FEMALE MINsTRELs.
Clark & Ratcgans Female Mnstrels drew
n good house last night and the novelty of the
| thing took well. The show was fair, the es-
| pecial features being the lady shooters aud
| the skatorial magnatos. In other respects the
artists were about average There was
| nothing of an Objectionable character. Again
| tonight
THE DIME-GEORGE ADAMS.
The May Adams Burlasque Company and
japanese Mlnstrels havisg missed railroad
| connections, failed to appear on time at the
| Dine yesterday, and the date was very ac.
| ceptably filled by the George Adams Panic.
| mime Com .any. The burlesquers arrived
| this mon ing.
THE BIJoU-ToNY DENIER.
Hundreds and hundreds and still they went
| to the Bijou last night to see Tony Denier's
| pantomime company, with all its great col
| lection Of features, its Harlequin, its Colum.
bine, and Its thousand and one other attrac-
| tions, which make the old ones laugh and the
| young ones shout in glee. Wild West
| Humpty Dumpty and u Japanese of the same
stamp are new things for this time. .honored
| character and add new zest to the play.
| Again tonight.
|