Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-04-16
ADJUSTMENTS.

ALBAUaH's OPERA HoUsk.-The New Ameri-
can opera company gave a rather uneven rem
derlng OF Faust last night before an audience
which possibly might have been more respon-
sive and less inclined to be coldly critical they
had paid higher admission fee The attempt
to give grand opera at reasonable prices seems
somehow to excite the prejudice Of a large sec
tlon OF theater-goers, who invariably watch
efforts OF the kind with ill-concealed hos
tlhty that makes the work of the artists doubly
difhcult On the principle of the ''boy about
town who lives very high Immediately after
pay day and starves for the rest of the month,
these people eagerly pay fabulous prices to hear
one great singer, aided by corps of preten-
tlous medlocrities: but for a company contain
ing several really good artists, with the inevita-
bic others who are not so good, they refuse to
make any allowances at all. Washington audi
ences have in the past frequently paid fancy
prices for much less meritorious performances
OF Faust than that of last night. OF course.
1t was easy to pick flaws in the work
or the chorus and of some of the principals.
30 1t always was with the big troupes Mapleson
used to give us. On the other hand there was
much OF great merit in last nights perform
ance. Miss Natali's Marguerite was conscien-
tiously if somewhat heavily acted. She has
true and pleasant voice of good range, and she
used 1t with honesty and effectiveness without
attempting any of those vocal pyrotechnics
with which only artists of the very first class
are ever really successful. 1t is not easy to re-
call more thoroughly satisfactory MpphiSto
than that OF Vetta. He filed with power every
scene in which he figured, and his clear. fiexi
bic. and splendidly dramatic voice forced the
audience out of its reserve. Partic
u!arly moving was the scene with
Marguerite at the opening of the third
act The part of Siebel was almost equally well
taken by Miss Lizzie Macnichol, whose many
friends were delighted to hear again the rich.
resonant tones of her fine contralto. She
played the part with a modest reserve that
was artistic and delightful Alonzo Stoddard's
Valentine was admirable in every way. His
voice last night seemed clearer and stronger
than ever before, and the death scene was in
tensely dramatic. Mr.. Castles Faust was less
OF a disappointment than might have been ex-
pected. His appearance aroused many pleas
ant recollectiOns in the minds of a large part
of the audience. This evening Mariana"
will be sung.
NATIONAL THEATER.-That very interesting
play, Jim the Penman was well acted at the
National theater last night by a company which
includes among its members Joseph Whiting,
W. J. Ferguson Clarence Handyside, Harry
Eytinge, and May Brooklyn.
HARRIS BIJoU THEATER.-De Mile and Bar
nard's realistic railroad drama, ''The Main
Line. was given by good company to the
manifest delight of large audience at Harris
last night. Much OF the scenery and mechan-
ical effects used in the production is very in
genlOus and the action is full of interesting and
amusing incidents. People fond of sensational
plays will find 1.-The Main Line well worth a
visit. Mr.. Hubert Sackett gave a manly and
intelligent impersonation of the artist Miss
Laura Dinsmore, as a telegraph operator. won
the immediate regard of the audience by her
bright ways and pretty face and figure.
kERNANs THEATER.-The Boston Ideal
"Uncle Toms Cabin" Company gave the old
drama with some new features and business
at kernan's last night. The audience was
large and seemed to find great deal to interest
and amuse them in the familiar story
The BIsCHoFF CoSCERTs.-The closing pair
OF these entertainments will be given at Con-
gregational church this and tomorrow evenings
DIR. Bischoff will give an organ recital each even
ing. Tonight he will be assisted by Miss
Vescelius, cOntralto. of New York, and to-mor-
row night Miss Nellie Wilson will be the vo-
calist.
The CANTATA OF 'QUEEN ESTHER will be
repeated at Masonic Temple tomorrow evening
for The benefit of Grace VI. f. church.