The Washington critic., 1890-01-28
AMusBMENTs


"THE OoLAnn.-The merry "Oolah'' filled |
every seat iu the National last night, aud
banked triple row Of ISLANDERS behind The |
orchestra circle. The opera has seldom /
been presented In better form, aud Francis |
Wilson, always favorite, was at his best
in the character Of Hooldh0ooldh, the
"Oolah." Wilson Is In all respects per
feet clown, and the part seems admirably
fitted TO his gymnastic and laughable cccen
trieitics. His topical song, 1.-THE Thing
Which Nobody Knows,' caught on vigor
Ously, and was repeatedly encored. Marie
Jansen, in a somewhat humble part, illus
srated the pcrplexitles of the Persian mar
riage laws in her own pleasing way, while
Nettie Lyford and Laura Moore sang TO
plenty Of applause. The company is the
same as that which produced the opera for
the first time at the broadway Theatre in
New York, and neither the words nor the
music have been materially changed.
"Listen to My Tale of Woen still forms
tie Wilsop-Jansen duet, and 10 has ap-
parently lost none Of its charms to please
o Washington audience. Tie "0olahn witt
stay with us all this week, and It deserves
the patronage OF the Capital theatre goers.
In the line Of comic opera 1t is decidedly
success,
"LA ToscA. n--Fauny Davenport ap-
peared in the title role OF Sardou's power
ful tragedy, "La Tosea," reproduced 10
tins city at Albaugh's Opera-House last
evening. She was greeted by large audi
erce, brilliant and appreciative, who re-
warded her efforts by repeated encoros and
twice summoning her before the curtain.
Miss Davenport as La 7'osco, Melbourne
Mcdowell as IScorpia, Theodore Roberts as
lfurio Catdradossi and Frank Willard as
Ehsebe arc the only members of the com
pany who have been seen here before, the
minor parts having been changed since the
last appearance Of "La Toscan in Washing
ton. The performance throughout was a
most creditable one, Miss Davepport's
work being marked by her usual care and
| conscientious endeavor. In the torture
| scene, with all its realism, when La TOscd
writhes in mental agony at each entreating
groan from her suffering lover, aud again
| when she sacrifices the life of !Scorpid
| rather than yield to his demands, the in
tense earnestness of the gifted woman held
| the audience entbralled. Mcdowell por-
trayed the naughty Baron in his own i'm
| pressive style, with no lack of mannerisms.
1t seems as If Sardou had created the part
for him. Ccsdre AngcllOtti, Oscar Eagle,
the refugee, showed a marked improve
ment over his previous work in this part.
| Miss Alfa Perry Byers seemed q tri1e ma
ture as Germdri,,0 Mario's little body SER
want. The rest of the company appeared
The costumes and scenery are mainly eff
feetive, although it is a matter of opinion
as to whether Miss Davenports brilliant
scarlet apparel in the first act is entirely
becoming. The court scene seems some
what hurried and the intervals between the
acts iDtolerably long, but to see "Ls
Tosca'' is, on the whole, to see about as
powerful, If not as sensational, drama a:
there is on the American stage to-day.
'THE FAKIR. .n-Hamlin's Farce Coined,
Company taxed the seating capacity of Ilar
ris' little theatre last evening, aud pre-
scnted their "Fakir" to unbounded ap
plause. 1t is farce far superior to thl
general run, with situations that are reall,
funny and bright, crisp dialogue. Tn,
plot of the affair is turned aside occasionally
to allow the leading lady to sing about thu
misfortunes of McGinty or to PROFOUND {
musical request for some one to listen tt
her tale of woe, but no one in the audienc,
objected to this arrangement, and tht
entertainment went on swmmingly. "Th'
Falsir'' is written about series of dini
culies in which the Whirligig Opera Com
pany find themselves involved, and thi
central idea gives lots of room for thos
somewhat antiQuated songs and dance
which go to make up farce comedy. Ed
ward Morris, Charles V. Seaman, Lesli
Edmunds and Marie Cahill sustain thei
parts in their own merry way, and the res
Of the company come in for good share o
applause. "The Fakir'' will stay at IIar
ris' all the week, with the usual matinees
THE RENTZ-STANLEY BURLESQUE.-Th
return engagement of this troupe drew
good audience into Kernan's last night
and standing-room was at a premium Ion
before 8 o'clock. The company is an ex
cellent one and the burlesque of "Anton
and Cleopatra" beautifully staged. Tn
music is mainly good, and the dancing
: particularly the Indian nautch dance, muc
better than the troupe presented here b,
fore. Beatie and Minnie Howe wer
warmly received and repeatedly encored
|