The critic. (Washington, D.C.) 1890-1891, 1890-12-16
ADJUSTMENTS.
.rhe nivaisy at the National.

In all the years since the tirst production
of the wonderful old comedy of him who
was accredited with the best play, the. best
farce the best comic opera, and the grand
est Grafton of his time, IL is doubtful IL
"Thc Rivals ever had a worthicr repre-
scntation than that of last evening. IL Is
perhaps the highest possible tribute to the
versatile and immortal genius of Richard
Brinsley Sheridan that the wit and humor
and subtle touches of the human nature
Of a hundred and twenty years ago can
still move an American audience to mirth
and laughter in only less degree than
man falling through skylight or being
hit with stuffed club in a Hoyt farce
comedy. Last nights audience at all
events developed all these gratifying
symptoms of intelligent enjoyment with
a fervor that left little room for question
of its sincerity The marvellous art and
subtle skin Of Joseph jefferson are at their
hest in the whimsical humor and more
and time has added mellow charm to
this ever memorable impcrsonation,
which, if possible enhances its familiar
merits. II is n very high order of artistic
attainment which achieves its results by
methods SO fine and true look, an into
nation, gesture so quiet and natural as
to be hardly noticeable till n tiual wave of
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. luupllttT sweeps lnt
house from its anchorage of proprety As
wonderful as ever are those eloquent and
electric eyes, and the facial changes which
are cpics without words, while the genial
and lovablc personality of the man per-
meates with magnetic life and thrill the
work and consummatc art of the actor.
The personal equation" is, as always,
an even stronger factor in the achieve
ments of Mr.. Florence, and il is this which
eriy t,,I HE 81. I,faius ~ Ti.iunop at-
traction and sympathy peculiarly its own.
1t is an unctious, -jovial and wholly like
able Sr Lucius, whom it would have been
u pleasure to know so long rs he did not
insist upon your fighting duel. As such
II is In all respects worthy companion
piece to the Acros of Mr. Jefferson, and the
tyionci,utc of greatness, with apologies to
the immortal His. Mdidprop of Mrs. John
Drew. II is still as we have so long
known It the same priceless and clean-cut
cameo of dramatic art the secret of which
will perish with the artist and the gem it
self only remain in the cabinet of mem
Dry. 1t is not well, as Mrs. Molaprop her
| self felicitiously observes, 'to antici-
| pate the past or pose in the ungracious
| role of tduddtor temporjs dcti. But it should
| trio we will very nearly bid farewell TO
| the grand old comedy of legitimate art
and traditions. There is no Joseph JEFF
ferson the fourth TO continue the success
sion, and no where from the ranks of the
"trouser" drama or the glorified variety
| show which now hold the stage, does there
seem reasonable assurance Of perpetll-
alton.
| OF the Sir Anthony Absolute of Mr.. +. c.
Bangs, and the less prominent Ddyid OF
! Mr.. George Denham, it is proper to say
that they were genuine comedy creations
worthy to rank with the very best in the
| past. Miss Viola Allen was an interest.
ing LUdia LdnguiI and Mr.. Frederick
Paulding ms Captain absolute, and Miss
Lombard and Messrs. Ross and Warren
in the minor roles were so entirely compe
tent that the play, as a whole, was given
with all the smoothness of finish of the
best of the old-time companies "rht
Rivals" will be presented this and Wednes
day evenings and at the Saturday matt
nee, and the "Heir-at-Law" on Thursday
Friday and Saturday nights.
"The LiIiputians" at Albaugh's.
The very novel exotic which burst in t.
bloom under the fostering care of Mana
ger Albaugh last night at the Grand Oper,
House was Liliputian, indeed, as to its per
sonnel, but wholly vast and BrobdingnagiaI
rs q dramatic surprise and success. Tn,
large and appreciative audience was as OK
ceptonal in some respects as the perform
ance, and the Diplomatic Corps and Wash
ington society, in full dress from tn,
PorterCampbell wedding, and our sub
stantial German-spcaking fellow-cltiaen
were very equally represented. The goo,
points Of the Teutonic humor of tn
play found ready response from such al
assemblage, and the applause and laughte
were well nigh continuous. 1t certainl,
was very amusing entertainment AM
well worthy the favor with which it wa
received.
Ten funny little men and women
whose aggregate length would not reach
halfway across the big stage of AL
baugh's, for nearly three hours CAV
opera, burlesque, farce, pantomime an,
! ballet, in style that would have beef
highly creditable in the same number o
tirst-class artists of the regulation size. !
was u comic opera troupe III petto, and th
acting, singing and dancing very mucl
more artistic than we too often find then
from Thcspians big enough to do better
BY long (J odds, the biggest man in til
cast, by virtue of his being the smallest
was Mr.. Franz Ebert whose ERICKSON
Puck was one of the funniest little chap
conceivable, and whose colossal spree an
great dsrobing act fairly convulsed til
house with laughter. The quaint littl
Tyrolese, Mcssrs. Wolf and link and Mis-
Toni Meister, were scarcely less divertin)
and, indeed all the midget prime DOM
teao,i and suppositious Jossi covered the
minute selves with glory.
The minor personages of the play arr
in measure, the major ones inasmuo
as, to the last good looking ballet cir
they would appear to have been selecte
with view to height and contrast. 9Th
Pupil in Magic as the drama is entitled
ranges, geographically, all the way fror
Berlin via the North Pole to the realm
of Fairy Land, and unsteady fror
"Lohengrin" and "Tannhaeuser" to til
Grand Duchesse" and "NIikado." Alt,
gether it is so bright and novel that
should crowd the house through til
week.