Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-05-16
'rrespondencs ofyThe Evening star.

TWO NOVELTIES IN THEATERs HAVE
come under my observation. One was on
the stage and the other was in the audience.
The former was = pantomime performed by
three men at . benefit matinee, and il was 90
artistic in design and execution that the au-
dience applauded il rapturously, yet you
couldn't get . manager to offer il 10 an ordi-
nary, average assemblage, because he would
say that it would fail Of comprehension and
appreciation. So, o. the reader will never wit
ness 1t, he may as well read brief description.
Only the front Of the stage was exposed
at frst, and il was set out with .
somewhat realistic bar, with . bartender
busy with bottles and glasses behind IT, A
young man in evening dress came in briskly,
ordered drink and while waiting for il began
to whistle an air from "Massaniello." II Was
as clear as though he had spoken it that he had
come in between the acts Of that opera with
the tune passing in his head and his lips not
able to reproduce il correctly. Then another
the same air and as faulty. He ordered q
drink, too. Next the whistlers misconstrus
each others whistling as offensive mimicry Of
himself, and then become quarrelsome,
throw glasses, exchanged cards and ar
ranged time and place to fight q duel
arrive In the woods at daylight, still whistling
the mutually offensive air, and there they
fought until one fell dead, the other walking off
triumphant The whole performance did not
exceed ten minutes in length, but it embodied
as much entertainment an ordinary hour Of
farce or comedy. Whatits artistic success sug-
gested was the question whether, with taste
tact and money enough, Q variety show could
not be made OF diverse material as worthy as
that, and refined audiences be obtained 10
enjoy it.
HE GOT HIS MONEYS WORTH.
The other odd thing, the one mentioned as
having been seen in an audience, was that Of q
deformed dwarfs device for getting the worth
OF his money. He lisa rich young man and a
frequenter Of the theaters, where his head has
peen hitherto on level with his neighbor's
elbow. OF course he has not been able to sse
the performance except in glimpses. But last
Monday evening, at the first representation OF
comic opera, he walked in with an ordinary
looking valise in his hand. 1t was a big one,
and those who saw him enter wondered WHY he
had brought it in. An obsequious usher stepped
forward to take II. supposing that the gentle
man would like to deposit it in the cloak room
until after the show. But the owner of the
satchel held on to ii, carried il coolly down
the center aisle, placed it fiat in his chair and
seated himself on il. He had calculated the
size of the valise SO as to make il fill the sea,
elevate him so that his eyes were alongside
those of an average man. The only undivided
point was the contents, but il was suspected
that the bag was distended by springs not un
like those of a well-upholstered scat, for il be
haved very much like an ordinary cushion
After the opera the ingenious and elf-possessec
dwarf departed with his cushion valise
paipably pleased with the test he had mad,
Of it.
NOT ABSORBED BY THE PLAY.
These warm nights in the theaters ones eve
wander from the stage and see that other folks
too, are not quite absorbed by the play. Las
evening my attention was attracted by the un
usual fact that pretty girl few seats ava,
from me had removed the glove from her les
hand, and a very pretty hand it was, too. Hel
male escort was much more interested in hel
than in the play, as soon became evident Il
me: but one part of this side performance wa,
quite unintelligible to me. ead this was the
marked persistency with which the young CIR
kept dropping things.
what little butter fingers" / exclaimed Il
myself when saw her bald headed friend duel
his polished poll for the fourth time and fish
up her lorgnette.
The next time it was her handkerchief and i
is strange how handkerchiefs do get her sci
into troubla. Would you believe it, every tim,
Badly went down he took occasion to press tina
pretty hand to his lips. with a great deal O
He kept it up during the three acts of the play
bobbing up serenely every time, although a bi
blown and red in the face. People do strang,
things at the theaters. A few years ago a yount
lawyer kissed his sweetheart in the presence O
full house. Everybody applauded and b,
bowed his thanks for their. appreciation of hi
gallantry. Alas they are divorced now. Hi
love was too earnest for this frivolous world.
MODERN COMIC OPERA TRICKS.
Comic opera has fairly taken possession OF
the town this week. Eight musical piece,
occupy that number Of theaters. Just why il
is that, on warm nights IN New York. people viii
go to see light operas and stay from dramas ID
an unanswered question. Managers accept the
fact and make their summer plans &C
cordingly. Three of the weeks original
productions are operate, or that composite
of singing, dancing and tomfoolery that
makes up the modern comic opera In
one Of them the horseplay is nnprecedent-
edly violent. The chief low comedian tumbles
in a seemingly reckless fashion that outdoes
the toughest knock-about clown in the circus
One of his feats is to fall over the balustrade
of a CASTLE roll heels over head down a rocky
slope and strike finally on the stage level.
The descent is fully twelve feet and there
seems, at first sight, to be no reason why lac
should live to the end of his engagement A
second and critical view of the exploit, how.
ever reveals its careful and almost safe pre-
arranS6meDt. IN tuc uIst place The man
is made up for a fat character, and
the imitation of freshness consists Of an India
rubber Enclosure filled with air and acting as a
cushion to protect his bones Secondly, his
apparently helter-skelter fall consists of plain
and practiced descent, his hands invariably
catching railing at one point, q somersauli
occupying q certain space, Ills feet reaching an
intermediate landing on bogus rock and the
final impact being nullified by the air chamber.
Low COMEDY.
Even with the rough aspects Of its low comedy
passages, current comic opera is pleasanter
enter tainment than what is called farce-comedy,
the Developments of which become roueher
and tougher as the competition increases.
The grotesque and athletic fun-maken en-
gagged for next seasons amounted variety
farces are plentiful in town, andevery mothers
son Of them is hunting for new things Imaginable
to do or say. The author Of q piece which is
to be the vehicle for a variety show is not ex-
pected to provide, or even suggest, all the
funny business" That is left largely to the
comedians, and they are not apt to be very
tasteful or polite in their choice Of material
Here is a daisy idea" said an actor to Q
dramatist, and both were men whose names are
rather widely known. Il hit upon ii in a bar
room ten minutes ago. A man came in with q
shaggy little dog and called for q drink. To
get his mouth ready for the beverage he shot
out big squirt Of tobacco juice, and it hit the
dog squarely on the back. Now, there you are
are. Don't you see? I'll take dog on with
me in that scene of mine the third act, and call
him sCuepidor' for n net mama. Then will