The morning call., 1893-01-24


and racy fun, will be sure to see 1t.
Tie performance at the Tivoli was for
the benefit OF the French Library. AS
consequence the auditorium was crowded in
every part. POndering on this fact. we
were led to conjecture what the members of
the French colony present-as many as had
seen Offenbach's "La Belle Helene" In the
Original-thought OF the travesty That was
presented to them. Somebody, Mr.. Phillip
Hastings, we understand, had turned the
text topsy-turvy and reduced it tn nero
string of local and political illusions. In
the first act we had a negro minstrel
arrangement, where Agamemnon. Achi-
les, Calchas, Menelaus and the rest
were as end men, propounding ana
answering conundrums in way that
would have made Emerson and George
Wood jealous. 1t was LA Belle Helene
only In the music of the orcheStra-Bauer
took care of that end-but otherwise it was
a draggy, dreary waste of p;atitudes. The
mounting and costumes were superb AS a
TivOli edition of this clever WORK we have no
doubt the production Will be success. 1t
is pleasant to look at as a spectacle, but the
director of the chorus and the ballet must
put more life into his people. The finale of
the first act would have been much more
effective had those engaged been liveier In
the movements. LA Belle Helene" will be
continued all this week.
F. and P. Sehoenthan's der Raub der
Sabinerinnen" was produced by the Ger
man company of players ut the Baldwin
last Sunday evening for the benefit of that
talented comedian. Carl Witt. This is the
suggestion of "a Night Off," played at the
Stockwell last evening, and Is reliable
piece in Augustin Days repeTtoTy. Carl
Wits abilities, in the comic way, were
recognized by crowded attendance. lie
was received so warmly on his entrance
that the fact ne Is a favorite with his COM
patriots was made very LAIN The applause
was very liberal all through his work.
Witt was the recipient of a laurel
wreath as well as many designs in flowers.
The fayOrite Of the evening assumed the
character of StrieSe, the dOnatOr of thea
ter, and spoke his lines in the Saxon dia-
lect He kept the audience in merry
mood till the fall OF the curtain. On the
whole the performances may be considered
one of the best of the season.
At the Baldwin "The Arabian Nights"
was produced; the California still contin-
ues TO draw with the "Old Homestead;
and, due TO previous eXertiOns, the Bush-
street had full house TO see The Spider
aud the Fly"
Danf Sully's Corner Grocery" was the
attraction at the Grove-street Theater. The
house was crowded of course. This is the
rule at this popular place Of amusement.
The piece was we'll cast and well mounted,
considered in tne line of such productions.
A young woman, Miss Oracle Beebr, who
made her appearance as Jimmy Nolan,
proved herself 10 he Soubrette of no ordi-
nary capacity. and made the piece lively by
her presence. The Grove" has another
coin winner In THIS "COrner Grocery"
Mr.. Hugo Toland gave us a specimen of
good acting at the Stockwell ON Sunday
evening as the personator of Barton II.
Barnes In Gunter's Corsican play. The
character is difficult TO handle. and the
author of the novel from which the work is
dramatized is open to criticism for the man
ner in which he pOrtrays an American
abroad. Mr. Toland. judging by his careful
playing, had devoted study TO the part and
was not led too far astray by its eccentrc-
ties. The fact OF his being an American
born aud reared IN easy circumstances
helped him vastly. He was thereby enabled
to give realistic personality, so 10 speak,
to many of its phases. which is apt to be
lacking where the actor is not similarly
favored.
The fifth symphony concert. under the
direction of Mr.. Adolph Bauer, will take
place at the Tivol Opera-house on Friday
afternoon next. January q. The chief
feature OF the programme Will ne Il musical
transcription by +. Zech Jr. of John Keats
well-knOwn beautiful poem THE Eve of
St. Agnes" attempted in the form of a con-
cert overture. The work is given for the
first time, and will be conducted by the
composer. Selections will also he per-
formed from Beethoven, Tchaikowsky, Her.
mann Goetz and others. The vocalist for
the occasion Will be Mrs. Blitz Paxton,
who will sing Ries' cradle song and Nor
wegian air by LOge.
Mrs. T. Virginia Ferrari will give a grand
concert at Irving Hall, on Thursday even
ing. January %. assisted by Mrs. Carmichael
Carr. pianist: Sgnor Guilio Minett, vic
lnist; Mr.. Laurence Peterson. celloist; aud
sig. Sigismondo, pianist.