The Washington times., 1894-12-23


a success in this drama. Miss Davenport has
staged the play lavishly. In the fourth act
there is shown one Of the most realistic scenes
ever presented on the local stage. Some old
ruins are represented with what appears TO
be real ivy climbing around in all the nooks,
real trees which breezes gently blow, real
stars twinkling in the sky, and a Nile-green
moonlight, which weaves spell around the
observer hard to describe This is the strong
est act in the piece. and Fanny roams around
among the trees and with hatchet chops the
villains head open and then gloats over his
agony while he dies. Real.carmine decks his
brow, and when the curtain goes down the
people in the audience rally and for the first
time during the act realize it is only play
after all.
On the opening night Miss Davenport was
summoned before the curtain several times,
and some of the audience urged her TO make
a speech. Even her husband and leading
man, Melbourne Mcdowell, who stood by ner
side, advised her TO make few remarks, but
Fanny has evidently not yet become fol-
or our own Dickey Mansfield,
so SHE GRACEFULLY DECLINED.
Miss Davenport wore some very handsome
gowns In the first act her hunting dress
consisted of brilliant green and old gold. The
waist was green satin, spaugled heavily with
gold, and the skirt was very full and OF gold
satin, spangled with green. A suitable hat
with long white plume and eauntlets with
ieweled cuts completed the outfit. In the
third act the hearts of the ladies went pit-a
pat at sight of her magnificent belt, which
was studded thickly with real diamonds. Two
large buckles were in front, the center OF
each being turquoise as large as . quarter OF
a dollar set round with diamonds the size OF
hickory nuts.
My. But Fanny must be prospering, Her
dress IL the last act was a dream of beauty
and the most extravagalt costume l ever saw.
The heavy white satin was jeweled with bril-
liants and colored stones from the throat to
the hem OF the skirt. She wore long court
train of lemon colored satin lined with pale
blue, which was suspended from the shoulders
by ermine straps and kind of suave Jacket.
With her throat and hands literally blazing
with diamonds she presented a picture long
to be remem cred.
Miss Davenport still retains the voluptuous
and rounded form which twenty years ago
set the youngsters of this town wild and
brought many a scented note TO the ladys
dressing room. Her faultless arms and the
rounded curves of her neck and bust are most
attractive and characteristic in the hcentious
part of 'Gismonda."
Ed Harrigan is again at his cwn thea
ter, where he is appearing. in
ruetion In three acts. called NO
toriety." The plot of the new piece is not
perceptible. Il is a iumble of local scenes
and incidents. Nr. Harrigan is thinly dis
guised as Barney Dolan. the keeper OF q
road house, and is the same in this part as
he has been in all others. Nearly ali the old
favoritcs, including Mrs. Ysamans, "Jonnie'
N5eh 1 -
are in the cast. The best things in the show
are Dave Braham's songs. The play ends
with burlesque out-of-door performance of
"As You Like t." in which Mrs. Yeamans is
seen as Audrey and
MIR. HARRIGAE AS ToUCHsToSE.
Thirteen wears ago at the old Madison
Square Theater, now Hoyt's, "EsmeraIda,'
was given its first production and enjoyed
phenomenal run of two or three hundred
nights. This week the play is revived at Pal
mer's, with charming Annie Russell III her
original part of Esmer,ida. In place OF
Agnes Booth, Eben Plympton, Leslie Allen.
and Thomas WhifTen, the important parts are
now acted by Virginia Harmed, Z. j. Henley.
E. NJ. Holland, and c. j. Hickman. The
piece is an excellent one and Miss Russell re-
newed her success of October 20, 1881. II is
TO run only two weeks and will be followed
by play new to this city, called "The Fatal
Card"
Our old friend. Mrs. John Drew. is at the
Grand Opera House. where she is appearing
in her famous impersonation of the Widow
Warren in 1.-The Eoad to Ruin" Her sup
port includes Mr.. and Mrs. Sidney Drew. and
other powerful actors, none Of whom are
known to the New York public.
The Bostonians are not doing much at the
Broadway. and it was rumored day or two
nol,. I -.
an early date. The management deny this.
but business is so bad that something will
have to be done soon. Their engagement
has several weeks yet to run aud unless there
is an increase in the receipts the books viii
show large deficit.
Lillian Russell's engagement at Abbev's
Theater Is so much OF 4 success that Abbey,
Schoelfel and Grau have decided 10 close it
Saturday of this week. Mr.. aud Mrs. Kendall
follow, opening Christmas Eve in Lady
Clancarty." 1t is to be hoped that Mrs. Ken
dal will refrain from expressing her views of
Americans in an offensive manner as she has
been doing in the West. Madge is an awfully
good wife and mother,
BUT THERE ARE OTHERS
From present appearances 1t is not likely
that the Casino viii reopen on Christmas
Eve, as has been so industriously announced
" A'uuOiPh AiOhSVn . press agent. 1ue aI-
terations are much more extensive than wac
originally expected and the house cannot bs
ready for some weeks TO come.
Love on Clutches" was revived at Dalv's
last Stature ay with Ada Rehan in her original
part. This is only meant as a stop gap until
"The Tanning of the Shrew is ready. The
revival was chiefly interesting by reason OF
the first appearance here Of an English actor
named Worthing, who is destined to become
popular member of the company Mr.
Daly's London season begins May 20, and il
IS announced that Henry E. Dixey Will go
over there as member of the organization.
Wilson Barrett, a gentleman with fine
baritone voice which seems to be we'll culti-
waited in tho upper register, has been singing
the part OF Hamlet at the American to
rather small and upappreciative auGieBces
Until | snT his performance the other night
/ was under the impression that Hamlet
was q tragedy and not z comic opera. Maud
Jedreys, Barrett's leading woman. makes q
competent 0phelia.
FoIS, TEES.
Tom Gould and George Apo, the eminent
American actors, are at the People's Theater