Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-27
AMUSEMENTS.

ADJUSTMENTS.
Albaughs.-"Boys will be boys"-but not
all the time. Some of them will be girls.
and nice girls, too. The appearance of a
frolicsome congregation OF lads on the big
stage of Albaugh's Grand Opera House
last night called forth audience which
from the first chords of the overture left
no room for doubt as to the success of the
entertainment as social and philanthropic
occasion. And when the curtain lifted and
disclosed an immense array of burlesque
talent, from premiere danseuse and prima
donna to coryphee and chorus GIRL the au-
dience settled itself down to be genuinely
amused The performance was trimming
over with good ideas, and II was evident
that neither time nor expense had been
spared in the effort to work them out for
all they were worth. The center Of the
spectacular glories was the author of both
the words and music of the piece, Mr.. AL
fred Baldwin Sloane. His plot possesses
genuine originality and affords abundant
latitude for the Introduction OF dances and
marches, which form so important an ele-
ment in buriesQue entertainment. Mus
tapha," the character who gives the pro-
duction its title, Is jovial though eccen-
trio, monarch, who gets tangled up in
American ideas and who carries himself
In humorous fashion through variety
of complications.
His adventures are conceived in the true
spirit of buriesque and they are portrayed
in a manner which shows intelligent per-
ception. careful training and unlimited
artistic zeal on the part of the young men
who appear. The make-ups were partic-
ularly good. The young men disguised
themselves completely in the cases where
the role was feminine one and the alb
| surdty of love making between two people
of the same gender was almost lost in the
illusion.
Good things from other sources were not
despised. Mr.. Frank J. Taylor rendered
selections from Cavalleria Rusticana IN
very able manner. Mr.. I. K. Jenkins, 1r..
rit.fn al IA
be most glazing absurdity to accuse him
of any plagiarism in the words} in way
that brought down the house. Edward
Hough did a serpentine dance with airy en-
bellishments that Loie Fuller herself might
have envied, and the lantern ballet intro
ducing the whole company, reflected much
credit on Mr.. George A. Gardner. who ar
ranged 1t with a most telling perception as
to striking effects In the second act came
the ballet. Young gentlemen In the audi
ence who have the purses and mental
equipment which go to make up the John
ME" sighed pathetically as they realized
that the scene before them was not new
world to conquer, but merely realm or
fantastic deception where things were, with
peculiar emphasis. not what they seem. The
Idea for the ballet was a remarkably origi-
nal and pretty one The reigning operate
successes furnished characters and cos
tunes and the people from The Brigands,
The Mikado. Pinafore, Wang, Robin Hood
and The Red Hussar stepped out upon the
stage with graceful steps and may figures
to delight the eye and swell the excheQuer
Of the Home for the Incurables. 1t is in
the dancing that the chief excellence Of
Mustapha lies, although this is no reflection
on the brilliancy of Its young author. He
has concocted bit of work which may
easily make some of the old stagers in
burlesque composition look to their laurels.
Mr.. Harry Bash introduced DanSe q
Antique; pas de duck were executed by
Messrs. Barlow, Van Ness and Harry L.
Poor, Randolph Mordecai and Harry b.
Price. A. Baldwin Sloane and S. N. I.ehr.
Mr.. Reese Cassard, the premier assoluta,
was in a pas seul as graceful as II ID pos
sible for a man in feminine garb to be and
these young gentlemen have demonstrated
that he can be very graceful indeed In
spite of requests to the contrary on the
program the audience resoluteiy and sue
| cessfully demanded encores in number of
cases.
Observation-Disclosures Lew Dockstader Is
there is fun, and Lew Dockstader WAS at
the Academy last night. Also with him In
close communion company OF MINISTRIES.
who knew their business and also the pleas
ure Of the audience. This minstrel organi-
cation makes a feature Of its first part and
the music Of II is fine. with SymuudS,
Hughes, Bridges. Dave Foy, j. 9. Har-
rington, Galper Leighton, George Powers
and Woods in the parts. The jokes were
not all as fresh as they were. say twenty
seven years and six months ago, but they
weren't all so old as that, and the audience
laughed and howled with glee. Interlocutor
word 'apothesis,' which he uses several
times. 1t is "apotheosis," and is a fine large
word when given fair chance. The first
part closed with the German Military Band,
and 1t was marguerite, and no error.
Dockstader bossed it. He also did some
recitative Of a topical character which con-
vulsed the audience. George Powers at the
banjo and banjay. and also as an aesthetic
poet. on the end, was great. Memphis
Kennedy. the musical polyglot, was IA
vorite in minute. and "Rastus." as
dancer and contortionist of grace and finish,
carried the house. Taking it by and large
it Is a first-rate minstrel snow, not mod
ernized out of all sembance to the min
strel show of the past, and 1t is especially
enjoyable in that
New National Theater. Lillian Russell
much married. well-advertised. and still fair
to look upon, appeared at the New National
Theater last night in the latest comic plu-
steal concoction, The Princess Nicotine"
inspired its authors to make another of the
luxuries of life theme for humorous COM
position, and tobacco has a burlstta
theme proved not unworthy successor to
wine. The strength of the supporting COM
pany is exceptional. Perugini is thorough
artist Digby Bell is old favorite whom
| 1t is rather remarkable in Washington to
see playing subordinate part but he plays
1t we'll A large audience was on hand to
greet the players last night and it is quite
evident that the reign of the airy fairy Lii
ian is by no means at an end.
The Grand Spectacle America" - The
magnificent, historical, aIegorical and bril-
/ liant spectacle America" was one Of the
great attractions of the worlds fair. The
! gorgeous manner in which it is to be placed
on the stage of Albaugh's Opera House next
week will win the same Endorsement and
| tokens OF appreciation. 1t is confined to 70
particular form of entertainment. as it is
a happy blending of music, song and dance
set in brilliant scenes and spendidly ar
ranged tableauX. 1t is difficult 20 realize
I that hundreds of people can be maneurer-
ed on the stage, but it should be remembe--
! ed that the stage of Aibaugh's is one Of the
largest in the country. The engagement is
for one week, beginning Monday, March 5,
with Wednesday and Saturday matin aes.
Regular prices will prevail. No advance.
! Harris BJou TEeat er.-That stirring mel
| odrama, The Police Patrol, opened a week 5
engagement at Harris last night TO a
/ crowded house. The play is not a new one
to the patrons of the house, but neverthe-
| less it is very popular. and the audience
never gets tired applaudns the heroism of
/ the hero o. Symp1thzing with the heroine.
| All through the play careful conSidora ton
| for the audience was manifest, and the
staging vas above the average
| Chas. Chappelle made an acceptable Capt.
/ Hardy, and shared the honors with Miss
Lorena Atwood, who, Laura Joyce,
proved herself clever actress.
| There is a fund of comedy in the play,
and the cGm pany is we'll selected Again
tonight. The distribution of building lot
| coupons, each good for property at Egg
| Harbor City, n. j., commenced last NIGHT