Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-10-16
AMUsEMENTs.

atrical program for Washington II varied
and excellent this week. II extends from
the shakesrearean drama clear through the
list to the strong men, and all along the
line affords entertainment deserving of pop
ular patronage. The production Of Henry
w" by Frederick warde and Louis James
was heralded as a scenic and dramatic
representation Of far more than ordinary
magnitude and Importance. 1t fully real
ICES the expectations. The rise Of the cur
tain on the first act gives earnest OF con-
scientious attention to detail and liberal
expenditure in making the mounting Of
the play correct as to historical detail and
gratifying to the eye. and throughout the
performance there is no falling off in this
respect. stage full Of people, suggest
ing In their numbers ami completeness of
costuming, the comprehensive ideas of Hen
~ Irving as to stage management, greets
the auditor and even the minor parts are
taken with a degree of ability that gives
a performance seldom exceled for smooth
ness. Frederick Warde as Prince Hal car
ried the part gracefully and with anima-
ton. 1t is, however, in Falstaff that the
interest of the production centers. The
character to y'is interesting only as
evidencing the almost limitless range of
Shakespeare's genius AS Mercutio repre-
sentS humor refined to the most delicate
degree Of wit, Fa1staff gives US fun in it's
most intense phase of ribald brutality. The
Intensity Of his good hunor, his unfailing
eloquence In ingenious lies and his utter
lack of any of those qualities which ham,
per a man with the cares of life, make
him a jcvial companion for the public. as
he was for Prince Hal.
The mastery way In which the character
has been drawn refnes 1t to an extent that
could not have been attained with treat
ment any less deft. There is no more mar
velous example Of the idealizing faculty
than Falstaff, with whom the world has
been taught to laugh wholesomely and safe
ly despite the fact that his nature Is all
that is commonly held to be repulsive The
n amer in which Mr.. Louis James por-
trayed the character was most artistic, full
of the JUNCTION which it demands and I'M
tagging in its flow of spirits. Guy Linsey
gave a capable impersonation Of Hotspur.
Beverly Turner was excellent as King
Henry ". The ladies Of the company &C
quilted themselves in a satisfactory man.
ner. and Henry " deserves to rank as one
Of the most interesting and praiseworthy
events that the present season has develop
ed.
New National Theater-AugustIn Daily
has succeeded,to quote a patent medicine
phrase-in making his name a househ Did
word. He Is one of the Americans who
have attained success on the most SUBJ
stantial basis. 1t is safe to say that no
man has done SO much for the legitimate
drama in this country, as he and his COM
panies are always to be depended on for fin
ished and satisfying performances. His ty
flights are not frequent. He exceis in pre-
sureS their kind reception by the public
SO long as they are well done. Poetry and
emotion do not figure to any great extent.
The exhibition is that Of art in it's highest
form, with none of the uncertainties which
attend the exploitation of genius "A Night
or is one of the old-timers. Irresistible
In Its laugh-provoking qualities and at no
time excessive In its demands on the play
ers, II affords amusement Of the kind
which meets the intelligent spectator on his
own ground. never forcing him to descend
10 tne level OF the horse-play comedian for
laugh.
One OF the most interesting members of
the company at present Is Henry e. Dixey:
VINO has abandoned the burlesque field to
take his place among legitimate PLAYERS
His performance last night was one that
gave scope for a certain degree of the ex-
aggeration which burlesque necessarily de-
veioped as feature of his style That he
Is a man Of intelligent perception, capable
or the mental application which an effort
on the higher dramatic planes should COM
mand, no one who has observed him. here
tofore. has doubted. His portrayal of the
theater manager as the public is taught to
know him in comic plays, had both discrimi-
nation and vim. Catherine Lewis gives a per-
torrance which assures her a continuance
of the admiration and esteem which she has
long held with the play-gong public OF
Mrs. Gilbert and James Lewis there is no
more 70 De said than that they are their
Academy of Mrsic.-Sandow, now the
Adei1na Patti of athletics, made his first
appearance in Washington last night at the
Academy of Music. In some respects. he
was surprise. He Is not the mere bunch
OF muscle and incarnation of brute force
that the public expects In an athlete of his
general characteristics. Sandow is a pic
ture. Mr.. Corbett's aspiration to be a gen.
tleman are evidently surpassed by Mr. San
COW, ana so FAR as can be judged by mere
appearances. with infinitely greater success
He Is piece of bric-a-hrac, magnificentiy
put up, as the frequenters of the gymnasium
say, but built on principles which combine
beauty with strength He is not heavy, but
etacetui IN every movement, and one of the
most pleasing things about his performance
IS the apparent absence of effort in all that
ne does. There Is no clap-trap for the mere
purpose or impressing the audience His
carriage Is so light as to be almost mjncing
ana he handles weights in connection with
winch a Disseminating grunt would be easily
eXcusable, with drawing room air which
Is almost amusing. The Trocadero Vaude-
vile Company give a variety show that is
unsurpassed by anything that this city has
seen In that line in years. A remarkable
athletic feature is offered by the Jordan
!amliy In high trapeZe evolutions, and Ben
human performs with easy skill on the
triple horizontal bar Mile. Marguerite is as
DAINTY and accomplished contortionist as
the country has seen in many a day, while
the other people who figure in the propra m
are accomplished to the superIatiye point
Bily Van, the comedian, elicits MANY
laughs; Aman impersonates celebrities with
startling fidelity: Tom Brown gives an ex
hlDition OF whistling and an imitation of the
trombone which caught the audience inn
mensely. and Jane is a jolly character song
stress. Miss Scottie, collie develops a de-