Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-04
ASSESSMENTS.

Albaughs.-Camille, lachrymose and de-
pressing though 1t be, Is one of the plays
on which the actress relies to establish her
claims to recognition as a true artist.
There is sunshine as well as shadow, smiles
as we'll as tears. albeit even the sunshine
serves only to deepen the darkness by
contrast. The varying touches of mood
for which the character calls make de-
mands on the full technical range of an
emotional actress. 1t has been said that
the public is weary of Camille. The same
might be said concerning the Shakespearean
drama If refusal to patronize mere medi-
OGRE performances of it were to be regard
ed as a sweeping verdict. But a good
Camille, Camille who represents the fer
vor the pathos, the idealized humanity of
the role, will always be welcomed she
was last night when Miss Olga Nethersole
made her first appearance in this city. The
consideration of personality is, in a sense a
negative quantity in emotional parts. 1t is
taken for granted that the interpreter
shall have" presence which commands
interest and sympathy, for 1t is only to the
beautiful that human nature extends it's
pity with unrestrained generosity. Miss
Nethersole is winsome and charming with
out being commanding beauty. She has
the tenderness, the sweet dependence which
constitutes one of the truest graceS of
womanhood. Her performance demonstrates
devotion to high standards, with high
technical finish as the result. Her elOcution
and her poses have been studied and pol
ished to that artistic point where effort
seems to be consumed in it's own intensity
and disappears. England has sent many
actors to this country, and Miss Neither
sole is one of the really great players that
we have from that source. Her Camille is
an ethereal creation, as it could not fail to
be If intelligence and dramatic capabilities
were present in it's Interpretation. The
character Is by no means a type; the no.
bility OF sentiment, the delicacy of soul
could not be combined with her career only
In rare cases. In this case as in that of
Hamlet 1t Is the intense individuality of
the character that makes 1t sublime Miss
Nethersole has succeeded in drawing with
delicate fervor and intense feeling the
expiation. which, when met with fortitude.
becomes almost herotsm. She was COM
petently supported. the company affording
a smooth production without in any par
ticular case. excepting that of the star,
rising to extraordinary strength.
The Academy of Music.-Lew Dockstader
perhaps In some respects the cleverest
man In the minstrel profession, made a
decided hit at the Academy of Music last
night, and caused good-sized audience to
laugh heartily at his parody on Sweet
Marie" In which there were bright drives
at statesmen and other prominent people.
He also made many neat local illusions.
which caused great merriment. Mr.. Dock
stader, though a host in himself Is sur
rounded by an excellent company and the
program is interesting and entertaining
from beginning to end. The opening scene
Is effective, and Frank Dumont, VIM A.
Galpin, Bert F'latt, Chas. Sharp, C. j. Cur
tbs, Harry Leighton, Symonds and Hughes
all do some good work. Dockstader and
Frank II. White do a combined specially
II Don't See HowYou Stand It," and take
Back the Engagement Ring is very fun
ny, AS is also the Scene in Music Store
by Sharp and Flat. There is clever dane
ing by Symonds, Hughes and Rastus, and
n "a Lon lac
Is really great. The Manhattan Quartet
also made a hit and the whole perform
ance is one of the best given by min
Strel troupe in this city in long time.
Damrosch Lecture.-The sale of seats for
Walter Damroschs lecture shows that
there will be a large audience at Meter
otis Music Hall tomorrow night to greet
the young composer. Mr.. Damrosch's sub
ject: Wagner and the Musical Motives of
His Music Dramas" is one which few
could handle and none more Interestingly
than he. This will be the first time Mr..
Damroscb has lectured in Washington and
the first time he has delivered this new
lecture anywhere. In the course of his
explanation of Wagner's music Mr.. Dam
rosch will give a recital on the piano.
Divide Musin.-The sale of seats for the
Divide Musin concert opened at Metzerott's
yesterday. There was excellent sale
for the first day and if this can be taken
as an indication. Mr.: Musin and his COM
pany will have a large audience when
they visit Washington next week.
New National Theater.-There was
big crowd at the National last night
ton, this being her first appearance In
Washington the chief feature in the cast.
The comic opera chosen is THE Little
Trooper" French vaudeville operetta by
Raymond and Mars, adapted by Clay Nj.
Greene, with music by William Fust and
Victor Roger, and, while it is not pre-eml
nent in either score or hbretto, Miss Fox,
with a strong cast succeeds in presenting
in IN off nf.tt ma ic nhxyi
motive, and that means certain complica-
lions Of association which are funny, al
belt, not always of the highest moral
teaching Miss Fox appears in three charac-
tiers, one of which, the little trooper, gives
the play its name, and in all of these she
is the same vivacious, vigorous, plump and
piquant Della. The public has known her
as the second star in several attractions.
Miss Villa Knox and Marie Celeste are her
feminine coadjutors in the cast, but they
have scarcely enough to do to say how well
they could do. Among the men, Paul
Arthur is a handsome and agreeable Emile
Duval, who is the over-gallant husband of
Clairette Miss Fox, and his side partner
is Lieut.. Gibbard (Mr. D'Angelis), a charac-
ter that Is about as funny a one as can be
found in comic opera. without being really
great. Mr.. D'Angelis' presentation of the
part is ridlculously funny, and he had not
been before his audience five minutes, I'M
til he had everybody with him. He pre-
served gravity throughout that grew
funnier all the time, and gives to Mr.. DAN
gels undoubted rank as a comedian. Mr..
Campbell and Mr.. Wheelan, in less import
ant comedy parts, sustained their reputa-
tons, and Mr.. DUNCAN was handsome
colonel
Buffers Bijou Theater.-Butler's Bijou
was packed to the doors last night by all
enthusiastic audience to welcome a new
American melodrama, entitled The Life
Guard" The play is one of the strongest
seen at the Bijou this season. and is replete
with startling features. The scenery was
especially effective, and the living ladder
was bit of stage realism seldom equaled.
The company comprises several well-known
comedians, who interject every now and
then a bit of fun. Mr. Joseph J. Bowling
easily assumed the principal male charac-
ter. He shared the honors of the evening
with Miss Myra Davis, who in soubrette
role won many friends. Ralph E. Cum
mings and John Ashton did the heavy work
and won the Kisses of the audience, the best
evidence of a stage villains perfidy. Again
tonight.
Kernan's Lyceum Theater.--Pat Reilly,
long the acknowledged head of variety,
with Eva Armstrong, the queen of bur-
lesque, and superior company, opened a
weeks engagement at Kernan's last night
Individually and collectively the features
are all new and interpreted Ivy artists
the pick of both hemispheres. Pat Reilly
enjoys a reputation in the vaudeville world
that few attain. He always pleases the
public. The newest is always his, the best