The Washington times., 1894-08-28
AS THE CROWDS COME OUT.

"Virginius' was the play and Robert Downing
the player at the New National last night The
popular tragedian was greeted by host of ad-
mirers, and he was obliged 10 respond TO fre-
quent and energetic curtain calls.
Eugene Blair shared honors with Mr. Downing
and gave beautiful reading OF the character OF
Virginia The rest Of the cast showed no nerv-
BUSINESS that might have been eXcusable the
first night Of the first week of the season, and
. the performance was remarkably smooth.
Mr.. DOwuings embOnpoint has been accentu-
ated by his vacation, but his acting is as supurb
as ever, and his recent rest has given him added
energy and magnetism in delivery.
and If the phrase be allowed, Mr. Downing stabs
Miss Blair more trsgically than ever.
Following Is the repertoire for the week:
Tuesday, The Gladiator" Wednesday matinee,
Richard, the Lion-hearted;" Wednesday even
ing, Damon and Pythias;'' Thursday, The
nee, "Yirginius," and Saturday evening, "The
Gladiator"
The overflow from the streets filled the Acad-
emy of Music. The crowd was in holiday humor
and the atmosphere yibrated with merriment.
The w. Cleveland minstrels were the mirth
prOvokers, and most admirably did they per-
/ form their functions
The first curtain revealed brilliant spectacle
called columbus" II was gorgeous in the
! scenic part, and the costumes worn by the min
strels were historically correct and blended most
harmOnlOusly with the color of the whole. While
] the entertainments was going and between
| the musical numbers rendered the principal
/ scenes aad buildings OF the Worlds Fair were
exhibited The novelty and popularity of the
! feature deserved the great applause which was
/ given. The characters in il were King Ferdi-
nand, J. j. Nolan; Queen Isabella, Billy Lyons;
Christopher Colum bus, Banks Winter, and
testers, Ed. Thompson and Harry Shields.
The company is strong in its vocal depart
ment. The singers are popular and their songs
are up TO date. The principal vocalists are
] Banks Winter, w. J. Murphy, David Ellen
berger, George Brunton, William Ackley Harry
D Z and Tpfar, I Npro IA
/ ties, Billy Emerson and Lew Benedict, were re-
ceiyed in hearty manner, and they sang sew
eral very humorous pieces The first part con-
cluded with the sketch, 1.-The Battle Royal"
George d. Melville, ''the original dumb
waiter" gave fine exhibition OF skill The,
next on the programme was Lew Benedict, who
delivered one of his inimitable speeches on
things in general The musical act of Thomp-
son and Bunnell was pleasing Billy Emerson,
OF course, captured the audience with his spe-
cialty. The eccentric acrobatic singers and
comedians, Crawford brothers, were above par
The evening concluded most pleasantly with
the Alpha four, who gave representation of
life in a military camp.
1t was indeed "high-class vaudeville" that
held the boards AT Albaugh's. The people were
artists and the acts were refined enough for the
most Puritanic theatre-goer.
The well-known Columbia Quintette lead the
programme with mandolin and guitar music
Then there are Middleton and Newton in refined
character vocal duets; Sapphira, the amusing
! picknninny dancer-a feature, 10y the way,
| quite new 10 this section Miss Estelle Clarke
/ ia solos, Ford and Francis in novel sketch work
! including excellent topical songs, and some new
gags" Bonnie Thornton In her taking midget
! songs; Baggesen in contortion; Alcide Capitaine
pin aerial trapeZe work, and TO top oil every
thing, the living pictures with all their trans
! cendent shapeliness and NEUROLOGICAL sugges-
/ tiveness
The epaulettes Of the Knights were plentiful
/ In the audience last night, and the prospect is
| that they will continue to be the whole week
through.
Darkest Russia" drew a big audience last
! night TO Buffers New Biiou Theater The play
/ IS by II. Grattan Donnelly, who wrote Natural
Gas ana il deals with social and political life in
/ the Cars kingdom. The plot is compact and
! strong, and is fun of dramatic situations The
/ dialogue is bright, yivacious and natural The
acts show 1.-The fete in the Nazimeff palace"
"the Nihilist rendezvous 1.-The Office of the Min
lister of the Interior and Police" and ''exile sta
! tion on the great Siberian road"
The cast is efficient and embraces: VIII s.
! Harkins NJ J. Jordan, Beniamine Horning
Frank T. Aiken, w. II. Turner, S s. Wilttsie
George w. Lynch, William OConnell, John C.
Ellis, Gerald Lowry, Maurice Wills, Leon Vim
cent, E. + Brown, Charles F. Fleming Carol
Jones, Arthur Clark, Miss Selma Herman, Miss
Eva Byron, Nine Carina Jordan, and Miss Mar
garet Owen
There viii be matinees to-day. Thursday, and
Saturday. The performance to-day will COM
mence at p. m, so as 10 permit the audience to
see the Pythian parade.