The Washington times., 1894-11-06
AS THE CROWDS COME OUT.

Sardous Napoleonic ccomedy-drama. MAD
anne Sans Gene, received its initial produc-
ton in this country at Albaugh's last night
before brilliant audience of flrst-nighters,
among whom were many of the New York
friends of Manager Pitou.
The piece was given a worthy presentation
and achieved an instantaneous success. Mr..
Pitou has in MADAME Sans Gene play
that promises to become popular.
In the present craze for anything and every
thing NapoleonicE this might be said of any
fairly good play representative of the stirring
scenes of the revolution, but Sardou's play
has merits Of its own outside the intrinsic
interest of the time and place of action.
The dramatist has chosen as his theme a
domestic episode in the life of Napoleon, in
which there is minor element OF intrigue
involving the fidelity OF the Empress. The
comedy element is furnished by the efforts of
the Duchess Of DantZic, "a parvenue, formerly
Nine. Sans Gene, a laundress, TO perform her
part in the world of fashion and nobility to
which the chances of the revolution have ell
evated her. This woman's native ceverness.
however, added to an Unborn nobility of char
acter saves her from being a uere clown, and
finally wins her the favor OF the Emperor.
There is nothing dramatically new in all
this, but in Sardou's hands very simple ma
terial is so ceyerly treated TO raise it 10 the
level OF an amused interest which is well sus-
tanned throughout the piece.
Miss Kathryn Kidder as Madame Sans
Gene, interpreted an insouciant but naturally
admirable character, with pleasing vivacity
ana finished art. She won the favor of the
audience instantly. and had to respond to
more than q dozen calls before the close ofthe
performance. Mr.. Pitou could not have placed
rhiE in baffar hands NfiSa Eiddar'S
cess was legitimate and well-deserved. To
her belongs the larger need of praise for the
triumph of last nights production.
Mr.. Augustus Cooks Napoleon was well
conceived. His makeup is an excellent like
ness OF the great Corsican, and his manner
isms faithfully reproduced those which his
tory tells us characterized that ambitious
world-conqueror. OF the other members Of
the cast, Mr.. Wallace Shaws' Fouche and Mr..
Harold Russelrs Marshal Lefebvre deserve
special mention.
Mr.. Pitou has given his play superb stage
mounting, both as to costumes and scenery
Care has been taken to preserve historical
accuracy in both, with commendable results
1t was Beaumaunt and Fletcher. or Green.
or some one or other of those old English
dramatists who first utilized the fine dramatic
material in ''The Amazons'
1t was Pinero who modernized the theme
and wrote comedy around it, interesting
from start to finish.
At the New National last night well-flled
house greeted wel-acted piece
Miss Johnstone Bennett, Miss Ellison, and
Isabella Irving had the principal parts and
portrayed three manly young maidens who
graduate into wOmanly young maidens under
the benign influence of love.
The rest of the cast was remarkably we'll
balanced and efficient. John Findlay, as the
Old Curate, was, Of course, greeted with ap-
plause on his first entrance.
If the new woman is what the three bril-
liant young ladies at the National will illus
trate this week, why on with your Yellow
Aster's, Heavenly Twins and all the rest of
that feminine crew which wants 10 be manly
and is finally downed by Cupid.
One last word: 1.-The Amazons'' is an in
novation. The material and methods are
old, but the presentation ought to sharpen
the appetite Of the most utterly-utter jaded
play-goer.
Tim Murphy's friends were cut in full force
at the Academy of Music last nj ght to give
him greeting in his impersonation of Lem
Kettle in Henry Guy Carleton's play of that
name
Lem Kettle is not play that calls for an
extended analysis. Its plot is built upon con-
ventional and stereotyped lines The good
hearted, simple-minded rural inventor
swindled out of valuable patent, the rural
maiden betrayed, all the customary entangle-
ments and acknowledgements, and the salts
factory climax of virtue triumphant and vice
punished. There is nothing especially original
even in the drawing of the characters They
are familiar figures to every habitue of the
theater
Whatever success the play attains, therefore.
will be due entirely to the excellent company
with which MIR. Murphy has surrounded him
SELF. He himself gives an admirable por-
traiture of the honest, gentle brave country
lad. and his quaint touches of humor, his
quiet but strong expressions of pathos, give
the character of Lem Kettle an effectiveness
which it would lack with less artistic treat
ment.
George Richards and Eugene Garfield are
well known in Washington as clever comedi-
ans, and as Sam Jericho and JEFF, respec-
lively. they with Miss Clara Thropp as
B'lindy keep the audience in continual
laughter.
The Russell Brothers are favorites in this
city, and their appearance at Kernan's Ly-
ceum Thearer last evening at the head of
their own company of comedians attracted
big audience. The entertainment presented
was very enjoyable Will H. Fox in his
satirical creation, "Pade-whiskie," being
particularly well received. The afterpiece
was a farcical comedy entitled, "Clarice, in
Producing the Russells, Sam Bernard, and
others OF the combination. The same per-
formance will be given every evening during
the week, with matinees to-day, Thursday,
and Saturday.
At Buffers Bijou Theater last evening a
large audience welcomed the return of Miss