Evening star., 1894-04-03
AMUSEIENTS.

theater for what is best in the drama as
to who would interpret the really great
plays of our literature. We have good act
ors, but no great ones Some bitter filings
have been made at the popular taste for
no better reason than that Thea average
mind enjoys good farce comedy better than
| 1t does poor tragedy. Mr.. Clarke is young
| man, the nephew Of that actor whose men,
ory is so universally cherished-Edwin
Booth. His resemblance to Booth physical
| ly is startling. but not SO stratling as the
resemblance to his method and manner
which developed in the performance Of
Hamlet at Albaugh's last night. The
fact that he was of the family of a great
actor could exert no favorable prejudice
concerning him, for the public recognizes
no hereditary peerage in art. He stood
upon his merits and won sympath thetic inter-
est in the mental struggles of Hamlet
In a manner which only an actor naturally
endowed with intense sensibility could do
he has that prime requisite of the classical
II terpreter, good voice. 1t is deep and
rich, and while 1t is vibrant with emotion
at times, 1t Is always firm and pure. He
mad scarcely uttered a sentence before he
established with his audience that subtle
magnetic relationship which is 50 indefin-
able and yet so essential. There Is no i'm
preston OF artficality to be gathered from
Lis work. He seems to do the right thing
because or an tntuttive perception that it
Is the right thing, and the result is a
smoothness in his reading delightful s ii
IS rare. his manners, too, are graceful.
He Is young, and will doubtless improve
anc IL VIII be an Improvement Of the most
promising dramatic material developed In
years. Mr.. Clarke is, however, not a novice
| on The stage. Ee has served a rigorous
apprenticeship to his art. and his evident
devotion to it is such that there is not
much risk of his being spoiled by too much
approval In his early career. He is plainly
AMBITIOUS, but he Is plainly conscientious.
Miss Martha Ford was also interesting as
ophela. She was sweet and winsome
! creature who succeeded In engaging the
deepest sympathes of the audience in the
sorrows which the character SO touchingly
depicts. Her presentation of the role was
delicate and graceful one, the more pleas
ing because OF its lack of any tendency to
exaggeration. Mr.. Frederick Vroom re-
cetved well-earned applause for his efforts
| and there were other praiseworthy per-
iormances in the cast which, however was
will produce Hamlet" tonight and Satur-
DAY night. Tomorrow evening he will pre-
sent The Merchant of Venice"
me National-The one-act play affords
uehcate dramatic feast which It is not
always easy to present in a manner ac-
ceptaoie to the popular appetite. 1t was
as II the sweet influence OF Rosina Vokes
noVered over the stage of the National
Iheater last night, when three delightful
bits OF comedy were presented with that
exquisite finish which is possible only with
good material, both as to authorship and
Interpretation. Mr.. Felix Morris is well
known, not only as q most efficient but
as most versa tile character actor and in
ms three widely different performances last
hlsnl showed the discriminating care which
satisfies the intellect as well as the ener-
getlc enthusiasm which arouses the emo
tlons. The first play on the bill was a
dainty little ation, entitled 1.-THE Rose"
from the pen of Minnie Maddern Fisk
The second was THE Vagabond" in which
Mr.. Morris assumed the role which sug-
gests the title of the morceau, and the third
was Moses" which Illustrated the versa
titty OF the authoress above mentioned as
Well as that of Mr.. Morris, in that the
humor is quite broadly emphatic The com,
o1 ~
season will be delightful one for those
who enjoy entertainment Of this descrip-
ton.
The Georgetown Orchestra's Concert
MetZerott Hall was we'll filled last night
with the friends of the Georgetown Orcbes-
ira and all were pleased with the excel
lent work of the organization and the at
tractlVe program that was offered. The
merits OF this orchestra have been fire.
quently commented upon in these columns
and Its high aims have been alwavs com
mended. 1t is believed that there is no
similar body of musicians In the country
that has attained the same high stand
ard OF excellence although the members
are amateurs that is they do not depend
upon their musical work for a living but
play because they love the art of music
They have kept up their rehearsaIs for four
teen years and have attained a degree of
proficiency that surpasses many purely pro-
fessional orcheStras. Under their new lead
er, Mr.. Rakemann, the orchestra has visibly
improved, and its friends are correspouding-
ly gratitied. The program was filled with
meiodic numbers, and the applause indicat-
ed the satisfaction of the audience Mem
delssohns wedding March," Maszowskfs
''Serenata," Scharwenka's Polish Dance"
Cnbers overture to Fra Diavolo" and
Rubensteins wedding cortege from the
opera OF "Feramors' were all familiar. and
the only new number by the orchestra
was the Lamento by Campo, a Mexican
composer, which was well received The
concert last night served to introduce as
a solo pianist Miss Alice Burbage a WASH
ington girl, who has recently returned from
course of study abroad. She PLAYED a
Chopin Polonaise arranged for piano and
orchestra, Handel's Harmonious Black
smith and LISTS tarantelle ''Venezia
Napor,' and in each she displayed an ex-
cellent technique. the notes being clear
and distinct without any slurring or care
lessness. Miss Burbage is a product of
Whlch this city may be proud. Mrs r
Ortman was the vocal soloist and she dis
played a voice of considerable power and
fair cultivation. The other assistants were
Miss Anita Cluss harpist and Mr. Jobn
Porter Lawrence, accompanist, both of
whom sustained their well-earned repu-
tations.
Academy Of Music-Chauncev Olcott nc
Terence Dwyer in Jessup and Townsend's
Irish play, "Mavourneen," was the at
traction at the Academy last night and 1t
Is saying no more than his partial due 70
say that he Is really an attraction He is
not only the promised successor of Emmet
and of Scanlan in the role of the singing
comedian, but he Is their successor for no
one now on the stage does so gracefuIJv
the things they did nor is there a voice
sweeter or more sympathetic than Olcott's
In his voice and in his acting is that in
deflnable something which made the fame
and fortune of his two immediate predeces-
sors. AS to the play itselfit may be said that
1t does not rank with the great dramas of
contemporaneous history, not even with
Irish dramas, but 1t possesses the qualities
which take it close to the human heart as
the human heart is found in the upper
stratum of the theatric atmosphere: vet 1t
does not afford Mr.. Olcott those opportunf-
ties to which his abilities as singer and
actor enttle him. In other words he would
be much brighter light If he had better
fuel. The supporting cast is quite up to the
standard of the play, except as to the kid
let's, Dot Clarendon and Kennett Barnes
and they the kind OF small fry which
make an audience fall in love with them
and want to kidnap them right on the spot
Mr.. Olcotts singing of the Scanlan songs
through the play was received always with
enthusiastic appreCia ton.
Harris Bijou Theater-"Lady Blarney"
a four-act melodrama with Annie Ward
Tiffany in the title role, opened a weeks
engagement at the Bijou last night before
q large audience. The name of Annie
Ward Tiffany is not new one to Washing
ton theatergoers, although she has not
been seen here for several years. Once
again last night she succeeded in capturing
the hearts of her audience and proved
herself one of the most entertaining and
magnetic actresses before the public. In