The Washington times., 1894-08-21
SEEN ACROSS THE FOOTLIGHTS.

A. Y. Pearsons big patriotic melodrama.
''The White Squadron" made its second
visit to Washington and was witnessed last
night by two-tnirds house at the Academy
OF Music.
Enthusiastic applause was frequently given
and there was complete rapport between the
audience and actors. There was every indi-
cation that the play will meet with as great
success as it achieved upon its previous en-
gagement.
TIE plot is perhaps little weak in spots,
| but the climaxes are dramatically effective,
and, from a scenic point OF view, offer oppor-
tunities, which are not lost, for splendid and
novel stage pictures The play itself, unlike
| many melodramas of its heavy type. is
| spirited, at times brilliant, and always inter-
es:ing. There is very strong love story in
| terwoven with the other dramatic elements,
| and its development is attended by the liveli-
est interest on the part OF the spectators.
There are enough strong situations and
| scenes to supply two or three more plays,
| and there would still remain enough to make
| The White Squadron" worth seeing. The
| one representing the congress of navies at
Brazil was cheered and huzzabed. The char
acters were efficiently and in some Instances
most artisticaliy played by ". A. Whiiecar,
Frederick Julian, J. H. Smiley, Robert Neil,
Charles Macklin, Edwin Leonard, Will F.
Phillips, Percy Plunkett, j. J. Morris, c. E.
Guere, George F. White, B. G.. Martin, Will
lam Vestal, J. W. Harmon, Alvin Chandler.
Laura Booth, Edith Julian Laura Almossino,
and Adeline Cotton.
Matiness will be played Wednesday and
Saturday.
Manager Butler, OF the rejuvenated Bijou
Theater, will present Through Darkest Rus
sia' to the public next week as an earnest of
his purpose to elevate his theater to the dig
nifty OF first-class. The play is the product of
the pen of II. Grattan Donnelly. the success
ful farce-writer. 1t is asserted that Mr. Dom
nelly's departure from the domain in which
he divided honors with Charley Hoyt OF
blessed recollection, and his entrance upon
another field of play-wrting has developed
latent talent, the strength of which is evil
denced by his dramatic picture Of Russian
life. The east is said to be made up OF actors
of metropolitan reputation, and week of
good business may therefore be confidently
anticipated by Manager Butler.
Albaugh's Grand Opera House will present
to its host'of patrons when it is reopened one
of the pleasantest surprises ever enjoyed in
connection with that famous playhouse An
indication of the refined and flu de steele
taste which guides the theater under its new
management was afforded when The Golden
Gateway" was thrown open some time ago.
That beautiful and commodious passageway
will the coming season conduct the
amusement-seeker into one OF the most
recherche interiors to be found anywhere. The
upholsterer. the painter. the decorator, the
artist. and the other beautiflers Of the Temple
Of Thespis have wrought marvels. The dom
inant colors are light blending most har-
moniously and giving to the whole auditorium
dainty beauty that will charm the eye and
stimulate the mind.
The opening attraction at the New National
Theater the week of August 27 will be Robert
Downing, whose annual visits TO his native
city are hailed with pleasure by numerous
and ever-growing body of friends and ad-
mirers. Mr.. Downing is a progressive actor
and it is confidently expected that he will
present, II it is possible, bettsr performance
than he gave last year. Such q spirit is COM
mendable, and it is gratifying to learn that
his endeavor has been rewarded. Mr.. Down
ing Is one of the small group OF actors to
whom talent and high purpose have brought
ample fortune. In his case prosperity is
double blessing, for it enables him to equip
his plays in accordance with the demand of
the hour for elaboration and display, and
year by year 1t becomes more and more ap-
parent that there are few actor-managers
whose treatment Of the public is as liberal as
his. 1t is known that the bulk of his earnings
goes into new material. This in part explains
the growth OF his great popularity. Old play
superb taste displayed in this seasons repre-
sentations of ''The Gladiator" "virginius." :"
s.Ingomar," "Damon and Pythias," and
Richard the Lion Hearted"
The London Empire Entertainers pleased
a more than ordinary large audience last
night at the Lyceum Theater. The pro-
gramme comprises Miss Mona Wynn, the
English serio-comic and champion clog dan
Ger; the club specialist, Eddie Evans: the
knockaoouts, keating aud Lord. komical.
kranky koons; Robetta and Doreto, the pan
tomimists in Fun in Laundry;" England's
charater star, Miss Nellie Mcguire, as the
costermonger; O'Brien and Buckley, the
minstrel musical comedians; the armless
wonder, Unthan; Fish and Quigg, the long
and short Of it, and the female Sandow, Mme
Yucca. Albini, who advertises himself as the
'king Of cards, also does an act in which he
endeavors to convince the audience that he is
much better prestidigitateur than Prof.
Hermann.