Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-19
ADJUSTMENTS.

ADJUSTMENTS.
Lafayette Square Opera House.-The pres
tise which has hung about the Daily trade
mark is not likely to be rejuvenated by the
performance of 'Hansel and GreteP' as Of
fered at Washington's most handsome the
alter last night. Neither Is the estimation in
which the public was ready to hold Sir Au-
guStuS Harris, on the strength OF his
achievements as a manager at home, likely
to be heightened by the production of Hum
perdinck's fairy opera. AS produced orig
inally in this country the piece was pro-
nounced inferior to the European perform
ance. but it had the berefit of fine orches-
trail interpretation under the leadership of
Anton Seidl. The work IS that of a musician
alone and not of a poet-musician such as
Wagner was. The singers are sighted,
while the orchestra is lavishly supplied with
musical material which makes its perform
ance q delight, to which the trifing fairy
story and the silly jingles which constitute
the dramatic element are only Interrupt
lions. The mounting of the piece is splendid.
The pictures are very German In their gen.
eral effects, and so, different from the con-
ventional spectacular display. "HanSel ana
GreteP' establishes Humperdinck as COM
poser of music, but not as writer OF opera
The orchestra last night acquitted itself
without discredit, and the company did per-
haps as much as could be expected of 1t In
case where the singers have been so COM
pletely subordinated. AS purely musical
entertainment, and n scenic display,
"Hansel and Gretel' is highly satisfactory
work; but an opera it is a disappointment
both as to construction and Interpretation.
Academy of Music.-Shylock was the sec
ono character that Mr. Chas. B. Hanford
played as an amateur with the Lawrence
Barrett Dramatic Club. His first was cas-
sius to the Brutus CT Clarence B. Rheem
Those who can remember these two early
efforts and who saw Mr. Hanford in the
Nf iao'b Lest ptQrht OF a
Academy of Music could not but be gratified
at the development Of this still young actor.
Mr.. Hanford has good natural equipment
for the stage, fine figure, an expressive
face and voice that is clear and distinct
and has a remarkable carrying power. He
has, besides, what many fine appearing men
upon the stage unfortunately lack, an in
tellectual capacity that enables him to grasp
the subtleties of the character he interprets.
and present all the different shades of pas
sion with nice discrimination. His Shylock,
while preserving some of the stage tradi-
lions in its presentation, Is sufficiently
original to show that the character has been
the subject of much careful study. In the
court scene he was particularly effective,
bringing out cynical humor that lightened
somewhat the tragic incident. The audi
ence which was large, was enthusiastic in
its appreciation of Mr.. Hanfords efforts,
and repeatedly called him before the cur
tain. He was compelled to make a speech
at the close of the performance, which he
did In an exceedingly graceful manner. Mr..
Hanfords principal associates, Miss Nora
OBrien and Mr. Elihu Spencer We're both
well received. Miss O'Brien's Portia is
rather suggestion of what she will make of
the character when she becomes ripe with
experience, for she is now hardly more than
debutante, but 1t gave evidence of COM
prehenSion of the requirements of the role,
and her handsome face and graceful figure
made her very pleasing to look at. Mr..
Spencer made a manly BaSsanio, and in the
cast were James Garden, George Macomber.
Bertram Temple, Robt Smiley and Richard
Butler. the last three being Washington
boys; Marie Drofnah and Ada T. Eckert.
The piece was spienddly produced, Mr..
Hanford having bought the elaborate seen
cry used by Katherine Clemmons in "A Lady
of Venice" which, with slight alteration,
fitted the Merchant of Venice" perfectly
There was some good incidental music by
the Loretto quartet.
Tonight Mr. Hanford will be seen in the
title role of '.Virginius,' with Mr.. Spencer
as 1cilus and Miss OBrien as Virginia.
Grand Opera House-"The Irish Artist"
with Chauncey Olcott in the leading role,
drew large house at Aliens Grand Opera
House last night. The play, which has been
seen here before, is picturesque and gives
Olcott plenty of opportunity to show off his
pleasing tenor voice to good advantage. 1t
also gives him chance to display his dra-
matte talent and the plea sing Irish brogue
which he has cultivated. He sings a num-
Der of his own songs during the play, chief
among which are Katy Mahone,' Look
in My Heart" My Beautiful Irish Maid"
and Now Do You See His rendition of
Tom Moore's Believe Me If All Those En-
dearing Young Charms is probably his best
effort and was given most hearty recep-
ton. Mr.. Olcott has a great many friends
in this city, and they were out last evening
in force to welcome his appearance here.
Effie Germon and Luke Martin as the Wild
CIV Black and Jerry Sweeney were good and
rendered the low comedy parts with ease
and naturalness. Two clever juveniles, Dot
Clarendon and Imogene Washburn, took
very we'll, while Louise Closer and Rolinda
cambridge were also pleasing in their
spective roles.
New National Theater.-Mr. Hoyt's farces
are effective factors in popular entertain
ment, but they do not improve in acquaint-
ance Once is usually enough to see any of
them, and "a Milk White Flag" which was
returned to the stage of the New National
Theater, has not great deal to claim for it
a better right to survive than "A Rag Baby"
and "A Brass Monkey" which have been
banished to oblivion. Its ephermal quality
should, however, contribute to its populari-
ty, for any one who waits till the opportuni-
ty to see it has passed must go through life
with the consciousness that he has missed a
chance to laugh.
Kernan's Lyceum Theater.-Fresh from its
successes all over the country Hopkins
Trans-Oceanic Star SpecialtyCompany open
ed a weeks engagement at kernan'S last
night. This is one of the few attractions on
the road that always command good bust
ness, and the audience last night was of large
proportions. Inc program is long ana inter-
esting and many of the acts are new. Perhaps
the feature of the entertainment was the APP
pearance of the Rossow brothers, the small
est men in the world. who perform any num-
Der of difficult feats, and wound up their
part of the show with boxing bout. They
are aged, respectively, eighteen and twenty
years and are twenty-five and thirty
inches tall. Their combined weight is thr-
ty-eght and half pounds. Their perform
ance is truly wonderful. Jester, the Irish
ventriloqust, offered an original act with
walking figures that at once commended it
self to the audience. Apollo, the Adonis of
the wire. performed a graceful and difficult
feat and Fulgora, the TRANSPORTATION, gave
a striking portrayal of famous characters.
Then there were Ford and Francis in a
laughable sketch; Sisters Gehrue, clever
dancers; Tom Mack show in himself;
Ryan and Richfield, those well-known Irish
deineators, and Robetta and Doretto, whose
Chinese Carnival continues to delight. A
very good comedy, "A Coquette," closed the
show. Again tonight.