The Washington times., 1895-03-17
COMING TO THE THEATERS.

Willard Sponsors comic opera, 1.-THE
Princess Bonnie. - which comes TO the New
National this week, has had the benefit
of marvelously successful run or 100
nights at the Broad Street Theater, Phila-
delphia, and long engagements in both Bos-
ton and Chicago.
The company which is to present the
work in this city is mostly composed of the
the original members, and is one of the
most expensive organizations in America.
The principal members of the cast are Frank
Daniels, the popular comedian, who, as
Little Puck and ''Old Sport has made
thousands laugh; Minnie Landes, gifted
young prima donna, who is said to possess
remarkable beauty of face as well as voice;
Lillian Swain, Mabella Baker, Win M.
Armstrong, n. s.. Burnham, Joseph Green's
fielder, Mountjoy Walker, and Robert Brod-
erick.
AS 1t appears upon the boards to-day
Princess Bonnie" was about two years
in growing. Mr.. Spenser did not work upon
il without system, but he found that he
could write more successfully on certain
days than on others. The result was that he
worked on those certain days, thinking
about the words of this song or the notes of
that number on the off days, and writing
generally when he felt most in the mood.
He did begin both the libretto and the
score at the beginning, however, and car
ried them through consistently and consec-
utively. He is unique in this-he writes
both libretto and score himself, feat not
often attempted by composers, and still
less frequently accomplished with success.
He is unique in something else.
1t is said that when the opera was fin
ished he had something over $50, 900 in
available funds, and he promptly put every
dollar of that sum in staging The Princess
N q q n m upn
The story goes that he sat in his box on
the opening night, pale but calm, and with
out the culver OF muscle. He is said to
have remarked: II would have been living
on hard tack il Princess Bonnie had failed,
but it did not fail, and that is all there
is to it. ] knew it would not.''
What more could be added to this quiet
conviction of the composer that he had
studied and understood his theme, his
people, and himself?
The attraction at the Lyceum this week
will be the famous REILLY and Woods Big
Show, which will introduce for the first
time in this city the sensation Of Paris,
the ''aerial ballet consisting of a num-
ber of pretty Partisan women floating and
dancing in mid-air.
The effect is, it is said, indescribably
startling and suggests a glimpse of some
land of enchantment and its fairy in
habitants. This novelty supplements a
mammoth olio, in which Will appear
Berry and Tenbrooke, in their deluge of
fun; the Savans, champion man and woman
equilibrists OF the world; Miles. Laurel and
Harvey, the charming vocalists and dancers;
Her, Burke, and Randall, in their novel
acrobatic act; Allen and West, musical
eccent RIGS; NIL es. Armstrong and Bel
more, the sensational dancers, and George
Washington, the original Alabama coon.
The performance viii conclude with the
magical spectacular extravaganza, by j.
Irwin Devlin, entitled, "Hades Up TO
Date" introducing the inimitable Pat
REILLY in his humorous Characterization of
"Old Safe" A feature of the burlesQue
will be a number of shapely girls III daZ-
ZliDg costumes.
Among the many Interesting characters
presented in Sutton Yane's melodrama,
The Cotton King which is TO be seen
at the Academy of Music this eek, none
is said TO be more interesting than that OF
Shillinglaw, the engine driver, played by
Dominick Murray.
Discharged from his position by Osborne,
the hero, for drunkenness, Shillingla w
fun of resentment and a feeling for re-
venge. Stockley, the william, takes ad-
vantage of this TO use Shillinglaw as tool
TO injure Osborne.
are taken ill with a malignant fever and
he is Informed that only good food and
nursing can save their lives. Steekley.
by getting Miss Drayson, the heroine. out
Of the way, win fan heir TO a fortune
which had been left her by her father
He seeks Shillinglaw aud offers him so
pounds to let Miss Drayson see and nurse
his wife so she viii take the fever. This
sum is fortune to the poor mechanic, but
his better nature prevails, ana when Miss
Drayson visits his cottage on her round OF
mercy among tie sick and afflicted mil
employees, ShilliDglaw, after a struggle
with himself, orders her from his house.
st the Academy of Mnsic beginning a
week from Monday night, the Tavary Grand
English Opera Company VIII play q return
engagement. The repertoire is as follows
Monday, "Trovatore;' Tuesday, 'Ernani;
Wednesday matinee, Bohemian Girl"
Wednesday night, "Cavaleria Rusticana
and 'Pagliacci;" Thursday, Faust
| Friday, "Tannhauser;" Saturday matinee
Carmen" and Saturday night, William
Tell"
The melodrama, The Silver King, -
which was written by Henry A. Jones aHd
| Henry Herman, is a very strong play and has
met with great success. The play will be
presented at the Bijou Theater this weel
| with a specially selected company, or
| ganzed to play only i'll the largest cities
The piece VIII be produced here with al
extra set of new and appropriate scenery
| properties, and effects. The company il
headed by Mr.. Carl A Haswin. Others O
| prominence in the cast are the veterans
| Charles Foster and s. H Verney Their
will be an extra matinee Monday.
Lottie Collins will appear at the Crane
| and clever comedy and vaudeville enter
tainment. Miss Collins will introduce th'
| new song 1.-The Up-to Date Woman,
| which has made decided hit Mr.. Free
| Solomon, the we'll known comic oper;
comedian is in her support, and thos
popular vaudeville stars, Wood and Shep
| ard, Marion, Hayes, and Marion; Ann'
Wilmuth, the Meers brothers, and War;
and Curran are among tue chief perform
| ers.
The grand ST. Patrick's Day matinee a
| the Grand Opera House to-day must no
be forgotten. Gilmore's famous band
now conducted by that eminent musician
| Mr. Victor Herbert, genuine son of Ire
land, and grandson Of the illustrious Irisl
| poet and Song writer, Samuel Lover, vii
render splendid miscellaneous programme
with a second part appropriate to the day
Herbert L. Clarke, the great conretist
and other soloists of the band will appear
and special feature of the evening concer
will be the phenomenal pianiste, Fried
Simonson She has toured with Patti
Melba, and Albani, sharing Joint honors
This viii lbe her first and only appearance
here, as she is soon to return to Europe
She is not put forward as a child wonde
alone, but as one OF the greatest Of pianists
Her playing in New York has creates
sensations, the debut more than fillini
Carnegie Music Hall.
Nine. Natal, the favorite prima donn
Soprano, will sing at both concerts, and tn
famous band itself is said TO be playing