Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-10

Lafayette Square Opera House.-"A So
cial Highwayman" Is a play of intense in
terest. and in its construction Miss Stone
has brought out with strong dramatic eff
feet the principal incidents in Miss Thrain's
book. 1t affords the Holland brothers an
excellent opportunity for displaying their
best abilities. and these are taken advan-
tage of to the fullest extent. Mr.. Joseph
Holland has heretofore been considered a
light comedian of the highest type, but in
the character of Courtice Jaffrey he is
called upon to express strong emotion, as
well as to do good high comedy work. He
meets both requirements in an admirable
manner and adds to his already high repu-
tation by his earnest and effective work.
His scene in the second act, where he is
about to commit suicide and Is restrained
by his servant, was dramatic without being
in the least theatric, and proved his pos
session of stronger qualities than he has
heretofore been credited with. Even more
artistic. although not so SNOWY, was the
Jenkins Handy of Mr.. E. NJ. Holland. He
is known as one of the best character ac-
tors on the stage and his Capt. Redwood
in Jim, the Penman," is well remembered.
''The Social Highwayman" is marked, al
though both are criminals. but in different
spheres of life. The devotion of Handy to
his master. who has given him the the OPP
portunity Of living in a respectable way
after he has served term in prison. is
touchingly portrayed. He discovers Jaf-
frey's method of living, and when the
Sonora Caprices is about to bring ruin
and exposure to him, Handy. from his
knowledge of the woman's past life, brings
her to terms and silences her. In this
scene Mr.. Holland does some of the best
work In his career. Cool calculating, ap-
brings the woman to acknowledge her own
crime in the most artistic manner. The
curtain call he received at this point was
just and spontaneous tribute to his work.
He makes the character consistent
throughout. and one leaves the theater
thinking more Of Handy than of any other
part in the play. The supporting company
is unusually good. the Sonora Caprices Of
Miss Oliver being remarkably well sus-
tanned, as well as the Elinor Burnham of
Miss Bertha Creighton. Mrs Mckee Ran
kin and Mrs. E. NJ. Eberle have but little
to do. but do that well. and Miss Laura
MacGiloray does a bright bit of work as
Dora La Fargo. while Miss Ethel Douglass.
as Mrs. Deane. Is very effective in the spir
itualistic seance. Messrs. ]. ]. Shaw, VIM.
Norris. Lawrence Eddinger and R,ev. Cot
ton, who form the male contingent are all
easy and natural and sustained their parts
we'll
field viii continue to manage them during
this entire season.
Grand Opera House.-Miss Gladys Wallis.
pretty as a rosebud and sparkling as a
sunbeam. has stepped into the field of COM
edy and pathos which Maggie Mitchell and
Lolita cultivated SO assiduously for long
time. 1t would be misfortune. indeed. If
the stage were to lose 'Fanchon" and
Father Parbeau" and the rest who step
into the lives of q. certain class Of theater-
goers each year as regularly as Santa
Claus does into the juvenile existence. Miss
Wallis is charming little woman, who
has succee ded in overcoming the obscurity
Of small type in the theater program on
merits which have long been freely recog
nized. MIR. Frederick Pauldng. who holds
the leading position in the supporting cast,
is an actor of experience and force, and Is
a strong element in the attractiveness of
the performance. The story, with its deli
cacy, its old-fashioned heart interest and
its unaffected comedy, is enc which affords
peculiarly fitting environment for the
winsome little actress.
The National Theater-A popular conf
dence sufficient to insure against entire fail
rre would necessarily attach to the COM
Eined efforts of two such favoriteS Mr.
Francis Wilson and Sir Arthur Sullivan
The production of THE Chieftain'' at the
National Theater last night was less inter-
esting for it's fun and melody than
means Of bringing before the public come
dian who has so impressed himself that his
mere personality is welcome. The libretto
is by F. C. Burnaud, the editor Of Punch"
1t is matter of familiar note that Du
Maurier. also an attache Of that esteemed
journal, after years of endeavor as a maker
Of Indifferent pictures, turned out SPLEEN
did piece Of literature Possibly Mr.. Burnaud
after few more years of literary effort will
Startle the world Dy Drllllant DEBUT as
draughtsman. The opera Is beautifully Co.'S
TUNED and the scenery is rich. One of the
most interesting figures in the cast is Miss
Alice Holbrook, who dances very gracefully
and is new to the American stage. Miss
Christie Macdonald is a recent addition to
Mr.. Wilson's forces and a valuable one. Mr..
Rhys Thomas Is melodious, though not as
graceful as the ideal tenor should be, and
Miss Lulu Glaser handles some rather ambi-
tious music with sang froid. Mr.. Wilson
works conscientiously to secure laughs and
is successful in arousing considerable en-
thusiasm. But he seems much of the time
to be in the unenviable position Of a come
dian whose author has deserted him and
who is thrown on his own resources. In Sc
lecting 1.-The Chieftain'' for his present sea-
son Mr.. Wilson displayed that answering
desire to give the public the best available
material which has won him so enviable
rank rot only as comic opera star. hut as
comedian and an artist. In spite of its
lack of sprightly wit, the opera is attract
i've because Sir Arthur Sullivan wrote the
songs, because Mr.. Wilson plays the prin-
cipal part and because comic operas of even
ordinary merit are very scarce at the pres
ent time.
Academy CT Musc-""ToWn Topics"