Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-05-07
ADJUSTMENTS.

audience and a double bill. The curtain
rose on Peace at Any Price," a ons-act
farce, with Miss Maude White and Mr..
Shirley making their initial appearance and
creating a favorable impression, notwitn-
standing the very amateurish style Of farce
Peace at Any Price is. Following came
the four-act comedy drama Of "Monseig-
neur," with Mr.. Bond in the title role, as
the chief Of the band of Bohemians, and
jolly, good-natured sort of Monseigneur
he Is, with the figure and the blonde whis-
kers of Octave, Due de Vigney, in "Aris-
tocracy," and much the same manner and
motion and meditation of voice. Mr.. Find
lays Lamartiller was one of the best things
he has ever done; Mr.. William Boag as Mar
tial, the jewelers. apprentice, in a new
sphere, but the merit of him showed itself
at once. Mr.. Abbe's Ladoucine was an
other good thing well done. Miss Curry as
Ftdeline Mrs Findlay as Blind Meg, and
the other ladies of the cast were, as usual,
equal to the demands upon them. AS yet
the components Of the company are not
quite accustomed to each other in the new
parts they are taking, but they are all
artists of more than ordinary ability, and
they are quick to adapt themselves and
quick to bring out of a part or a play ell
there Is in it, and in many instances to do
more for it than the author himself has
oone In this regard the company of ac-
tors Messrs. Shaw and Bradford have
most of the companies whose fame has been
heralded all over the country.
New National Theater.-As might be
readily imagined from its title, Mr.. Wilson
Barretts new play, "Tbe Sign of the
Cross presented for the first time in
Washington last night at the National. is
not play of sweetness and light The
cross is heavy upon it, and the gloom and
the glory of the Christian martyrs en-
shroud it as in a pail. Yet, it is great
I he ola TO
which, by somewhat different handling,
perhaps, would make a greater play. Its in
cidents occur during the time of that Ro-
man darkness and dread when Nero, the
devil of debauchery and destruction, made
war upon the decent world and vented his
wrath upon the Christians in Rome and m
his whole kingdom. The play is presented
from the Christian side, the side of sorrow
and suffering, and in 1t all there is scarce
a ray of light, unless 1t be the light Of the
smile or the martyrs as they go forth to
their death by fire and torture and wild
beasts. glad If they may die In the cause
of the Master. Mr.. Barrett 0he writer OF
the play, by the way assumes the char
acter of Marcus Superbus. Project Of Rome,
friend of Nero's, and. against his will, in
love with the Christian maid. Merca (AIiss
Maud JeffrieS) He loves her in spite of
himself, and strives to make her love him
in return, but she loves her religion more,
and repels all his ADVANCES, until the end
comes, when Marcus asks her to be his
wife and be saved by renouncing her re-
Hgion. She confesses her love, but Is firm
In her faith, and hand in hand the Chris
tlan maid and the converted pagan project
go through the flames to DEATH glorying in
the sign of the cross. OF the cast a very
strong and realistic part was that of the
boy Stephanus Miss BoswelD, tortured on
the rack and scourged, and. at last, given
to the lions. MIR. Manning. Gladro had
the only comedy part,and he did it extreme
ly we'll Miss Hoffman's Berenice was done
with spirit and effect, and Miss Debray
made an imperial empress wife of Nero
(Mr. Bottom, who made the emperor appear
as vile wretch he was. With stage
settings and scenic effects the play is re-
plete, and they constitute no small part of
It's power. There were repeated curtain
calls at the close of the second act aud at
the close of the play Mr.. Barrett made
quite lengthy speech in denunciation of
the present dramatic taste, and in defense
of an elevation of the stage. He was ap-
plauded enthusiastically.
Academy of Music.-The double bill. in
Guiding "Cavalleria Rusticana" and II
Pagliacci,' at the Academy of Music last
night made most gratifying entertain
melt. The principal roles were enacted
with fervor and sung with a spirit which
presented these two gems of operate COM
position in setting wholly worthy of
them The chorus, too, worked with more
animation than before, and has a substan-
tial claim to share in the credit for the
eminently successful manner in which the
second week of the Hinrichs company's
engagement was inaugurated. Koert-Kron-
old sang with brilliancy in both operas.
Michelena, in Cavalleria Rusticana was
admirable. The orchestra achieved an en-
core on the in termeZZo. Strong as Cayal-
leria is, Pagliacci is far stronger 1t is
poetic masterpiece as well as an able mu-
steal composition, and the three characters
which form its chief strength We're acted
and sung by kronold, Del Papa and Cam
panari in manner which did not allow
the intensity of the tragedy to subside for
a moment. Del Papa's success in the part
of Canio was unmistakable, the enthusiasm
over his song at the close of the first act
being such as to demand a repetition. The
Introduction of the prologue, which dis
tinguishes "Pagliacci," enabled Campan-
ari to score an enthusiastic recall before
the curtain actually went up on the per-
formance. Mr.. Warwick Ganor proved
reliable member of both casts; and Mr.
Chas. Storey was competent as Beppe, in
"Pagliacci."
Buffers Bijou Theater-Owing to the
non-appearance of Mr.. James Wallick, who
was booked at the Bijou last night as the
hero in The Bandit King" there was a
change of program Dixons version of
Tom Sawyer" was substituted and not
withstanding the lack of rehearsal, the
company acquitted itself creditabIy. AS
Tom Sawyer Alexander Gourley kept the
audience in roars of laughter. Master Dunn
essayed the role of Huckleberry Finn, and
won applause. VIM. Bonnelle as Judge
Sawyer was amusing, as was Martin J.
Dixon in the dual role of the drunkard and
the grocer. Inc strong emotional part of
Beckie Stubs was taken by Miss Ruth
Stahl. and she did 1t well. During the
fourth act Irene Franklin, a wee tot, sang
several selections in a taking manner
Tom Sawyer" will be continued through
out the week
Kernan's Lyceum Theater.-The enter
tanment presented by the Watson Sisters
Burlesque Company at Kernan's last night
was one of the best of the season. Many
new acts are introduced during the per-
Torrance, and there are several old favor
ties who never fail to make hit. "a Re-
ception Royal is the curtain raiser, and
is a good medium of exhibiting the strength
of the company. The ladies are numerous
and pretty, and the costuming new and
pleasing. Gallagher and West are always
entertaining. and Watson and Dupre made
a decided hit. Williams and Barton earn
ed the title of knockabout kings and Hat
tie Stewart and Tommie Gilen contributed
an up-to-date sketch with some clever
sparring thrown in. Whittle was most en-
tertaining, and his ventriloqustic powers
are marvellous. The original bronze statues
posed gracefully, and very funny and
meritorious afterpiece, "On the Bowery,"
concluded the entertainment. Again to-
night.
1.-The War of the Roses."-In the war of
the roses between the houses of York and
Lancaster the house of York, symbolized