The evening times., 1895-10-01
Brilliant Audience Witnessed Miss
Russell in "Tzigane."
Plays of the Week at the Other The
aters Are Good and the Houses
Were Excellent.

| Is due the plea SAINT frame OF mind in which
| the great audience accepted the splendid
! playhouse. At the same time the beauti
| ful surroundings. the pleasing harmony OF
color ond lights, had prepared the way for
| that charming actress and the excellent
| company which surrounds her, and it was
| an easy task to win the good graces OF
| the house. Be IL said to the credit OF those
behind the fOotlghts, however, that this
| condition was not necessary. Too many
| successes have fallen TO the career of Miss
Russell for her to be influenced by
eNtraneOLs surroundings, but she was as
sure'lly at her best when she faced the fash
ionable throng, which from orchestra to
the topmost gallery filled the building.
The opening partOok much or Il social
character. Visits frcm loge to logc, chat
ting groups in the wide aislcs and lobby
We're the thing, and society just home from
mountain and sea exchanged greetings
and complimented the beautiful theater
which is destined to see many more such
gatherings.
Miss RUSSELL has had prettier operas
than ''TZigaue." In fact, Mr.. De Koven
has pcnDcd swccter stores than This Rus
sian conglomeration, but it is in 4 measure
tuneful. pleasing while it lasts, and gor-
geously costumed. In this last par
ticuIar n essrs. Abbey schocffcl and Gran
have maintained their reputation.
'TZigane' hints here and there of lines
you have heard before. There are snatches
of melody that seem familiar. but through
il all runs the weird, strange strain. which
is distnctively Russian, and gives il its
originality.
Some of the concerted numbers are
splendid, particularly two. which carry
the refrain of the Russian national anthem
and were splendidIy rendered by the
strong chorus.
Miss Rnssell's Vera is like Miss Rus
-s.Ir-
and peculiarly herself. Superbly dressed,
thoroughly self-posscssed, and fascinating,
il is possessed of all those attributes which
have brought her to the front rank in light
opera. Her voice is as of old. She prob
ably does not take the liberties with it
she once did. but the opera calls for
little which would require an effort.
The jewel of the opera is sweet little
song in the second act, the refrain of which
is Love will come and love Will GO" IL is
very De Kovenesque and touched with the
ballasilikeairs of Robin Hood This, with
duet between Vera and CasaiDir. which
was well sung by Mr.. Edwin Hoff, are the
best songs in 'Tzgane."
Few of the other characters call for
much. Miss Flora Finlayson costumed and
sang Maryska very pleasingly, and in her
one solo received all encore.
Miss Marie Ceieste's Ninetta was cute
and clever.
Comedy men were present three deep.
That extremely narrow gentleman, Mr..
Joseph Herbert. has one OF his original
creations. and Mr.. Fred Solomon was as
clever as Charles Wayne in their respective
parts of Gen. Buguslaw and Varsili-
As for the chorus ii was all that coulti be
desired. Careful training was evidenced
in the smoothDess and precision OF the
songs, marches and dances.
The audience was III a mood TO be liberal
and the applause was frequent and sincere.
True, for the greater portion of the first
act there Wa a lack OF responsiveness, but
when Miss Russell finally secured the OPP
portunity, this condition melted, and a
thorough sympathy was established
when the curtain fell on the second act.
the charming actress was compelled To shoN
her thanks and finally responded i'll a neat
little speech of thanks.
Then the udience demanded Mr. Aibaugh,
and be told them OF his life's ambition TO
own theater in Washigton, and his emot ion
at seeing that ambition fulfilled.
Warm applause gave him promise Eat
support would be his and he bowed him.
self off the stage.
For rolickng. jolly, laugh-provokiDg
melangc of sense, wit and nonsense no play
or its Kind has been presented in Washing
ton for a long time which has been quite so
satisfactory as Little Christopher OF
course, the hero is supposed TO have some
semblanceO of the big Christopher who playetr
soimportant part in Americas discovery,
but he is a very much descended descendant
of that immortal sailor, and thoroughly
merican.
Little Christopher is a musical, dane
ing. fantastic burlesque, in which William
Collier has a fine opportunity TO exhibit
his talent as a comedian, Miss Bertha Waring
her singing AMI specialties, Miss Johnston a
pretty things as Little Christopher,
and Alexander Clarke, John W. Wilson,
Harry McDonough, as the Irish widow, and
Louise A lien, as Spanish dancing girl.werc
all as successful in their parts as any one.
could wish.
Master Dan Mcclellan, Mabel Clarke,
Nettje Syford, Marie Baldwin, Susie Hale,
and Willie Norton Were also immensely en-
The specialties are unusually
good. The cOstuming and scenery are brill
jant and artistic
When Frank Mayo produced ''Davy
Crockett" it was thought that that sterling
actor had reached the pinnacle of his |
dramatic art, in presenting to the public |
4 character so thoroughly original Mayo !
and ..Davy Crockett have been so closely |
identified with each other for the past |
quarter of a century that the two have |
almost become synonymous. |
For years Mr.. Mayo has patiently waited |
replace "Davy Crockett" and it was not |
until Mark Twain wrote "Pudd'Dhead |
Wilson" that he realized he had a worthy |
successor to the character of the ideal |
backwoodsman.
Judging from the impression made upon |
the large audience at the Grand Opera |
House last night, he has stepped into a
richer, ripper, and more artistic success
than that which attended his former
triumph.
Mr.. Mayo has dramatized Mark Twain's
story in such way that all the strong |
points of the narrative are brought out
and so woven as to give them the greatest
dramatic interest. One of the strongest
scenes of the play is the one laid at the
Did ruined mill, where Roxy, the negro
slave, discloses to William Driscoll, the
true relation she bears to him. The climax
at the end of the play, where Pudd'nhead
traces the story of a crime by means Of
the thumb prints upo nglass, and finally
places the guilt where it rightfully belongs,
Is an admira Bile piece of stage work.
All of the company supporting Mr.. Mayo
are particularly good in their respective
parts. Miss Eleanor Noretti, as the slave
Roxy; Frances Graham, as the charming
Rowy; Mr.. Frank E. Aiken, as the proud,
,hivalrous Southern judge; and Mr.. Newton
chiswell, as droll Sheriff Blake, were all
we'll drawn stage pictures.
The white Rat" as presented at the
Academy of, Music last night, is a play |
hat at once commends itself on account of
Is originality. 1t occupies field of its
,wn in the realm of comedy drama, and init
he author, R. n. Stephens, has depicted
'arious scenes in New York city life to
which the public is accustomed. The views