Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-08
ANfFSEMENTs.

baugh's, Mime Sans Gene" made her first
appearance in America, and within a week
grew to a glorious young womanhood.
Then she went out into the world, and now
returns to US almost mature, and with
grace and perfection which charm all be-
holders. Miss Kathryn kidder, with more
than the usual courage of woman, took
this play as her own, risking all it, and
1t Is more than gratifying that the results
have justified her business and artistic
sagacity. At its first presentation, her
manager. MIR. Pitou, excelled himself in the
richness OF the settings and the perfection
and accuracy of detail. and with superior
cast. including Miss kidder in the title role,
Mr.. Cook as Napoleon, Mr.. Russell as Lee
1ebvre, MIR. Hackett as de Neipperg, Mr..
Shaw as Fouche, Mr.. Plunkett as Des-
preaux and others no less meritorious,
though subordinate, 1T was made possible
to bring the play to an unusually high
degree Of dramatic perfection. The per-
fCrmance last night, attended by great
audience, showed the benefit OF its month
or more OF practice, and whatever neWness
may have been observed during the first
week has almost. ii not entirely, disap-
peared, leaving complete and rounded
production that pleaseS no less in the
authors conception Of the characters or
the play than by the intelligent interpre-
tation of them by the players. The thous-
ands OF friends Mime. Sans Gene made
uuIlHS TIC lIISl engagement hdSC boOh
augmented by other thousands, and the
second week in Washington will be greater
than the first.
National Theater-One of the compare
lively few theatrical occasions that can be
called noteworthy is the appearance of
Francis Wilson in comic opera. While there
are many comic operas, many extrava-
ganZaS and many farce comedies, one or
two organizat tons stand forth unchalleng-
ed as the representatives of what is really
entitled to intelligent consideration. 1t Is
Mr.. Wilson's good fortune-or perhaps it
were more just to say his reward for an
industrious exercise of energy and ability
to be recognized as distinctly a leader in
the domain of lyric humor. In his an
nouncements he promises comic opera pure
and simple. He shuns the temptation to
disarm criticism by presenting his operas
under the apologize titles of "extrava-
ganZa" or 'burleSque." His methods are
mainly legitimate, and when he essays
horse play it is as a concession. and not as
piece de resistance. The Devlis Depu-
ty'' is an adaptation which tells a coherent
story and develops situations possessing
both dramatic interest and the elements OF
comedy. The music, by Jakobowski, is not
unworthy of that composers reputation
1t is substantial in it's themes. and, to
great extent, original in treatment. The
suffering song, which Mr.. Wilson sings, is
gem in its way, and the ballad rendered
by Rhys Thomas In the second act is sub
stantial in it's character and pleasing to
the ear. Lulu Chaser as a soubrette made
good impre sion to start with and i'm
proves on acquaintance. She made the
role of Elverine. the betrothed OF tho sim
pie innkeeper, unprecedented by Mr.. wilson,
enc of the most attractive of the cast. j.
c. Miron, the baSso, displayed an excellent
voice to advantage and gave spirited por-
trayal of the gruff military man, ana jose
phine Knapp was sprghtly and agreeable
as his wife. The performance is, it is al
most needless to remark, splendidly mount
ed. The costumng is rich to the degree of
gorgeousness, and the scenery beautiful
without any relapse into bizarre sxtraVa-
gances. The scene representing noun
tain inn in Hesse, then showing the park
of the palace, and the last showing that
immediate surroundings of the palace,were
splendid specimens of stage settings.
But the audience is. after all, the most
important feature of any performance. The
reception given this opera last night was
a complete refutation of the old contention
that legitimate effects in comic opera are
not universally acceptable The lower por-
ton of the house showed unmistakaDie ap-
probation, and the gods on high bestowed
a vociferous benediction AT the close OF
the second act Mr.. Wilson was called be-
fore the curtain four times, but modestiy
resisted the pressure brought to bear on
him to make a speech.
Academy.-Mr. VIM. Hoey, classically
known as "Old Hoss, Bin Hoey," with Mr..
John G. Rice on the side. appeared at the
Academy last night in a musical farce-com-
edy called THE Flans.' which title is an
aDDr6NlallON Oh lltnluSO, tHe SUlIldIliC
of Mr.. Rice ard Mr.. Hoey, who are broth
ers in the very diaphanous plot. which is
filed out with great number OF excellent
SpecialtieS in song and dance. The house
was one of the largest of the season, and
when Mr.. HOey appeared the applause was
tumultuous, and it was more or less so all
through the play. Mr.. Rice, in his Airy
Fairy Lillian manner,very felicitously con-
trasts the more muscular type of Mr..
Hoeys comedy, and the combined effect is
a pronounced success. OF course, the play
is not quite worthy of Sardou or a How
ard, nor III music quite UP to the Gilbert
and Sullivan standard. but it goes with a
rush, and that is what they have it for.
Among the specialtes, Miss Simpsons
piano playing. the eccentric dancing of the
Merilees sisters, the pas de deux of
Mr.. Rice and Miss Merilees, the quintet
chorus, the negro dancing of Willie Hersey,
the solo of Mr.. Renwick, Mr.. Hoey's va
rious feature antics were received with
great favor. In the third act the living
pictures in caricature were very funny.
Gen. Wallace's Lecture.-Those who went
to Metzerott Hall last night were disap-
pointed in not hearing Gen. Lew Wallace
read selections from Ben Hur' or his
Prince of India" Gen. Wallace desired
the gathering to select a topic for the lee
ture, and mentioned several which it would
be convenient for him to discuss. Turkey
and the Turks was chosen by one lady,
and he selected that. He opened with an
expression of his disbelief of the reports
spired by the ruler of Turkey. He spoke of
the sultan as a humane man, far from a
tigot or imbecile. Gen. Wallace also warm
ly defended the character of the Turkish
people, and related much of his experience
while United States minister to that
country.
Boston Symphony Orchestra.--The Bos-
ton symphony Orchestra will give it's third
concert at MetZerott Music Hall this even
ing. The program will be made up entire
ly Of excerpts from the music dramas of
Richard Wagner, given in chronological
order The beauties of these great operas
will be fully exemplited at the hands of
this splendid organization, and this con-
cert will afford a rare opportunity of hear
ing an adequate performance of many of
the gems from these immortal works. The
vocal numbers will be sung by Miss Elsa
Kutscherra, prima donna soprano from the
Royal Opera, Dresden, and Mr.. Anton
Schott. The program, which has already
been given, includes selections from fri
enzi," 'Tannhaeuser," Flying Dutch
man." 'Lohengrin,' "Meistersinger,"
"Rheingold," die Walkure,' ''Siegfried'
and "Gotterdammerung."
Odd Fellows Han:-Prof. Carpenters
second week at Odd Fellows Hall opened
with a large audience and all enjoyed his
lectures upon hynotism. The experiments
introduced were interesting and most Of
them furnished great amount of amuse-
mept