Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-31
AMUSEMENTs.

ment at the Lafayette Square Opera House
last night foretold a brillancy for his sea-
son in this city which will not be eclipsed
by any of his former visits, conspicuously
| successful as they have been. A large au-
dience accepted 1.-The Story of Rodion the
Student" an adaptation from several fic-
tional sources, by Mr.. Charles Henry Melt
ger, in faith, and so far as the artistic quail
tiles of Mr.. Mansfield's performance are
concerned, there was no reason for disap-
po!ntment The drama Is announced as "a
| serious play" and there is no gainsaying
the adjective. AS a neral lesson the piece
may be regarded as effectual. the doctrine
that the perpetrator of murder Is likely
to suffer a great deal of mental and physi-
cal inconvenience being very clearly en-
phasized. In the desire to afford the actor
with opportunities for "repressed' emotion
there has been certain disposition to mis-
take the commonplace for the sublime The
play is unrelieved by a single ray of sun
shine, and there is not the literary ele-
gance in language which would be needed
to make the work consistent poem which
Its subject demands that 1t should be. But
In spite of its unqualified gloom and its
not infrequent lapses into mediocrity, the
play is one which stimulates thought, and
which cannot but be remembered as a
praiseworthy venture on a lofty plane of
dramatic art. AS Rodion Mr.. Mansfield
showed how completely he has mastered
preston. The cast, as 1t appears on the
pr ogram, is noteworthy as including Miss
Beatrice Cameron and Miss tombstone Ben
nett but neither actress appears to espe-
cial advantage on the stage.
Grand Opera House-It is Tim Murphy's
Texas Steer now. OF course. Chas. Hoyt
has lost none of the credit that he SO richly
deserved for constructing this remarkably
clever farce. but Tim Murphy has identi-
fled himself SO thoroughly with the play
Maverick
Brander SO indelibly with his trademark
that 1t is most appropriate now that he
should own the play and produce it ION his
own hook" as Bossy would say. So it was
fitting that Tim and his excellent company
should be greeted last night by a great
audience, although the weather was enough
to make the managerial heart grow faint.
The people were all happy and expressed
their emotions freely. 1t was a night to
make Tim glad that he is a Washington
ian, and there was enough enthusiasm to
force him to respond to a curtain recall at
the end of the first act. The company was
in hearty sympathy with the star, especial
ly Miss Dorothy Sherrard, who has more
than mere salaried interest In the success
of Mr.. Murphy's present venture. being his
matrimonial partner. She took the role of
Bossy Brandey admirably, and her inper-
sCnat!on was bright and womanly through
cut Other parts were well taken, as fol-
lows: Charles Hallock as Capt. FarleiSh
Bright. Mr.. Charles Allison as Christopher
Columbus Fishback, the would-be minister
to Dahomey; Mr.. Wallace Jackson as
Brassey Gall, Miss Charlotte Crane as the
In llama orphan, and Miss Lizzie Du Ray as
Mrs. Brander. A quartet in black face did
excellent work that was highly appreciated.
National Theater-That was an S r. O.
audience at the National last night and it
was as fine to look at as it was extensive
1t isn't usual to find any part of an all-
dience standing during the entire perform
ance, but that was the case last night, and
Della FoXs Comic Opera Company, in an
American lied version of Chivot and Durus
"F1eur-de-Lis," was the attraction. This
is a three-act opera, handsomely staged,
and presented with great principals and
chorus equal to the musical demands
upon 1t, and good to look at In face, figure
and costume. The music of it is not melo-
dlous exactly, but there are airs in it that
we hear whistled, and there are one or two
with lively movements that make the toes
tingle. OF course. the interest centered in
the star, Miss Della Fox, always vivacious
and audacious, bat the uproarious fun of
1t gathered about jefferson De Angels. as
the Marquis. and ALI. Whelan. as the
Count. To Mr.. De Angels the greatest
credit is due, for he made of his Marquis
one of the funniest, If not the funniest
comic opera characters we have known in
a long time. Mr. Stewards Frederick is
handsome to the eye, as his voice is pleas
ing to the ear, and very pretty and at
tractive sweetheart is she - Miss Villa
Knox as Isabel-whom he rejects for the
one he loves. the Fleur-de-lis of Miss Fox
Kate TART, bride to CNristopher-NIr
Chas. ]. Campbell. All the other characters
are we'll taken and the entire effect of
music, scene and action is emnently salts
factory
Academy of Music.-Everybody who
missed the Shadows of a Great City at
the Academy of Music last highland a
good many missed it-missed a play that
moves the masses and stirs the human
emotions to their depths. 1t is a great
melodrama, set in scenery that is not only
beautiful artistcally. but remarkable me
chemically. Noticeable in the production is
the evident superiority of the mounting OF
the play and the cast of characters.
Kernan's Lyceum Theater.-Weber and
Fields Own Specially Company was the
attraction at Kernan's last night and, de-
spite the bad weather, a. large audience
witnessed the excellent performance pre-
sented. Headed by those sterling favor
ties, Weber and Fields, the program is
long and entertaining. The German Sena-
tors are known all over the country and
their new creation, THE Scheutzen Fest"
was a clever conceit, and showed the COM
edy abilities of the two to advantage Billy
Emerson, the peer of minstrelsy, did a
clever turn and sang some new songs, full
of local hits. Then there is Lottie Gibson
the bright soubrette whose contribution of
new songs proved fetching. James F. Hoey
outdid himself, and sang a number of new
songs and told many jokes that won him
several encoreS The Acme Four essaved
a neat comedy sketch that proved enter
tanning. and the Blacksmith Trio added
new laurels to their reputation. Marietta
and Beloni exhibited a trained flock of
cockatoos, and Lavender and Johnson per-
formed a good character act A special
matinee has been arranged for New Year
day.
His Wife's Father.-Crane and his COM
pany appeared in P!ttsburg last night,
where they presented HIS W:fe's Father
for the first time. The comedians popu-
lar3ty was attested shortly after the seats
for his appearance were placed on sale by
the way in which they were purchased. The
company to be seen in the actors support
in this city next week is sad to be an ex-
cept.onally well-balanced one. Among its
members are Annie ONe:ll Edwin Arden,
who is a newcomer to the Crane forces, and
Joseph Wheclock, jr.
Cole Has Surrendered.
Information concerning the surrender to
raalI-. hon tiL.r IL