Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-29
ADJUSTMENTS.

AMUsEMENTs.
Lafayette Square Opera House.-It is in
teresting to watch the development of a
young actors powers and to note the i'm
provement in his methods and the increase
in his forcefulness with each succeeding
engagement. This applies to Mr.. Creston
Clarke, who commenced his second star
ring engagement in this city last night at
the Lafayette Square Opera House. He
was greeted by large and intelligent au-
dience and his Hamlet was followed closely
by those who were familiar with Shake
speare's greatest work and many of whom
had seen the title role Interpreted by the
young actors famous uncle. Edwin Booth.
Mr.. Clarke resembles his uncle In appear
the same lines as Mr.. Booths although
there Is enough of change to show That ne
thinks for himself and has original ideas
He has improved since he was here two
years ago, showing that he is constant
student. He looked the traditional Hamlet
and his youth and grace gave a charm to
his impersonation. He did excellent work
in the scene with Ophelia, when he ex-
hibited a tenderness that was touching and
effective and more than made up for some
carelessness by the forceful manner in
which he rendered the closet scene with
his mother. Mr.. Clarke's enunciation is a
trifle indistinct at times, but as general
rule his lires were delivered with earnest
and intelligent meaning. Miss Adelaide
Prince has a charming appearance and
looked very sweet in the mad scene, but
she is the only one who approaches Mr..
Clarkes standard. j. L. Carhart as
Polonius, Mr.. Owen as Laertes and Her
bert Pattee as Horatio were of about equal
merit, neither being up to the mark. or
the rest of the company the least said the
better The scenery was exceptionally at
tractive and the music incidental to the
as opera of Hamlet Tonight Mr..
Clarke will present THE FOOLS Revenge"
Aliens Grand Opera House.-Melba. the
famous soprano, whom many critics think
has voice fully equal to that of Patti in
her palmiest days. will be heard at Aliens
Grand Opera House tonight. This will be
the first appearance Of this prima donna IN
concert in this city, and great interest at
taches to the event. She has only been
heard here once, and that was during the
Abbey, Schoeffel & Grau opera season last
spring, when she was handicapped by her
surroundings and did not appear at her
best. Now she comes free and untram-
meled, under the management of Mr.. c. A.
Ellis. who has engaged good people Tor her
support. Melba is announced to sing the
brilliant aria from the first act of Travi-
ata,'' Marguerite in the third and fifth
acts from Faust and the mad scene from
Lucia di Lammermoor." In the operate
acts she will be assisted by Nine. Scalchi
as Siebel; Mile. Bauermeister, Martha; Sig.
DAubigne, Faust. and Sig. Campanari,
Mephistopheles. All these will also be
heard in concert numbers to advantage
and a good orchestra is promised under
the leadership of Mr.. Landon Roland.
New National Theater.-The man who
writes purpose play" Is necessarily more
or less of cynic. He is dissatisfied with
the existing order of things and is moved
to express his sentiments on the manners
and customs of mankind, judiciously sugar.
coating the pill of his disapproval with cpl
gram or melodrama as the conditions may
suggest. If the sugar-coating is heavy
enough to obscure the reformatory rhu-
barb as it is in the case of 1.-The Masquer-
aders,' the play will survive and be a
valuable addition to the limited stock of
stage presentations which, besides pleasing
pabulum for the thoughtful The company
which appeared at the New National The
alter last night is. one of extraordinary
strength. William FaverSham is one of
the most successful matinee villains of the
present dramatic period. He performs the
role of the totally depraved husband with
ability and at a personal physical risk which
denotes no small devotion to his art. few
more seasons in the character of Sir Bryce
Skene will surely leave him a doddering
victim of the cigarette habit. He also
Shoots his cuffs as the phrase has it,
and. indeed, neglects none of the traits by
which this most interesting and fascinating
manner of man is recognizable. Miss Viola
Allen plays the part of the beautiful, ILL
treated wife in way which invests 1t with
all the attributes of grace and refinement
which the authors meaning calls for, and
Mr.. Henry Miller is an actor of such un-
assuming capability that the auditor al
most forgetS to award him the generous
applause which is undoubtedly his due. so
quiet is his method and assiduously have
we been educated to wait for some clap
trap signal frCm author or player for a
burst of enthusiasm on the part of the pub
lie. 1t is a great pleasure to watch the
offn rfc of eli on a nj r1ra
which would be enhanced If he would curb
a certain elocutior airy idiosyncrasy which
leads him to buzz the letter he pro-
nounces it at the termination of a word.
To enumerate all the good qualities of the
cast would be an undertaking of some
length and not much utility, as it is a we'll
known fact that Charles Frohman seldom,
If ever. offers to Washington audience
any but a well-balanced company. The
problem of the play epitomized is this: Has
woman who is unloved and unloving in
her married life the right to give her life
to another man, even when her husband
has, so far as it is in his power to do so by
word and action, abs olved her from duty
to himself? After evolving this interesting
social conundrum in an elaborate and
highly interesting manner the author dis
creetly refruir s from any effort to provide
a solution.
and her company of comedians and singers
entertained a large audience at the Acad-
| envy of Music last evening in THE Bicycle
Girl" The play has no plot, and it is
| evident that plot is about the last thing
| intended by the author, but it is a vehicle
| for running before the audience two reign
| ing fads, the bicycle and the new woman
| Miss McHenry sang and danced herself in
| to complete favor. and as her company is
| strong one the performance met with
generous approval.
| Kernan's Lyceum Theater.-The enter.
| tainment at Kernan's this week is of the
| highest order. But this is always OF
| Hyde's Comedians, the company filling
| the weeks engagement there. The pro-
gram Is long, and in connection with the
old favorites there are many new faces
| The performance opens with a comedy
sketch by Harris and Walters, and Their
came Fannie Mora, a sister of Helene, who
sang several songs to the satisfaction OF
the audience. The Rays contributed a
| sketch full of fun. Polly Holmes has re-
gained her voice, and the Irish songs she
sang were executed with pleasing brogue
| The Days proved themselves masters oil
| the art of terpsichore, and the dance of the
demons was clever. Lester and McAvos
| sang several parodies of popular songs, anG
| kent the audience in good humor The