Evening star., 1896-09-09
AMUSE MENTS.

"A Boy Wanted."-Chas. E. Blaneys
comedy. "A Boy Wanted" will hold the
boards all next week at the Grand Opera
House The comedy Is claimed by the
press and author to b. one of the most
Amusing comedies ever written. 1t is
brimful Of laughable situa tons, up -to-date
lires and music. introducing a number Of
laue liable hits upon the candidates for
the presidency. The management make
kI Iown the fact that it makes no difference
to the Boy Wanted Company whether gold
or silver wins the race. The thcater:-soing
people seem to come just the same, whether
they have gold or silver in their pockets,
and every one that comes to see "A Boy
Wanted will get sixteen laughs to the one
bcrs of the Boy Wanted Company are
about equally divided. one-half gold and
the other silver The gold half are con-
tinuaily being touched by the silver half
to buy sacks to put their silver bullion in,
as 1t Is impossible to find mints in all cities
where they can have their bullion coined
into the real thing.
Robert Downing-From present indlca-
ticns a large audience will be attracted to
the National Theater next Monday to wit
ness the first performance of the much
talked-of play. I'm Search Of Happiness"
The play is one that is bound to leave
lasting impression as noble and whole
some production. The character of the
heroine. which part will, of course. be
taken by Eugene Blair, is greatly to be
admired. Those who are familiar with the
works of Edward Dousard, the author of
I'm Search Of Happiness" need not to be
told that this brilliant writer does not
mince matters, and that he has never been
krown to sacrifice art. At the same time
the story proceeds in a manner that cam
not offend the more scrupulously disposed.
Intense and passionate as the love scenes
are, they exhale neither the fragrance of
the rose nor the intoxication of sin. The
IL hoy rndo fvp
picturesqueness Of effect and in its strong
human interest. In a word, it is sympa-
thetic from beginning to end. Another Pc
culiar CHARACTERISTIC of this play Is the
fact that the action does not drag The au-
thor has a story to tell. and he tells 1t
with brilliancy. directness and force. Mr..
Downing's part Is said to be one that will
afford him fullest scope for his abilities,
and the supporting characters are all we'll
drawn. With Lines Of high literary excel
lence, with incidents Of dramatic force
following each other in swift succession,
with scenery that is picturesque and with
costumes that are rich and effective. Mr..
Downing thinks he has a play that should
warmly appeal to the public. The ad-
vance sale of seats is now going on.
blue MANY old-time thea ater-
goers have been attracted by the name OF
Miron Letfingwell on the bills of the Bijou
Theater this week, for 1t Is one which
brings up memories of early-day dramatic
doings in the capital city. OF course they
soon realize that the present bearer Of the
name must be a descendant Of the elder
Leffingwell who years ago used to cater
to the amusement loving public, and such
is the case, the present Miron being son
Of the famous comedian of generation
ago. He took his first steps on the stage
under the tuition Of his father, although he
leans to the heroic rather than the comic.
The younger Letfingwell is also building Up
quite reputation as writer as well as an
actor of plays. 1.-The Hand Of Fate" is not
his only venture. for he has had half q
dozen plays successfully launched, some Of
which are still playing to profitable busi-
| ness One of the earliest and most popular
of these, under the attractive title, "Blue
Grass" will be the bill at the Bijou 1ext
week, when Mr.. Lettingwell and his wife,
known to her many Washington friends as
Miss Ettte Darling of Anacostia, will again
be seen in the principal roles.
Fields and Hanson's Drawing Cards.
Manager Kernans attraction at the Ly-
ceum for next week will be Fields and
HanSonS Drawing Cards one OF the best
known high-class vaudeville organZa ons
in existence. Manager Fields has this sea-
son gathered together an exceptionally
strong coterie of "stars." They are indi-
vidual leaders in their respective lines, and
the entertainment presented by them is en-
joyable and interesting from the rise to the
fall of the curtain. Among the names on
the program are Fields and Hanson, the
monarchs of musical comedy: Joe Flynn,
the premier parOdist and the man who
started the world singing Down Went Nc
Ginty; Blccksom and Page. the eccentric
acrobatic comedians Annie Hart singer of
| catchy songs: Dryden and Mitchell ira
vesty stars par excellence; Stinson and
Merton, refined sketch artists; Fred Val
more. the Australian novelty worker; Sena-
tor Frank Bell. just few remarks on gold
and silver. and Genaro and Bailey, expert
dancers The performance will conclude
with roaring sketch introducing the EN-