Evening star., 1896-03-14
AMusEMENTs.

Aliens Grand Opera House-"Gismonda. :"
in which Nine. Bernhardt was seen at AL
lens Grand Opera House last night, has
been made familiar to Washington theater
goers by the performances Of Miss Fannie
Davenport. The large audience that was
present last night therefore did not need
to be confined SO closely to the libretto
as on other evenings, and there was per-
haps more constant attention to the work
Of the players. The character Of Gismonda
was especially written by Sardou, the great
est French dramatist, for Bernhardt, the
greatest French actress, and the part ad-
mirably suits her methods and tempera-
ment. In every act Mme Bernhardt real
lied in speech and action the naughty
Due hess Of Athens, but the two scenes i'll
which she achieved her greatest triumphs
were that with Almerio in the third act
and the killing of Zaccaria in the first.
The man who saved the life Of her child
avows his love for the woman, not for
her wealth or rank or power, and demands
the fui1llment of Gismonda's vow to marry
him who should rescue her little son.
The various phases Of feeling Of the wo-
man who cannot but admire the bravery,
the audacity, the herOfsm of the man whom
she scorns and taunts, ard to whom she
finally yields, are splendidly depicted by
Nine. Bernhardt, and perhaps it was this
scene that impressed itself most forcibly on
the audience, for. the applause which fol-
lowed was enthusiastic to a high degree.
In the following act the murder Of Zacca-
ria. who had traced Gismonda to Almerio's 8
hut. was thrilling in its tragic intensity
Under the magnetic spell of Nine. Bern
hardts genius. it seems as if the last char
acter in which she is seen is better than
any which have gone before but even a
calm review of her work during the week
compels the belief that the roles in which
her powers have HI d greatest scope and in
which she will live longest in the memory
those fortuna a flrb IN how ,jo]
every performance, will be Gismonda, Ca
mile and Izeyl Tonight Mme Bernhardt
viii be seen in Racimes great tragedy
"Phedre."
During Bernhardts recent engagement
the incidental music was played by Mr.
angelo Z. Froman on the ce!esta in "Izeyr'
ana the organ in La Tosca" and "Gis-
monda.' Mr. Froman is one of Washing
ton musicians, and is an excellent accom-
panist
The Leslie Opera Company.-The coming
week Manager Allen will present at the
Grand Opera House the Leslie Opera Com
Iany, from the Lyric Thcater, London
England, in Alfred Golfers masterWork Of
tlonaily strong cast, including such prime
favorites as Chas. Bassett, tenor; David
torrance, baritone; Fred Marston basso
and Chas. Coote, comedian. In the female
roles Manager Leslie has drifted aWay
from the ordinary managers in the comic
opera field, for instead of selecting some
Weu-KnoE prima donna, he believes in new
vieux. who will be seen here in the role of
Dorothy, 1S said to be a beautiful wo-
man both in face and figure, and the pos
SCISSOR OF an exceptionally fine high So
prano voice. Miss Mabel Gardner a bright
young society girl Of Toronto, Canada
has scored decided hit in the second roles
and Miss Laura Denio of Brooklyn, an
extremely pretty and petite young artistic,
Is winning the hearts of all who see her
In the soubrette role Of Phyllis. Another
feature of this organization is the chorus
which has been selected with great care
the performance. the wonderful child
dancer, Little Ruby. will appear in a num-
Der of her own dance creations The COM
pany, on the whole, is considered one of
that have been put together since the for
nation of the Bostonians. This party
should prove a strong drawing card at
Aliens next week.
Lafayette Square Opera House-Monday
night Will be presented at the LAFAYETTE
Square Opera House a new play 1t is a
refined comedy, written by Mr.. Sydney
Rosenfcld, and called "A House of Cards -
The title IS derived from the struggles of
a fashionable Newport family to keep up
the ceremonies of the ultra-a rstocratic in
that place. The mother is fond. but fool
ish, and her society impulses drag the fam
iiy INTO network of debt. The hero of the
piece is a Well-bred young chap, without
family prestige or resources who is taken
up by a member of the smart set for the
double purpose of exploiting him in poll
ties and In his own select circle. The con-
hlct of ideas in these two schemes supplies a
goodly portion of the comedy and life of
the piece. Mr.. Frank Worthing, until late
ly leading man In Mr.. Augustin Daly's
stock company, will undertake this char
acter; Miss Maxine Elliott, also until late
ly member of Mr.. Daly's company will
appear in the role of younger sister, full
OF wholesome spirit and pride. without af-
fectation. and possessed of candor and
sense of humor which is non-assertive and
delightfully."- natural. There are fifteen char
acters in the play, among which are few
eccentric types, which keep up ripping
current to the finish of the story. Mr..
Rosenfeld is said to have been at work on
this piece for over two years. 1t is seldom
that so many valuable names in a theater
world are found together on the same pro-
gram as are given in this list to interpret
this new play. The following Is the COM
plete cast Miss Maxine Elliott, Mr. Frank
Worthing, Miss Henrietta Crossman Mr.
Edgar L. Davenport, Mrs. Thos. l.. Barry,
Mr.. f. F. Mackay, Miss Kate Lester, Mr..
Grant Stewart Miss Kate Oesterle Mr.
Frazer Coulter, Miss Maud Monroe. Mr.. c.
F. Craig, Mr. Campbell Gollan, Miss Isabel
Haskins, Mr.. Ivar Selma and Mr.. Cecil
Magnus.
New National Thea ater-The attraction at
the New National Theater next week will
be THE Wizard Of the Nile.'
Academy or MuS1c.-"Ihe Great Diamond
Robbery" will be seen at the Academy of
Music next week.
kernan's Lyceum Theater.-Manager Ker-
mans attraction for next week will be the
famous Boston Howard Athenaeum Star
Speciality Company. This organization is
undoubtedly one of the most complete
in existence. The bright particular feature
of the program will be the appearance Of
Mile. Madeline Rosa, who comes direct
from the Empire Theater, London, and who
claims the distinction Of being the only lady
ventriloquist i'll the world. Other European
features are the Levinos, in their original
and unique entertainment entitled Rival
Arts kenno and Welch, the hot students,
who will make their first appearance in
this city. The American contingent in
cludes John E. Drew, the Celtic wit; Annie
Hart, In her telling impersonation of the
Bowery girl; Myer Cohen, CALIFORNIA; rep
resentative barytone, and Mulvey and In
man, in their delightful sketch, "After the
Opera" The performance concludes with
the comedy boomers, Hughes, Mcbride and
Walton, in their original comedy, 1.-The Ar
rival of McGuinnes." There will be matt
nees Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
The Stoddard Lectures.-To that consid-
cradle part of the community to whom
Stoddard lecture Is an indispensable fea-
ture of The seasons entertainments moth
Ing will give more pleasure than the an
nouncen1ent Of the return of John l.. Stod-
dard to this city, to give his new lee