Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-09-15
ADJUSTMENTS.

audience, too, that was unsparing In
Its applause Of the good turns, not crit
ical in regard to those not SO good, and
and one that enjoyed itself from the begin
ming of the farce to the end. The author
announced in the very beginning that there
was no attempt to follow out the lines of a
plot, and this frank admission pleased the
!. audience at once. Although the title of the
play Is in relation to boy being wanted.
there was the general impression among
those who saw 1T that Mr.. Henry Clay Bla-
ney left nothing to be wanted in his work.
He was prime favorite from the first,
ana made a hit every time he opened his
mouth or engaged in some funny little by
play. There is singing and dancing during
the course OF the farce that gives the aero
bats and other specially artists time to get
their wind, and altogether 1t Is very
pleasing conglomeration of nothingneSS
served up in excellent STYLE Among those
who pleased to the fullest extent were Ray
mon Finlay and Laura Bennett, who put one
very much in mind of Pete Daley and May
Florrie Evans, Lille Alwyn, George Lin
gard, Belle Tufts, Flo Nelson and Agnes
Palmer. Bryant and Saville gave a pleas
ing musical specially. and Tom Peasley a
monologue that tickled the audience from
the first. The different turns follow each
other in rapid succession, and each one re-
ce1ved the same unstinted, sincere APP
plause. The Boy" will be in evidence all
this week.
New National Theater.-There is always
an interest attaching to the first presenta-
ton of new play, and when that play is
upon severely classic lines, when the chief
actor is a WashinStonian whose career
upon the stage has been watched by those
who were his associates in his younger
days, and who feel pride in his success
the occasion Is one of more than ordinary
local interest Such was the case at the
New National Theater last night 1t was
the opening Of the season. there was the
HfSt presentation of new play, and the
chief actor was Mr.. Robert Downing
These three facts combined to attract an
audience that filled the theater and that
included many of the best citizens There
was also present large delegation Of the
Order of the Mystic Shrine. who. in fun
Gress suits and red fezzes, made striking
appearance The audience WAS kindly dis
posed, and the applause was exceedingly
generous, but even had 1t been keenly
critical Its admiration and approval would
have been compelled, not only by the beau
tiful diction of the drama, but by the ex-
ceilent acting of Mr.. Downing and his &C.
complished wife The title of the play is
I'm Search of Happiness" which, although
not extremely feicitous, expresses the
motive of the work, which is by Edouard
Dousard, and 1t deserves to rank with the
very best of American plays. Its effective
ness depends upon the way In which
HerVor, ConstanS and silva are portrayed,
and tie delneation of these characters by
Mr.. Downing, Eugene Blair and William
Bramwell was all that could be desired by
even the most critical of audiences. Mr.
Downing the Gaul, who is struggling
between love and honor and who is the
piaything of Siva's caprices and affection
was the ideal of the part and even his
most intimate friends were surprised at
MS work. Eugene Blair as the Greek
wife held her audience at all times and in
all scenes in which she appeared, and
added TO the part her own grace and in
telligence. Mr. Bramwell Constans was
n for -,
tfcn belongs to Mrs. Wrenn who received
unstintod applause for her work. The rest
OF the cast was up to the standard set by
the principals, and the play was staged
maSniiicently. The only changes to be sug-
gested are the elimination of the dance
which seems to be entirely foreign TO the
action, and the last two acts could be
pro!itably combined SO as not to give the
impression that the climax is being over
run. The incidental music to the produc-
ton was exquisite and was well rendered
the first act being made especially effective
by some chorus singing, in which the
Apollo Quartet of this city led OF course.
there were flowers and many curtain calls
and after the conclusion of act three both
Mr.. Downing and the author of the work
were compelled to make speeches. In
Search of happiness viii continue as the
bill until Friday night, when Mr.. Down
ing's Cleveland success, Putnam" will be
given.
Bijou Theater.-The Bijou under its now
as a first-class family theater, and in the
struggle this year for existence it will make
a bold bid for popular support If the
rule of the survival Of the fittest' prevails
Manager Nhitesell and tbs RIiou will be
very much in evidence. Thus far be has
provided his patrons with excellent at
fractions and those that are to come in
clude mary of the best attractions on the
road. Last night the Bijou presented
MIon LetingwelTs stirring drama, Blue
Grass" The play is by all od6s the best
yet written by this young playwright, and
commands the close attention of the au-
dience from the rise of the cartain. The
debut of Miss Jessie Darling, sister of Miss
Ellie Darling, marked the unde, taking of
a very clever actress, whose future is
full of brightness AS Lydia Brand a
Kentucky belle, she won deserved applause
and her pretty, vivacious face made captive
the large audience. The honors of the
performance belong to E:iie Darling and
Mron LefIingwell. Both were strong in
their respective roles of heroine and hero
Then the supporting company was ex-
cellent, and with the special scenery, pre-
sented an entertainment that no one should
miss.
Kernan's Lyceum Theater.-When those
old-time favcrites Of blach-face speciality,
Fields and Hanson, essayed the role of
managers the lovers of frst-class specially
shows predicted their success And TO
one was disappointed at the result. For
two years they have handled a show of
their own, and each succeeding year finds
them better equipped to please the public.
Last night, with strong company, they
opened weeks engagement at Kernans
and crowded the house. The show is a
snappy, bright succession OF novelties, and
as Treasurer Ballauf remarked, "a win
ner." Genaro and Bailey opened the en-
tertainment with an amusing Sketch, and
Senator Frank Bell kept everybody laugh
ing for fifteen minutes with dissertation
on gold and silver. Then came Fields and
Hanson with a side-splitting speciality fun
nier than ever. Dryden and Mitchell con-
tributed a new sketch, entitled "O'Flah-
erty and the Sport" Annie Hart an old
favcrte, had some new and catchy songs
and Blocksom and Page, as the Twentieth
Century Swells, We're acceptable Fred,
Valmore, the instrumental man, was en-
tertaining, and Stinson and Merton essayed
a real amusing sketch, LAT Home" The
original McGnty man, Joe Flynn, was on
hand with a number of co-Eing good songs
"Slattery's Mishaps," a one-act comedy
closed the program.
Academy of Music.-I.ast night marked
the opening of the Academy of Music for
the season of 96-97, and it was made no.
table by one of the largest audiences ever
within the walls Of this place of amuse-
ment. The attractions was the drama of
Northern Lights which was seen here
last season, and the popularity of which
seems not to have diminished in any de-
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