Evening star., 1896-12-29
AMusExESrs.


cal organizations have held together as
long as the Bostonians. which opened
weeks engagement at the National Thea
ter last night. Organized as an experiment
during the "Pinafore" craze, It was first
made permanent company by Miss ober,
and when she left 1t has been continued
since by the leading members who had con-
tributed so much to Its success. Although
there are but three OF the original MEM
bers Of the company now In the organiza-
tion, those who have been added have been
of high grade Of excellence, and the
standard set in the first instance has been
generally maintained The three original
members are Mr.. Henry Clay Barnahee.
George rockingham and Samuel L. Stud
ley, the musical director. When the Bos-
tonians> were first assembled under the
title of the Boston Ideals and presented
"Pinafore," Mary Beebee was the JOSE
phine. Tom Karl the Ralph, Barnabee the
Sir Joseph Porter; Myron Whitney, Capt
Corcoran; Geo. rockingham, Dick Dead
eye; Isabel McCullogh, Little Buttercup.
and Georgia Cayvan. the Hebe. When they
went on the road Marie Stone was the
soprano and later she was assisted by
Geraldine Ulmar With all the changes
that have been made the troupe has never
lad soprano equal to Marie Stone. Her
voice was clear and true, cultivated under
the best methods. and she sang with an
artistic finish that would have made her
welcome addition to any grand opera
company. One of these days the Bos-
tonians may have soprano which will fill
her place in every respect, but that day
has not yet appeared. The long list Of
successes which this admirable organiza
ton has made Is remembered by all music,
lovers who have attended light opera for
nearly twenty years. The present pro-
pr1etors Of the company-Messrs. Barnabee
public taste and last night presented De,
Koven and Smiths melodious opera, Robin
Hood" Although this Is the first work
In which these two gentlemen collaborated.
and although from a purely muscianly
standpoint it is not equal to some of their
subsequent efforts, 1t at once achieved a
popularity which no other American opera
has ever enjoyed and the large audience
last night and demanded an encore to-
nearly ever solo number proved that it's
popularity Is In no degree on the wane. OF
the werl-known people in the cast Bar
nabees Sheriff of Nottingham, Of course,
took the lead, and that splendid comedian
was at his best. The warm welcome he
received must have told him that he still
has a strong hold upon the affections OF
the Washington public. Jessie Bartlett
Davis as Alan-A-Dale came next in favor,
and she looked as pretty and sang sweet
ly as ever. George Frothinghams Friar
Tuck showed the unctuous humor of that
gentleman, and Eugene Cowles' Will Scar
let gave him an opportunity to display
his magnificent bass voice in several we'll
known numbers. The new corners were
Miss Hilda Clark, who acted the part OF
Maid Marian excellently. and who sang
acceptably. although her voice had too
much of the vibrato in it, and there is
some carelessness in her execution; Mr..
Charles r. Hawley, who took the part of
Littlejohn, usually Interpreted by Mr.. Nc
Donald. and who deserves warm praise for
his excellent singing. He has clear, ring
ing baritone Of good power, which he uses
with 1dmirable discretion. The new tenor.
A1r N vuyhn
has a fine stage presence and is an excel
lent actor, but it will be a long time be-
fore the Bostonians get any one who Will
be equal to Tom Karl in this part. Miss
Quive sang Annabel very nicely. The
chorus was large and well trained, and the
orchestra. under Mr.. Studley, gave eff
cient service, both as accompaniment and
in the overture and entire acts. The whole
performance was thoroughly enjoyable, as
is always the case with this admirable
troupe.
Lafayette Square Opera House-'"The
Gay Parisians' is one of the volatile speci-
mems of play-writing which float when ef
forts of more Dalpable substance sink.
The audience that saw it at the Lafayette
Square Opera House last night enjoyed
the rollicking farce through all its three
acts AS first produced in the French,
the play doubtless had the force of daring
originality, but it's preparation for the
less tolerant English-speaking audience has
necessitated the sacrifice of the chief ele-
ment of Eovelty in its plot. But there is
always new generation arising to enjoy
old-time plays, whose survival is a surprise
to the auditor who is less fresh in his ap-
probation ard, therefore, less fortunate.
Those who have not followed the surprises
and subterfuges of pink Dominoes." For
hidden Fruit and kindred comedies until
there was little opportunity for any strik-
ing variations on the theme, are sure TO
find much to amuse in The Gay PART
SLAMS" 1t Is a merry production, whose
slightly suspicious Gallo antecedent will
hardly be discovered except by a prying
mind. Its most notable merit is the per-
formance of that very able comedian, Mr..
w J. Ferguson. Miss Sadie Martinez con-
tributes much to the entertainment.
Columbia Theater.-It was Kellar. the
peerless magician, VINO was billed at the
Columbia last night for the week which
closes this year Of grace 1896. and an audi
greeted him and his handsome wife, who
is at ali times his valued assistant. AS
usual in magic entertainments, the first
pert of the bill was devoted to sleight-of
hand, in which Kellar is first, now that the
prince of sleight. Hermann, has gone to
the realm Of mystery. Following this is
the cassadega propa aganda. a weird spirit.
ualistic puzzle. and this by 'out OF sight"
a trick in which live woman suddenly DIS
appears from sight, which startles more
than it mystifies possibly. Part two Is de-
occultism of the Hindus, and part three
opens with the remarkable feats of memory
of Mrs. Kellar. who performs prodigies in
the naming of numbers on bills, calling
figures and performing intricate problems
in arithmetic. One unexpected feature of
this performance which seemed to strike the
upper part of the house especially was the
fact that man in the audience had $50
bill. This was developed when men in the
audience handed up bills to have the num-
bers called by Mrs. Kellar, who was blind
folded. Mr.. Kellar didn't show how the
spiritualistic mediums do their cabinet and
rcpe-tying trick. though he did it very
smoothly. being ably assisted therein by
those kings of magic and mystery, Mr.
Carroll Mercer and DR.. Ralph Jenkins, who
arose from the audience and went ON the
stage, as II they intended to elevate it or
know the reason why. The show closed
with the cabinet trick in the air. whereby
a young woman mysteriously passes
through space ard lands in a closed cab
iret ten feet from everything except the
chain to which 1t swung.
Academy Of Musician unusually good
show Is that at the Academy this week,
opening there last night to an audience Of
fair proportions. Under the title of the
Flying Jordans' Vaudevilles, JAS A. Pow
ers has clustered about these wonders of
the flying trapeze group of speciality peo-
pie who give an entertainment which is un-
eXcelled by ANYTHING of hind an Tho