Evening star., 1896-10-27

6epoy rebellion Of 1867, and this makes
possible some effective scenery. Against
orders. an English captain despoils a Hin
q priest. 1ntrusting the stone to his native
mistress. he contrives to throw suspicion
upon young Lieut.. Shannon, an 1rishman
risen from the ranks. and his rival for the
hand OF the commanders daughter. Shan
non saves her life, as described. and finds
| the jewel. only to be arrested later with
| 1t In his possession. The denouement is
striking. The native woman is hypnotized
| by a priest and reveals the identity of the
| tnief ana murderer. her lover.
There Is one specially inconsistent scene,
| when the hero and heroine are all but per-
| ishing In the jungle. and the comedy
element approaches to the limits Of farce.
| Mr.. Power is clever and entertaining Miss
| Sargent as the generals daughter might be
better, but Miss Nina Morris as the native
woman is artistic. One Of the best male
characters Is that Of a cowardly Scot, by
Mr.. John F. Ward, but he is hardly in
| place. The rest of the cast do hard work.
New National Theater-The operate
comedy, "Dorcas." held forth at the Ma
| ional last night, and while without the
| star which gave 1T standing several
years ago, possesses a competent cast
| which makes the loss less noticeable than
| 1t would otherwise be- There are six good
parts in the opera, and these are well
| filled. The Paultons, the authors Of the
opera, have constructed humorous book,
and; with the incidental music. the piece is
| fairly enjoyable Miss Drew Donaldson, as
| the Lady Honoria, who masquerades as
the innkeeper's wife. Dorcas, sings all of
the numbers allotted to her in a fair voice.
William Broderick sang all the music of
| his role splendidly. his solo. Let All
Obey" being the best accepted musical
number of the opera. Charles o. Bassett
voice to advantage in several numbers, his
chess duet with Miss Marie Mllard who
takes the part Of Lady Lambourne, and
who is pleasantly remembered here being
very well done although Mr.. Bassett's
voice Is not what 1t once was. Fred Frear
has not much chance to show his comedy
qualificatons in the role Of the innkeeper,
but Miss Eva Davenport as Griselda sup
| plies enough fun to fill several plays. Her
| comedy work throughout was one Of the
real hits of the evening. and she found
favor at once with large majority Of her
| audience. Miss Minnie Jarboe. Miss Marie
Davenport, Mr.. Arthur Seaton and Mr..
Charles Myer fill out the minor parts of
the cast acceptably.
Academy of Music-"Oriental America"
an aggregation consisting Of fifty of the
| best musical negro performers in the coun-
| try, found favor at the Academy Of Music
| last night in the eyes of a large and ap-
| prectative audience. In addition to the
excellence of the performers themselves
| the costuming and scenic effects are all
that could be wished for and the whole
| production is complete. There are several
good singers among the company. while
the comedians are genuinely funny. the
opening sketch, Madame Toussante L.
Ovature's Reception" gives ample oppor-
| tunity for the display Of elaborate gowns
| and the introduction of all the latest popu-
lar songs together with some very pretty
| scenery. The chorus singing is very good
while all of the solos are given In spirit
ed and pleasing manner. Among those
who fill the second part Of the bill is Miss
Margaret Scott, soprano, whose really good
|
| of higher type Of music than the regular
| popular d:tties Of the day. Jessie Shipp
and Edward Winn, descriptive vocalsts.
| have good turn, while the Manhattan
sports and the bicycle maids up to
date. Billy and Jennie Eldridge prove
| themselves capable fun-makers and the
third part is entitled Forty Minutes OF
Grand and Comic OPERA" and is produced
| with the same style Of costumes and scenic
| effects that characterize the first part
Wilkes, soprano. carry the principal parts.
| and a march, The Oriental HuzZars,
| brings the show to an end.
Bijou Theater.-The Bijou Family Theater
| is turning people away this week. Man
! ager Whitesell after considerable trouble
| secured the attraction for his patrons
| Al Fields Darkest America" a play writ
| ten by colored man, acted by colored
| people. Without doubt 1t is the best de-
| lineation Of plantation life yet presented
/
| ment public. Incidental to the play are
many specialties. and each one was liber-
| ally applauded last night by the crowded
| house that welcomed the company. John
| Rucker, as Uncle Amos Jackson, proved
| himself a comedian of exceptional merit
| and Miss Emma Hall, Aunt Becky
| Beasley. was excellent in her delineation
| of the old southern nanny" Billy Miller
| was entertaining in a monologue, and the
| scene of life on the levee was quaint. The
vicious side Of darky life constituted the
| third act, and showed the crap man and
| the razor wielder true to life. Sam Lucas,
| as Juba Lunch, was noticeable In this as
well as the succeeding act as Congressman
Lynch.
| Kernan's Lyceum Theater.-Gus Hill is
known purveyor of the latest and best
| specialties and each year presents to the
| amusement public something novel, This
season he has a strictly up-to-date show.
and Kernan's was packed last night as
| consequence. AS curtain raiser a clever
| comedy by Ladell and Alvers is intro
| duced Then came Annie Whitney, who
had no trouble singing herself into popu-
! larity. James w. Bingham, the ventrilo-
! quist, had a regiment of funny automatons,
| and they cracked jokes and sang songs in
very natural way. Leonard and Bernard
| were brutally funny in their knockabout
act, and Frank Latona, the musical
| tramp. was entertaining. Montgomery and
Stone contribute a black-face specially, and
| Rice and Elmer repeat their clever sketch
| of Chinatown. The two American Macs
have a new string of jokes and witticisms
and keep the audience in a roar all the
| time. ''The Rivals a short comedy of
| some interest ends the show.
Miss Dailey's Benefit.-The benefit to be
given tonight at Metropolitan A. NJ. f.
| Church for Miss Lillian Daley, the girl
| who was kidnapped and held by ner alb
| ductors for thirteen years. promises to be
an attractive affair, as well being for
| most worthy object The program which
| has been arranged includes some of the
| best local talent to be found among the
negroes of Washington and the concert is
under the direction of committee of WELL
| known clergymen. Miss Dailey's mother
| is at present Ill in hospital In Boston.
and 1t is for the purpose of giving the
young laly funds with which to minister to
| her mothers wants that the benefit is
given.