The morning times., 1896-12-03
AT THE LAFAYETTE.
Empire Company Changes Its Biii TO
Clyde fItch's "BOneml

Company offered "a fine contra st in dramatic
material, and a sufficient evidence OF
tieir versaility to justify repetition or
all the pleasant laudations OF their WORK
which have heretofore been recorded.
The play at the Lafayette last night was
the workmanship OF Mr.. Clyde Fitch. ne
acknowledges his indebtedness tothe Frencn
st Stntes and %IsBety UNDER
stood he makes no pretense OF having
dramatized La Vie de boneme More
over, the author does not dignify ms WORK
with classification as a play, ne Is con
ment.''
For once the not always astute Mr.. Fitch
errs on the side of Inotesty and puntilious-
ness. His piece is an entertainment and
play as Well, AMI quite credit able u
be, for the play that entertains not Is
poor stuff. This Bohemia and the recent
PRESENTATION OF "a Superfluogs Husband
stimulate renewal OF confidence in the
talent that scintillated in ''BruHInel,' but
waned in Mistress Betty and Gossip.
Bohemia" Is clever. 1t Is flash ilgnt
OF the stringe sans sOuci OF Partisan strug-
slers. The authors touch Is light as the
hearts OF his characters, his characters are
as true as our ideals -Qr such people, the
story as pretty as scrupuious taste would
exact.
rne cast brought old faces into the scene
which had not before this week looked
through the Lafayette proscenium. Fore
most OF these was Mr.. Dodson- He ap-
peared as a bohemian musician and elab-
grated IN extended presence OF few words
with the finest touches or the real master
OF character delineation that he is. Akin
10 his performance was Mr. Gottsciialk's
philosopher. Mr.. Faversham as the poet
ana Mr.. EdesOn as the painter We're more
conspicuous verbally and in the heart OF
the story. but their parts were or less
c0iorful attractiveness only by comparison.
Miss RObeson's s originality was amuSingiy in
evidence IN make-up and personation
new to the stage.
Miss Allen acted Mimi with sweetness
a fAtI fltIf lnp ~
the part threw Ida Conquest's brilliant
Mnsette decidedly In the foreground She
played the accepted grisette OF fiction, and,
light hearted, good hearted. but emotional,
moody and tickle and each change was
denoted with excellent firmness- Miss
DeWoife appeared TO advantage IN high
bred part, Mr.. Backus played one OF his
cold hearted men, and Mr.. CrOmpton fell
as far away from his best work as We
have ever seen him. Tonight Sowing
the Wind
Francis Wilson's engagement in this city
at the New National Tneater next week is
one of the distinctive events OF the theatri-
cal season. 1t means that the clever
comedian will be seen in a new role, in
new opera with il worthy production. en-
tireiy new scenery. costumes and all The
giitLeriu" details which MAKE un "A modern
reprcse ntation OF comic opera.
Mr.. Wilson'S new opera is called Half a
King" IL is an adaptation from the
u
by Ludwig Eneiander. 1t Is in three
acts The scenes and incidents are
laid in old Paris. in the eigntecnth
century. The locality and period afford
rare opportunity for elaborate and pictures
que scenic effects and handsome costumes.
MI WilsoE plays the part OF street mountc-
bank. 1t Is said To be admirably suited
to his distinctive personality and artistic
capabilities.
Among the principals in Mr. Wilson'S com
piny tui> >ef.sOI ar. JO>eph hlfon. JoEn
Brand, Clinton Elder, Peter Lang, W. II.
Laverty. Miss Lulu Glaser, Christie Mac
Donald and Agnes Paul. One of the sets
a gorgeous conservatory in ducai palace,
'tn'i ! a fhIr' -" 'H#,r. OF Miracles, made
famous BY Victor Hugo.
Mrs. Ponderbury's Past" is the pIav
which Stuart Robson will produce in CON
junction with Madame Jana uschek. the well
known tragedienne. .attheLafayette Square
on Monday evening.
The cha aracterof pOnderbury is adaptehtO
Mr.. Robson's unique personality and in
tlividual good work is required in all the
characterizations. The play en- njOyed II long
run in New York city the latter part OF last
season, when Mr.. Robson there gave first
production in this country. This season
Gilman's Wedding" has been arranged by
Mr.. Robson to precetie IL.
Those who best like Mr. Robson in elderly
parts and those who much more prefer him
In youthful charactcrizations Will each and
all he gratified. for. as Mr.. Gilman, hc is
the young husband about to lose hiswife and
happiness Just as Ills honeymoon begins:
W lille as Mr.. Fonderhury. he Is Kicking
over the matrimonial traces that arenot all
10 his liking.
VIII be offered by Black PATHS TGouba-
dOurs on The occasion of their performance
IN this "ity at the Grand next week This
OrganiZa iOn has earned the reputation of
being the best OF its kind ever organized
i'll this country, and is credited with Civ
ne peIfCT mance which emil odies hoan-
tiiul blending Of opera, comedy. burlcsquc
and vaudeville. cmh.lliShed with Mapnifi-
cent Costumes and appi opriatc scenery and
stage settings
lnere are nifty people in the company,
which includes Black Patti, who is IN
QUestionatly one Of the greatest singers
this generation has heard Fob Coles and
Stella Wiley. .dcls:irtcan dancers Billy John
son, descriptive ocalist; Goggns and Davis,
kuuckahOat acrobIts hingsbury and
Cousins. instrumentalists: lie V oifc SIS
ters. duetiSts, and Camille, the ere, lc night
inealc In addition there is a wc!l-trainod
chorus OF thirty voices and march and
ballet ontingent OF twenty.
Il will be welcome news to the majority
of theater-ro tnat Down in Dixie" Will
be the attraction at the Academy next
week. The piayis vivid and realistic pic
ture Of the South, combining excitement
and merTment.
Ittells a stirring story of love in Georgia
and south Carolina, ana although 1t tieais
with the tender passion 1t has incidents
siay the breath OF the hcnoldcr.
one OF these Is the Rescue OF the young
lieutenant bv the pretty heroine, Georgia"
Two ScoundrelS knock him SenscleSS ana
put him In an immense cotton compress.
They set fire to the warehouse In which
the compress is and then start the COM
press working. when II is within an ace
or crushing the lieutenant to death. the
heroine breaks through window and dragS
him from the compress. 1hlS Is as thrill
ing a rescue scene as the stage offers.
The entertainment that was given ny
Reginald De koven, composero of the Man
DARN Robin Hood" Rob Roy" The
S3 Irving place, New York City, November
~. was one OF the most unique affairs
that has ever occurred in the city of New
York. 1t was especially announced upon
the cards of invitation TO this affair that
no one would be received who was not at
tired in the regulation costume, as de-
scribrd by an accompanying note.
In order 10 render the affair particularly
unique. Mr.. De Koven engaged for the
occasion Chinese servants and attendants
who, arrayed in the garb OF their country,
waited upon the door, the table, the various
rooms. cooked the food, and served 1t.
The moment the door was passed the
oriental aspect OF scenery and conditions
was impressive, even the vestibule was
lighted with Chinese lanterns. ana in pass
ing through the hallway to the reception
room and thence to the parlors. it was
easy 70 iinagine ones self amid the sur
roundings OF Il Chinese Joss house.
Mr.. DE koyen is very thorough In every
thing that he attempts, ana upon tins
occasion nothing was neglected which
could add to the oriental aspect Of the
affair, or which could destroy anything
which tended to mudernize or westcTniZe
the occasion.
The success OF the "Alandaru' at the
Herald Square Theater, New York, sup-
pied Mr. De koven with the idea FOR TINS
| unique entertainment. which was the mast
successful thus far during the season 1t
| may be seen at the Columbia next week.