Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-04
ADJUSTMENTS.

Lafayette Square Opera House.-Mr Ro-
land Reed has attained a substantial place
in public esteem, without resortiAg to SEN
sational methods of advertising or taking
audacious risks with the refined sensibili-
ties of his audiences. His plays are in
variably wholesome and his comedy char
acterizations have a good, warm atmos-
phere of humor. If they do not at all times
scintillate, they have the compromising
quality of never offending. His perform
anee in THE Politician" at the Lafayette
Square Opera House last night was heart
lily enjoyed. HIS portrayal of the role Of
General Josiah Timber had a previous in
PRODUCTION to the playgoers of this COM
munity. There are some satirical touches
which bring out the comic side of this
country's political system. The name of D.
ID. Lloyd appears in connection with the
authorship and there are noticeable some
of the excellences which were prominent in
The Senator, in whose success also he
had a share. AS time progressed and the
new woman" impresses herself more
strongly, the part of an energetic, business
like woman, but dainty withal, played by
Miss Isadore Rush, gains in interest. The
part Is one which might easily be spoiled
in the performance, but she does it with
discretion, as well as animation. The COM
pany is one which averages well and the
stage settings arc all that could be desired
for the production of piece of this char
acter.
New National Theater-The familiar and
popular organization known The Bos-
tonians" appeared at the New National
Theater last night in a new opera, entitled
"a Wartime Wedding" The story is of
the war with Mexico and the attachment
of United States officer for a handsome
Mexican girl, who is wanted by a captain
of guerrillas for the torture that will go
with her hand. The guerrilla has wronged
a slave girl, who gives him good deal of
frnrr nd yvh n &c. 11y no ctr
character in the play. A secondary love
affair is between Vermont Yankee SOL
der and pretty Mexican, and they to-
gether with an old Mexican Don furnish
the comedy element. The guerrilla has one
devoted retainer, VINO longs for the slave
girl. whom his master casts aside. This
work is different from that in which we
have been accustomed to see the Boston
ians, but both music and story were intel
ligeltly and artist!cally Interpreted Mr.
VIM. H. Macdonald gave to the part of
Ramon his splendid stage presence, his dra-
matte ability and his musical baritone
voice. Mr.. Barnabee's Ezra Stebbins is a
splendid comedy creation, the New Eng
land twang of speech and manner Of action
being perfectly reproduced. Mr.. Barnabee
seems to have discovered the secret of
eternal youth, both as to the freshness of
his voice and the spriShtliness of his act
iEg. Mrs. Jessie Bartlett Davis as Teresa,
the wronged slave girl, was in excellent
voice and gave to the part a dramatic force
lndl ILeTAl5 the WdTNlGSC comm endatlOn.
Her duet with Ramon in the first act was
beautifully sung and received an emphatic
encore. Helen BertraEl Henley was attrac-
tive as Mariguita Mason, and sang with
spirit Her voice lacks sweetness, but it
has power and good range. Eugene CowIes'
powerful and melod;ous bass voice was
heard with telling effect in the concerted
numbers and contributed in no small de-
gree to the encore given the finale of the
first act. Geo. rockingham made the most
of Don Diego, but it was a more serious
character than he has been accustomed to-
Alice Nielsen, the Mexican girl, to whom
Ezra Ste5bins Loses his heart, is a charm
ing little piece of femininity, and sang and
acted well. The chorus did excellent work
and the orchestra, under the direction of
Mr.. Sam. Studley, was thoroughly efficient
Tonight Robin Hocd'' will be given.
Academy of Music.-The equine comedy
class of drama was represented at the
academy last night by the four-act play,
The Derby Winner which is seen in
Washington for the first time. The action
of the play occurs in st. Louis, which may
account for the fact that it is rather slow
at times, and the local scenery Is good
1t Is the story of a young horseman in
love with a girl, and the victim of hard
luck. He is also handicapped by a villain
Gus bookmaker, but he finally wins the
derby and the girl. 1t may be justly said
of the play that it is not as strong dramat-
ically as it is eQuinically, and the horse
race saves it, as it does the hero's matri-
IllOnldl ASPIRATIONS. Inc race scene at the
st. Louis fair grounds is quite to the life
and is Of enthusiastic interest. Mr.. Base
ball Breitenstein, who made his dramatic
debut as a starter in the race, was evil
IDENTIFY ratified. Starting himself and the
horses too was a little too much for him
all at once. Miss Blanche Boyer, who
rode the winner, was a prime favorite and
Eddie Giguere, with his quicksteps and re-
markable voice, was the dramatic feature.
Whatever may be said in criticism of the
Derby Winner" the fact remains that it
pleases the audiences to which it appeals.
Kernan's Lyceum Theater-The Vaude-
vile Club, under the management of Weber
and Fields, opened a return engagement
at Kernan's last night and was enthusiast
tically received. Since it's last appearances
here the company has been greatly i'm
proved and the performance presented last
night was creditable in every way. The
program opened with an amusing sketch
by the Fansons; then came O'Brien and
Buckley, with a musical act that was
meritorious. Mcbride and Goodrich con-
tributed clever dance, and Lizzie Ray
mond had no trouble singing herself into
popularity. McIntire and Heath, the best