The evening times., 1896-03-18
COMING TO THE THEATERS.

An elaborate and pretentious production
of comedy opera will be brought to the La
fayette Square Opera House next week
under the management OF Rudolph ArOuson
OF the New York Bijou Theater. The intro
| duction OF "Gentlenian Joe, the London
Cabby." which is the title Of his newest
enterprise. will be looked forward 10 with
great pleasure.
The company numbers altogether fifty
people and embracesamong otherssome very
| wellknown names, first Of whom is James
| T. Powers, who enacts the title role, having
scored decided hit during the New York
run. Powers is also well kno wn in Washing
| ton. having appeared here number oftimes,.
| formerly under Mr.. AronsOn's management,
| and the past few years as star at the head
OF his own organization. George Fortescne
| and Miss Floe Irwin are other weIl-knO WI
names, and Miss Ir win is said to successfully
| introduce a number OF negro melodies. one
being entitled, The Niger With the White
| Love Yer Man?'
Among the ne wcomers arc Miss Clara Vie
| land celebrated London favorite whom Mr..
| Aronson brought over for the production
Of .Gentleman joe" Miss Wieland gives
number OF clever limitations. among others
being those of Yvettc Gnilbert. Chevalier.
| Paulus. May Irwin and Tony Pastor. The
| music OF Gentleman Joe" is OF the popular
| order. bright and catchy, and the lines are
said to be very funny.
At the New National Theater next Mon
| day night our theater-goe will have their
| first opportunity OF seeing in this city the
| famous farcical play OF the odd title, Too
| Much Johnson" which comes here with the
Endorsement OF an entire years run in New
York city.
In this production We will not only have
the original company Intact and all the
scenic environment which characterized the
metropolitan engagement. but also William
Gillette, the author OF the play, who as
sumes the princiIol character or the caste.
William Gillette has evolved many brilliant
successes. among which may be mc1tioned
retary," 'Esmcralda' and "Mr wilkins.
Widows" but In Too Much Johnson he is
said to not only have scored the best effort
OF his career, but to have produced the
brightest play of its class with which this
generation is acquainted.
TOO Much Johnson is oil action. 1t
never stops for a moment. Laugh follows
laugh so quickly that the evening is one
great laugh. The play requires actors and
actresses of Quickness ana dexterity. skill
and experience, and Manager Charles Froh-
man has supplied them.
The company is the original one intact.
and includes among its members Ralph
lam, Kate Meek, Anna Belmont. Lorraine
Dreux, Gertrude Dawes, W. Hull Crosby,
Robert Hickman. Benjamin Hendricks and
others.
A crowded house will doubtless greet
Edward E Rice's resplendent eStraya.
evening. To dwell on the merits OF this
production Is unnecessary. as they are
too well known TO all admirers of theat-
ric delectation. Few organizations in the
history of the American stage have ever
been attended with such glowing SUCCESS
from its initial performance.
Its many pleasantries have driven dull
care from thousands of hearts and instilled
q long, lasting cheerfulness. Both the
minds and eyes OF its auditors are stimuli
taneously interested and pleased, the for
mer by the bright dialogue Jokes, etc. d,
and the latter with the dazzling scenic ef
fects and rich costumes, while the charming
chorus as well as the general ensemble
possess in marked degree that unusual
excellence which denotes the hand OF Mr.
Edward Z. Rice. and as this aggregation
is under his personal supervision and man.
agement good entertainment can well be
expected
Nothing has beenleft undone to strengthen
and improve on the former presentation in
this city, and many editions and reyisiOps
have been made to accomplish this result
As will be seen Monday evening, It might
well be called a new "1492.'' The cast !
Is an admirable one in every respect, in
Guiding foremost among its members Mr.
Mark Smith. Miss Carrie Behr Chas Sea
graves, Flora Finlayson, Raymonde Ste
phens. Marie Hilton, John keere and others
OF repute.
Liska, charming toe dancer: Tom Brown,
the whistler; VIII H. Sloan. the Svengali;
Flora Finla ysOn, as Trilby, and Zelma
be found among the specialtieS.
The Academy of Music will have for an
ffSsn