Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-11-17
ADJUSTMENTS,

curiosity Attached 10 tne performance, Aor
so much had been said Of his remarkable
genius that it seemed as though all could
not be true. The result was that there was
large audience and critical one as well.
He had been heralded as the most remark
able actor in the world. In his peculiar
line the characterization Is not far out of
the way. He is a vocalist of no mean abil-
ity, a ventriloquist far above the average,
a skilled musician, q wonderful imperson-
ator and as a lightning change artist he
certainly has no equal During the course
of the evening he represented more than a
half hundred people, and he succeeded in
investing each character with Its own dis
tinct personality. Fregoli sings and stalks
with four different voices SO well that 1t is
hard to say which Is his natural one. He
scored a hit of the most pronounced char
acter and by his charm of manner, as we'll
as his versatility, he won the admiration
of his audience at the start and held it in
increasing ratio until the end. The per-
by Signor and Nine. Borelli. who gave a
novel musical turn and travesty on a
scene from grand opera that was very fun
ny. Then came Press Eldredge, the popu-
lar biack-face soliloquist, who amused the
audience with his topical songs and droll
sayings. But it was Fregoli, after all, that
the people had come to see. He came on
about O'Clock, and for an hour and three
He started with 1.-The impossible duet" in
which he was made up to represent a pref
ty maid and gay cavalier, his own face
and dummy at the back of his head do
ing the trick. His baritone Is exceptionally
fine and many a worse soprano has been
heard In opera on local stages than the one
he used as the maid. He made his exit and
almost Immediately he appeared on the
stage as quite different person, with COM
ic songs, following with another turn equal
ly clever. Then came Chamelonte," in
which he is seen at his best 1t Is a short
tragedy in which he impersonates five
characters so well that it is hard to realize
that only one person Is on the stage at a
time. In "Eldorado, Music Hail." he is
the manager, and announces that as his
performers have struck he is compelled to
give the show by himself. He does it, and
does 1t well. 1t is complete vaudeville
performance in which Fregoli takes thirty
different parts. He does everything from
a serpentine dance to a remarkable imita-
ton of Hermann; he IS a musical clown
and an English music hall singer, and so
on to the end. He closes with the "Mys-
terious ROOM" remarkable Illusion. Ere
goll IS unique and puZZling to the last de-
gree. His success is natural and easily I'M
derstood.
Columbia Theater.-The Hollands are al
ways welcome visitors. Their performances
are of the kind that appeal to an intelIt-
gent audience without being SO stilted as to
prevent popular appreciation. At the CO.
lumbia Theater last night "A Superfiuous
Husband" was the play of the evening.
with a sentimental sketch entitled Col
Carter Of Gainesville" as a curtain raiser.
THE Colonel is very lovable old south
ern gentleman. and by surrounding him
with some of the elements of pathos which
are none the less enjoyed, because they are
familiar, the piece has been made a very
effective bit of idyllic writing. Persons
who objected to the marriage of an old
gentleman to mis- young ward in ]. M. Bar
prnfacSnr'S 7
Will be especially pleased with Col. Carter's
sacrif1ce in refusing to attempt to bridge
an Impossible chasm of years with matri-
mony. The piece can be depended upon to
make an impression with an audience for
the reasons that the material employed
has all been used before in one place or an
other with successful results; that the
welding is done in a careful, workmanlike
manner, and that it is ably acted
"A Superfiuous Husband is a delight
FULLY honest piece of comedy writing 1t
deals with dramatic type that is still un-
hackneyed, and which is at the same time
husband of famous wife. This is the
character which Joseph Holland performs
with the discretion which places him
among the first of American actors. E. NJ.
Holiand impersonates the wife's father,
genial. old-fashioned and altogether Iowa
bie Miss Olive Oliver lends grace and
naturalness to the role of the artist-wife,
who, despite her affection for her husband.
has allowed herself to convert their home
into studio, where her husband is I'M
recognized, and even insulted by her pa
irons. Miss Oliver Is an Accomplished
actress. The husbands ambition to make
a career for himself. which will not be
overshadOwed by that of his wife is real
lied In the last act but not until his wife's
1ntr1gueS for his promotion have aroused
ms suspicious and precipitated a quarrel
Mr.. Milton Pepman is so amiable and
pleasing an actor that it goes hard with
the auditor to be compelled to dislike him
when he appears in the role of an inter-
1erer In domestic peace. The play moves
easily and naturally, and it is difficult to
point where most praise is due-to the au-
thorship or to the performance. There is
now and then a little tug at the heart
strings, but there Is never q moments
doubt that it will come out right in the
end And when the reconciliation is final
~ reached, there may be some moisture
about the eyes, but it is an April mood,
sunshiny till the last.
National Theater.-The last time Miss
Georgia Cayvan was in this city she was
seen in the idylic drama, May Blossom"
and those who witnessed her excellent act
ing in that play remember it with exceed
Ing pleasure. Last night she appeared at
the National Theater in a drama that Is a
reminder Of May Blossom" and yet is dis
tinctly different. esquire Kate Is whole
some, clean and healthy in its motive and
development. 1t tells of English country
life. and it's plot unfolds almost a tragedy,
but its ending is triumph of sisterly affec-
ton, and shows woman of noble i'm
pulses, who has been purified by the fire of
affection. Catherine Thorpe is strong,
healthy, self-reliant young woman, who
has devoted her life to removing the debt
from the farm and to caring for her
younger sister. She takes upon herself all
the drudgery of farm work, that her pretty
and dainty sister may live like a lady. Her
care for Hetty, her tender solicitude in
every respect, is inexpressibly touching.
In the midst of all her busy everyday
work and her love for her sister Catherine
has allowed an affection for George Heath
cote, the stepson of CATER KinsIey, a mis-
erly old fellow, to spring up in her heart
and she nourishes this in secret
The bitterness of her position comes upon
her with full force when she learns that
her sister loves the same man and over
hears their exchange of vows. The leading
characters are all well drawn and generally
well taken. Miss Cayvan has a part well
suited to her abilities, and she compels the
admiration of her audience in all her work.
In the earlier scenes she Is easy and nat
ural, and in the emotional passages she is
forceful without being theatric. She was
well received by her audience and was the
recipient of numerous curtain calls. Miss
Florence Conron as Hetty has an ingenue
part that she does delightfully."-, and is an
excellent goil for the stronger character of
Kate. George Woodward did a good piece
excelltn foil for the stronger character of
Atherly, while having thankless part as
the overseer. proved himself an excellent
actor. There are lots Of farm hands in the
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