Evening star., 1896-12-29

play. goed-hearted sheriff and college
chum finally conen to the rescue Of the
scoundrel and hisv wife desire some OF the
money that win beeobtained II he is killed,
and as result thk audience is kept CON-
tinualiy on the edss Of anxiety. These two
that was Tar ahovs the average. and the
portrayal on oppotite' Hines Of the sheriff
was equealy as good The aeenery was
to the success Of the play, whils the picka-
niny band, the buck. dancing of the colored
people and the humorous work OF the little
drum un major kept the sIdienes @ in In srsss st
specialties ct John1M West and J. r. Glen
roy were new and1enjoyable, and triple en-
cores followed thetH endeayors-
Bijou Theater.-rThe Sporting Craze" Is
the title of muziual farce-comedy which
bolds the boards at the Bijou Family Thea
ter every afternoenIand evening this wsek
In plot and development it is very much
like an athletic version OF Hoyts Tenn
perance Town. with sports substituted
for saloons as the bone Of contention be-
tween two factions Of q country town.
Josh Reuben represents the sporting and
Obadiah Broadbrifn the Puritan element
but Uncle Josh is elected Justice Of the
peace. and proceeds to pull OH prize fight
and speciality show in his barn. On this
slender foundation very lively entertain
ment, full of good speciality turns, Is pre-
sented. The part5of Josh Reuben Is played
by VIM. Courtfight the well-known min
strel comedian. in style worthy of the best
exponents Of the ''hayseed' ON the stage
An equal partner in tbs. fun-making Is the
favorite clown, George H. Adams, formerly
with Hanlon's +Fantasma." He plays the
triple role of Ben Lucky, who lives on his
wits; Bowlegged Hiram. "A quaint yokel,
and Humpty Dumpty, In which- latter char
acter he does his stfff-dancing speciality.
H. E. Mefssmer. Robert Carlin and George
Clark. with Mr.. Adams, form farmers
quartet which Is one OF the Eamusing fea-
lures of the show. Mrs. George H. Adams
appears in "A good character part, while the
Adams sisters, Tonlna and Lily, are clever
dancers, who, with Emma De Castro and
Cecil 1veFness, perform several ensemble
dances. Miss de Castro makes a great hit
with her doarkey zsongsss Viola Dean plays
the musical beHs, while +Carifn and Clark
do Dutch knock-about act which is pro-
Eounced the best seen here since Weber
and Fields. Frank Farley gives a clever
exhibition Of bag-punching, and in the last
act boxes three lively rounds with John
Lester.
Kernsn's Lyceum Theater.--Sam Devere's
aggregation made its appearance for the
-f1rst time this season at Kernan's Lycetlm
Theater last night Although there have
been few changes in the personnel of the
company, the same kind of performance
that has always characterized Sam Devere's
productions was given. The audience was
genuine first night one and every num-
Ger received Its full share of approval The
nrst turn was that with Larry Smith, Ger
man comedian and Mamie Champion, the
popular soubrette, as its central figures
eId 1t was bright and laughable. Rosalie,
one OF the newcomers, has number of
good songs and sings them IN a graceful
and taking fashion. Some jolly songs are
also sung by John Garfield and Violet Carl
ton, late of Frank Daniels Little Puck >"
and their turn went with a rush Miss
Catheryn Rowe Palmer does contortion
dance that made an immediate hit. Sam
Devere, of course, the feature of the olio
does his well-known black face pathetic
turn and with his banjo. his songs and his
fInny savings kept the large audience in
state OF continuous hilarity. Some OF his
taken up and whistled by all who heard
them Flynn and Walker are good, and Ar
Grant, with his songs and trite sayings
shows snow that he Is master of monologue
The Eccentric MATTERS" in the persons Of
the Baggesens, is a. novel turn and makes
| hitting close tocthe good array Of talent
that makes up the Ohio. The wind-up of the
show is the laugh2ble farce, Two New
W1Ves In which. Miss Florence Miller as
a Turkish princess Shows that she knows
all the wiles and tracks of the maiden of
the orient.
Ben Hur.'-Tonght will probably be the
lsst opportunity OF witnessing in the
Church Of Our Father this remarkable
combination of thrilling narrative and mag
niicent lantern-shdet illustration. That its
phenomenal power with the Washington
pubic has not wAned Is evidenced by the
Large advance sale u seats, notwithsta nd /,
ing the great number of times that ii mas
already been given in this city. No one
who has, read Gen. Wailace's wonderful
book should fail to see this representa- ton.
THE Messiah. 4T6nighht44sFons the rap,d
advance OF seats fors TIRE concert this
evening by the, Choral Society, 1t is an,
parent that the music loving population of
Washington. does not easily tire of hear,
ing sung> 1.-THE masterpieces iof Handel. the
oratpIto Of The Messiah Although the
Choral Society has repeated this work each
year since 1880 during the Christmas sea,
son, its power Of attraction seems to in,
crease with each performance The con-
cert this evening promises to be an ar
tistic success. 1t will be held in the First
Congregational Church, at the corner of
10th and G streets, and the chorus will
be accompanied by Mr. Jehn Porter Law
renee on the great organ. Of the soloists
Miss Sophie Church Hall, contralto of Bal
timore, is the only stranger, but she comes
with recommendations of "a high order
Mr.. Ericsson Bushnell Of New York, who
Is today without an equal in this coun-
try as an oratorio basso has assisted the
society frequently in past years. and is
always greeted with enthusiasm The So
prano and tenor roles will be sung respec-
lively by Mrs. Nellie Wilson Shir-Cliff and
Mr.. w. d. Mcfarland, who need no intro
ductton to a Washington audience Prof
Josef kaspar will direct the chorus The
performance will be repeated tomorrow
evening at the same place and with the
same soloists.