Evening star., 1896-12-22
AMUsEMENTs.

on time an a0tnOr was struck with the
idea that the story of Faust and Mephis-
topheles would make a highly moral and
instructive stage performance. 1t would be
hard to find a tale more impressive In its
warnings against human vanities. He COM
pleted its manuscript and placed it in the
hands of a manager. The manager as
sumed only to dictate the costumes; and
the result was "The Black Crook" So
much for the potency of the costumer and
the helplessness of the poet. THE Black
crook has many successors and the varla-
tfons from the original pattern are so great
at times as to almost disguise the species;
but the domination of calcium lights and
lingerie is as complete in Gay New York"
as it was when the old-time author beheld
his orthodox allegorical drama transformed
by the whisk of a coryphee's ankle into a
Vcluptuous dream and delight for the
worldly. In their latest annual review the
Casino management broke entirely away
from the old-fashioned stories and used
only up-to-date material and characters for
the development of the airy melange in
which comedians and dancers vie with one
another for supremacy in the attention of
the audience. 1t would be impossible to in
vite notice to each of the many clever peo-
pie or to all Of the striking specialties
Which twinkle iridiscently through the
piece. 1t takes three or four pages of the
program to give the cast Of characters and
synopsis of the eXtravaga Perhaps the
most artistic work of the production is done
by Dave Warfield, whose Hebralc speciality
is masterpiece of character work, as well
as a wholly laughable creation. He has
evidently devoted serious study to delineat
ing type which. though not common, is
easily recognizable and which responds eff
fectively to the touch of the carcaturist.
arthur " Gibson gives well-turned i'm
personation of a young farmer Lee Bar-
r1son is amusing as a picturesquely tough
young man, and Walter Jones' tramp spe-
c.aity Is entertaining as of yore. Mr.. Jones
is quite versatile and exceedr gly industri-
Gus. AS the transforming actor he was
very much in evidence. and not unp!easantly
SO. His imitation of Sousa was an auda-
cious undertaking. for Mr.. Sousa is local
talent in Washington, and the mimic who
assumes to reproduce his familiar person.
ai1ty Is face to face with very rigid stand
ara OF popular criticism. Mr.. Jones has
been very successful in copying one or two
or the famous bandmaSter'S tricks Of geS-
tGre, and the suggestion of the familiar
hgure at the leaders post gave zest to
the familiar marches which brought forth
rousing encore. Lucy DAILY, blythe of
countenance and agile OF limb, was liked
In all that she did. Her imitation of Yvette
Guilbert called for lavish share of the
audiences applause. VIM f. Riches trick
hlcycie riding. with a tramp makeup. was
lauSiabie as a humorous effort and admir-
able as an exhibition of skill. Some original
music by Mr.. kerker tinkles lightly through
the piece, and the gentleman who has writ
ten the lyrics has provided some refresh
iLgly sane rhymes. The credit for the
stage pictures which are the essential at
fractions OF the entertainment, belongs to
MI George W. Lederer. To say that every
member of the audience will be amused
through every minute of the performance
would be to announce a miracle But he
VINO finds nothing to divert him in the whiri
OF MARTY need look no further: a hermt's
cell yawns for him. 1t is as breezy as a
March morning and as parti-colored as a
nousSe-cafe.
The acknowledgements Mr. Charles
Hoyt aims to write a play he misses it
about mile and hits something else about
TOUR times as funny. What he writes is
quite past the pale of dramatic definition
but 1t gets there, in a financial sense
good deal more than many more ambitious
efforts. This time he introduces his audi
ences to "A Contented Woman" and there
vas a big audience at the National last
Eight to see the lady. The bill says: 1.-THE
play does not assume to be historically cor
rect, but is rather picture of what is pos
sible, and the play is a very dramatic not
to say theatric, effort to show what kind of
a time we would have if women went into
practical politics. the scene being laid in
Denver, where anything wild and wooy
might be expected. The story is simple
enough, being the setting aside of Mr. Ben
ton Home tW. H. Currie) in his race for
mayor by his wife Caroline MiskeI Hoyt).
and her election to the office, and the names
OF the people are good examples of the
Hoyt nomenclature, among. them being
Benton Holme, Cutting Hintz Miss Helena
Wrangle, Miss Watson Chinn, Callope
Ayres, Rose Budd. Brighton Belts n gam
bier: Phil Bowles, barkeeper: BOYLE Dowle
prize fighter; Vandyke Beard a butcher;
T. Quinn Holder, a coachman: Dandy Trot-
ter and Dodge Carr, messengers. The star
part was, OF course, taken by Mrs. Hoyt
and she made most beautiful Grace
Holme, and at the same time showed abii-
ties as natural actress which were as un-
expected as they were pleasing There are
differences of opinion as to Mrs. Hoyts
acting, but for easy, natural manner she is
delightful. She doesn't seem to be acting,
and that is the greatest charm of an artist
she needs shade more elasticity of car
riage. SO as not to fall into carelessness.
She made great nit on her appearance
after the election, and the floral tributes
she received from her own and her hus-
ties through the play, the singing and the
dancing We're enough to carry over the
gaps In the play, as Mr.. Hoyt does always
although some of them We're not as good
as usual. MIR. Lanes topical song, with its
recognition of Cuban belligerency, was re-
ceived with a great shout. However. speech
can't tell what Hoyt production is-it re-
quires the five senses and an extra one or
two, II 1t happens to be handy.
The Columbia Theater.-Mr. Neil Burgess
was at work with his company and his
machinists until long after midnight get
ting the mechanical appliances which are
to be used in odd Miss Podd" in thorough
working order and putting the finishing
fective presentation CT what he hopes will
be his most successful play. 1t will be
given tonight.
The Academy.-A good house, which be-
came a pleased audience before the cur
tain went down on tine first act, greeted
Eugene Blair's revival of Mrs. Moods ia
nous old drama of the emotions, East
Lynne" at the Academy of Music last
night. The greeting was no less extended
to the lady herself, who is a neighbor to
US al in Washington, and woman whose
beauty would win for her had she no other
gifts. But she has. and as the jealous
wife and the sorrowing and repentant
woman she made Lady Isabel and Mad
anne Vine two powerful parts, appealing
irresistibly to all the stronger human feel
ings. AS Lady Isabel she was not only
beautiful woman but most womanly one,
with all the contrasting emotions of a
woman's nature depicted with a realism as
artistic it seemed natural. In the
shadow which follows her erring and dark
ems her life she impressed her hearers not
less strongly. and it may be truly said
that If any came to scoh at the old-time
play they certainly remained to praise.
Mr.. Edwin Ferry Sir Francis Levison
was quite the villain. and Mr.. Brownell as
the wronged husband was rather too arti-
ficial A good piece of work, and one that
pleased the audience always, was Mrs
Wrens dhe stars mother) Cornelia Car