Evening star., 1896-12-30
AMUsEMExTs.

mortal work, the Messiah" For q num-
Der Of years past, in fact, annually since
1890, the Choral Society has produced at
Christmas time this oratorio, based on the
birth, life and death Of our Savior. Repeti-
ton, it seems, only serves to enhance the
interest on the part of the public. especial
ly as the society does not do its work in a
perfunctory manner. This latter was true
Of the production last evening. From the
opening to the close the chorus, which was
not as large as on some previous occasions,
sang not only with precision but vigor. Its
excellent work was the feature of the even
ing, and 1t Is not too much to say that this
production ranks with any previous work
of the kind undertaken by the society. An
increase in the volume of sound. which. of
course, would follow an enlargement OF
the chorus, Is about all that was left to be
desired in the chorus portions last evening.
The only instrumental accompaniment
John Porter Lawrence. who performed this
difficult and really arduous task with de-
gree Of musical ability and sympathetic ap-
probation Of the spirit Of the oratorio that
was quite remarkable. 1t might be also
added. in view of the doleful experiences of
the past, when 6n orchestra was considered
necessary in the proper. produc ton OF this
oratorio, that Mr.. Lawrence played gen.
utne accompaniment and did not force
either the chorus or soloists into the place
" hich the composer has allotted to the in
strumental music. In supplying the back
ground Of sound for the vocal portions, Mr..
Lawrence proved his mastery OF himself,
and in the playing of the celebrated pastor
al symphony and the beautiful Introductory
passages to several Of the arias he showed
his command of the instrument and an
artistic appreciation Of the composition.
Mrs. Nellie Wilson Shir- Cliff sang the So
prano parts with the spirit and style which
has made her a favorite with a large pro-
portion Of the music-loving people of the
Hn1 nfroI Ito
voice was heard to advantage especially in
the aria HE Shall Feed His Flock" the
sympathetic quality of her voice being ad-
mirably adapted tt an effective interpreta-
ton OF this passage. Mr.. w. D. Mcfarland
sang the tenor parts with the accuracy
which is such a characteristic feature of his
method snd which has given him an estab-
ltshed place among local musicians.
The expectation that had been aroused
by the previous performances in this city
of Mr.. Ericsson Bushnell, the well known
basso, was fully maintained by his singing
last evening. The sweetness, as well as
the compass Of his admirable voice, which
Is said to be without an equal in this coun-
try, was heard to advantage. His singing
of that extremely lorid and difficult aria,
why do the Nations so Furiousy Rage"
evoked from the audience an ovation en-
thusiastic in it's warmth and a deserved
tribute to the work of conscientious and
gifted singer.
The Messiah will be repeated this even
luS dl Tic same place anu Dy tHe same
singers.
"Sue."-The leap for life through a win
dow made by Guy Standing, who plays
the part of a handsome but cowardly
acrobat in Bret Hartes Sue" which will
be played for the first time in Washington
next week at the Lafayette Square Thea
ter. is probably the most heroic final exit
mude by any stage villain in modern
drama. So cleverly Is the scene worked
up tfat the spectators hold their breath
when the athletic figure shoots out of sight
and there is a sigh Of relief when the on
lockers announce that he has caught the
branch twenty feet from the ground, which
is his only hope Of life. That the branch
is really mattress spread on the stake
just outside the window never for mo-
ment suggests itself as possibility, so
clever and thoroughly natural is the leap
and the affected suspense of the other
characters.
Sousa.-What Strauss and his waltzes are
to Germany, Austria and France. Sousa
and his marches are to america. This
gifted bandmaster writes and arranges
with the deftnesS of master and so
skilffully and with such consummate tact
is everything displayed, both harmonically
and picturesquely. that it leaves no void
nothing to satisfy, nothing to complete.
His subtle tact In the disposal and distri-
button of parts, the mastery mode by
which he eqnalizes labor. the shrewdness
with which he manages to keep every
thing, from the piccolo to the big drum, in
constant action and notion without once
for an instant merging into the repeti-
faculty such as is vouchsafed to few.
Sousa comes to the Lafayette Opera
House for one concert next Sunday ng!lt
the sale Of seats opening tomorrow at the
box office.
Dear Irish Home.-If advance sales are
any criterion to go by, then there is not
the least doubt. but that a crowded house
will greet Dan Mccarthy at the Bijou
Theater next Monday evening" when he
Will produce his latest success. The Dear
Irish Home" and Manager WniteseH
should be complimented on securing sucn
good and popular drawing card. Dan
Mccarthy has always been a big favorite
with the theater-gofng public of this city,
and 1t is safe to predict. that he will re
celve warm welcome from his many ad-
mirers. Seats should be secured early, in
order to avoid the rush the night of the
performance.
Rice and Barton's Gaiety Burlesque Com
pany.-Rice and Barton's Big Gaiety Ex-
travaganza Company will be the attraction
at kernan's Lyceum Theater next week.
The performance begins with lovely bur-
letta, entitled "a Trip to Boston," which
serves to introduce the entire company
on board palace steamer. There Is a
multiplicity of incidents which make the
trip an eventful one, and the passengers
disport themselves in song and dance, and
indulge in divers pastimes. The musical
NUMBERS, Wnlcn Just give the plot time
to unravel, are pretty and exceptionally
well rendered. The olio, which Is above
the average. Is interspersed with several
mastery grt Upings, made up of acknowl-
edged artists who have long held rank as
speciality stars, including Rice and Barton,
the Washbuln Sisters, frankie Haines,
Clara Lawrence, Mildred Phillips, Ruth
Robinson, Crawford and Manning and Ir-
win T. Bush.
"a Milk White Flag."-Next week at
the National Theater Hoyt's musical COM
edy a satire on the citizen soldiery, en-
titled. "A Milk White Flag will be SEEN
This piece has been given here before,
and will be remembered as combining ali
the essentials to a popular performance.
1t is comedy. light opera, extravaganza
and vaudeville show all in one, and goes
with delightful dash that makes it the
most entertaining of all the Hoyt pro-
ductions. The first act contains the bright
est lines of any of Hoyt's plays, and the
entire production is up to the clever stand
ard of this act Since Its last presentation
here Mr. Hoyt has improved upon this his
pet piece, and added much that is claimed
to be new and novel, new music has been
abundantly supplied as well as specialties
that are heralded as being sensa tional.
The cast has also received his attention,
and has been materially strengthened by
the addition of such people as Harry Gil