The evening times., 1896-04-21
AS THE CROWDS CONE OUT.

Excelsior, Jr.," delighted a large
audience at the Lafayette Square Opera
House last night. In fact, the people were
SO pleased with certain parts OF the per
formance that they demanded frequent
encores and not until 80 was the curtain
allowed TO descend upon the last scene which
showed the 1inal triumphs or W. II. EX-
celsior, Jr.
Mr. Edward E. Rice has been serving the
public with burlesque Tor many wears and
II has become so tnJt his name at The. mead
OF an attraction is a guarantee or quality
as well as quantity. THIS reputation is
visited the Opera House last night did so
FOR the purpose of being entertained Nor
were they disappointed. And yet Excel
sior, Jr." lacks the spontaneous Wit and
never-iragging action OF 'l492" Its music
Is no worse and no better, but its action is
slower.
The costumes and stage settings were
superb The female members OF the COIN
pany are pretty and well formed and the
choruses can both sing and dance Par
ticuiariy pleasing was tie Excelsior Snow
Ballet, led by Deyo. the beautiful soio
dancer, who Is an extremely clever artist.
by the way
, Messrs. U, L. Don, Wallace Black George
F. Campbell and Harry Earle, four or
Crutzner's Laughing Monks, make a quar-
tet that is hard 70 beat. Their singing at
the opening OF the second act caught the
could get Off the stage.
or course. no one looked for auy piot-
mat S one OF Rice's strong points: he doesn't
spoil the fun with lot of bewiIderinp
mysteries-but occasionally a gimj,se is
given OF what Excelsior really accom-
pilshed when he climbed over mountains
ana stroliea through valleys. by the acts
OF W. H. Excelsior, jr., his grandson who
moved mountains around at will Fay
Templeton essayed this role and showed
the chappies in the house what really
well dressed man looks like. She was liz
orally masculine fashion plate.
The hit of the evening was made by
MISS fvette Niolette, whose imitation off
fvette Guilbert was marvellous. The voice
accent a nd movement were true 70 nature
Miss Marie CahilI and Mr.. Seymour Hess
gave realistic rendition of The Coster-
mongers, While Artur Dunn, the diminu-
i've comedian was whole show in him
seif- Other members of the company We're
good and contributed TO the general merry-
making.
Sydney Rosenfeid, the indefatigab!e
brought his company OF players To the New
National last night in Il new comedy, The
Two Escutcheons."
The piece has been translated and
adapted from the German OF BumeHthaI
and kadelbcrg's "Zwei Wapper." Never
having seen or read the original it is i'm
possible to say where the line OF achieve
ment is to be drawn between origInators
and adapters, or TO say how well Mr
Rosenfeld has done his work. But the re-
SUIT in the dggre gate is satisfactory aud
the scenes, Situations and lines have SO
decidedly an American flavor that il is
easy To believe that Air. kusenlell Is 10 be
credited with large share in the work
The simple plot OF the play is about the
ancestral Interest of Il German noble man
and the pride of Chicago millionaire in
his modeI abbatoir. The son Of the former
exchanges in marriage share in his title
for u STARE oil the American pork pac ker's
wealth. Each father is inclined to think
his child has the worst OF the bargain
Ihe opportunity for fun is patent and the
dramatists have worked out the possible
measure OF humor from this slender sus-
gestion.
Charles Craig played Thomas Foster.
the American millionaire, and Robert F.
Cotton was the proud teutonic Barren
Won Wcttengen. Though exception might
be taken 10 the individual fidelity OF each
actor TO his type the contrast between the
two was marked and effective.
Vincent serrano played Rudolph, the
titled German, who tails into matrimonial
was sincere, artistic and finished
George Barkus. as the impecunious Capt
Won Vinck, gave an easy performance.
abounding in nice humor and Blending
well with his surroundings. The other
male characters were of minor import
Edythe Chapman was at her best as
Mrs. stevenson, the Chicago. widow. She
acted with more effect than usual. and |
as reward received a large basket of !
brilliant American Beauty roses. Miss |
Louise Murderer was the Baroness. and |
II was Il pleasing performance, marked by |
un usual evenness throughout.
Mirth and humor were served TO the au-
dience a t the Academy in generous and |
wholesome quantities last night when Mr.. |
Edgar Seldens farce comedy, "NcKenna's |
Flirtatiou." was presented here for the |
first time this season. 1t is an enjoyable
performance, and success is sure to lie It's |
portion here.
In addition to being the author of the
play, Mr.. Selden takes the leading part,
the character of Timothy MCKenna, and |
out his TOnceDtlOn adj |
mirabe manner. Mr.. Selden handles his
i'll a mirthful ma nner. that shows |
him to be a comedian of the clean, legi.i-
mate school. as well as a bumorist of no
mean ability.
The support is of the best. Miss Caro-
line Wolfe, young and pertty lady who,
under the stage name of Miss Mary Ellen
RYAN. is desperately infatuated with T.
ir., finds occasion to sing several
new songs in very pleasing manner before
the performance reaches the happy end that
ALWAYS comes to the comedy behind the
footlights.
Tho of lToEapna 10 |