Evening star., 1896-12-23
AMusENpNrs.

COLUMBIA TheateF.-NeN Buf&e99 new
play. THE ODD Miss P0dd." was given its
initial performance In Washington at the
Columbia Theater last night. The audience
was q gratifying one in point Of numbers
present, ana while not enthusiastic over
the play. was appreciative OF Its good
points as they were developed The Odd
Miss Podd" is Neil Burgess, of course. and
in this role he is as oda and quaint as the
title, and as amusing as ever. His inter-
probation Of the character Of the eccentric
New England spinster brought out all that
was laughable and homely in that part, and
afforded amusement for the audience dur
ing the entire evening. The plot OF the
play is not striking, but its iliogtcality at
times 10 thrown into the background by the
good work of a portion Of Mr.. Burgess
support. The Introduction Of mechanical
effects, including q flying machine which
disappears with Miss Podd; q race between
terest Of the play. The last act is full of
action and interest and the audience Is
kept in q good humor throughout. In this
act the worthy spinster concludes to die.
ceedingly laughable, Notwithstanding the
gruesome subject. The proposed funeral,
however, Is turned into a marriage engage
ment. and all ends happily Barley Nc
as Professor Obadiah Bird. the inventor of
the flying machine; Hannah Thompson
Hesbia Hookem; Genevieve Reynolds as
Mrs. Octavia Rockingham. Effie Densmore
as Laurie Carroll and May Taylor as
Faith Blake furnish the principal support
to Mr.. Burgess.
The essiah."-Those who are at all
familiar with music know what beautiful
work HandePs Messiah" is, and how much
Its beauties are enhanced when it is pre-
sented by a competent chorus, assisted by
good soloists. This is exactly the case
with its presentation by the Choral Soci-
ETY., which will take place December % and
30, at the Congregational Church, the
chorus ard the soloists being all that could
possibly be desired for a proper interpreta-
tion of the greatest Christmas music that
has ever been written. The interest in the
concerts. outside of the magnificent chorus
es which are a part of the work, centers in
the work of Ericsson Bushnell who will
sing the bass solos throughout. Mr.. Bush
nell needs no introduction to a Washing
ten audience. as he has been heard here be-
fore under the same conditions, and it is
Only necessary to say that he stands today
at the head of the oratorio bassos of the
world. The other soloists are on high
plane of excellence. Mrs. Nellie Wilson
Shir-Clin will sing the soprano parts. Miss
Sophie Church Hall the contralto and Mr..
William d. MacFarland the tenor 1t is
safe to say that the great chorus. under the
leadership of Prof. Josef Kaspar, has
never been in better shape than 1t is at
present, and there is no doubt of its ability
to give the splendid concerted numbers
found in this oratorio in the very best style
possible.
The Ice Palace.-The greatest amount
of interest has been excited by the six
days bicycle race which is to take place at
the Convention Hall Ice Palace next
week. and it is safe to predict that every
any liking whatever for the sport Of
bicycle riding will be in attendance at
some time or other during the pro-
gress of the meet. 1t is very seldom
ho roh o1orx oTn -
world is furnished to Washington people.
and, like the cycle show which was held
last spring. the race meet will no doubt
give great impetus to the sport in this
city. The races will not interfere with the
skating at all at the rink. and even with
the room for the track cut off from the
surface. the ice field will still be much
larger than that at the Baltimore rink A
skaters may reach the ice without fnterfer-
ing in any way with the riders, and the
best of accommodations will prevail for
spectators. Additional seats will be placed
around the ice outside of the track, and the
gallery, which will accommodate a great
number of people, will also be open and
htted with seats. Everything is now in
readiness for laying the track and putting
between Saturday night and Monday night
IN all probability. This arrangement of
seats VIII be great deal better than if
spectators were compelled to sit inside the.
the racers in sight is a source of great dis
comfort. AS the arrangement now is the
men may be kept in sight at every point
with scarcely movement of the head
1.-The Gay Parisians"-The LAFAYETTE will
shift next week from "Gay New York" to
a place that Is the synonym for gayety.
The Cay Parisians' being the attraction
for New Year week. This funny farce
from the French was seen here last season,
and its American success here and in ali
ha han hot
the company has never closed for a single
week since it's opening at Hoyt's Theater
New York, nearly one year and half ago
The reception of the adaptation of this
French comedy in America convinced Man
ager Charles Frohman that it would also
make all England laugh This belief has
been more than justified. the American
version Is now in it's fourth big month in
London, where it Is. being played under the
title OF "a Night Out" There has been but
one change in the splendid original cast
which embraces w. ]. Ferguson Mrs E. j.
Phillips, James o. Barrows, Margaret Cor
don, Charles B. Wells, Virgie Graves and
others almost as well known. The new
member of the company is charming Sadie
Martlnot who was specially engaged for
the role of the flirtatious Mrs. Paillard
There will be a special New Year matinee
and regular matinees Wednesday and Sal
urday.
"The Bostonians"-Th principal event of
next week is the annual engagement of the
Theater. Extended mention is not needed
to speak of the merits of this admirable
lyric organization. Suffice 1t to say, how
ever, that the famous singers who com
pose the company are not only local but
national favorites well. and the promise
is made that music lovers this season will
find the Bostonians in better singing form
than ever. Noted among the principals are
such well-known names as Henry CLAW
Barnabee. William H. Macdonald, Jessie
Bartlett Davis. Eugene Cowles, George
rockingham. Josephine Bartlett Hilda
Clark, Alice Nielsen, William E. Philip KeI-
ley Cole, Harry Brown, w. H. Fitzgerald
Gracia Quive, Charles r. Hawley, May Van
Dresser, l.. b. Merrill and others with S.
l.. Studley as musical director and r. H.
Burnside stage manager, reinforced by a
large and effective chorus and augmented
orchestra. By universal desire the Bos-
tonians will make a special revival of the
greatest of their successes, Robin Hood"
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, Satur-
day matinee and night, with Balfe's ballad
opera, 1.-THE Bohemian Girl" as the bill for
Thursday night and Friday matinee. and
Victor Herberts prince Ananias" for Fri
day night. 1t is sufficient to say that the
operas will be staged and mounted on the
same lavish and complete lines as charac-
terize all productions by this organization.
Seats will be placed on sale tomorrow morn
ing, ard there will be no advance in prices