Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-09
ADJUSTMENTS.

resses are wont to produce real tears as
evidence of the sincerity of their efforts, it
is quitely likely that Miss Dressler could
show genuine black and blue spots. She
possesses in an eminent and tangible de-
gree what is called the faculty of throwing
ones self into ones work. and the audience
watches with apprehensfve interest to see
where she will light. Miss Dressler Is en-
tirely a matter Of taste. She has a
tremendous, permeating vitality which
prompts superlatives in censure or in COM
mendation. as the case may be. Had she
enjoyed the advantages of discipline in a
higher field she might nave been a figure
or real artistic Importance 1t is impossi-
Bile to believe that SO much emotional and
physical energy as she possesses could not
somehow be utilized for the legitimate pur-
poses of the stage. AS it is, she runs riot;
she is bewilderingly genuine; she never
risks an assumption of any sort; she mere
ly romps. If she were less large or if her
snappy eyes had in them a ray of languish-
ment she might be demoralizing inf1u
ence. But her exuberanCes lack the re-
finement which would invite imitation.
"Courted Into Court is one of the skits
which have been so effectual in the efface-
ment of distinctions between the vaudeville
and the dramatic stage. Mr.. John j. Nc
Nally, its author, has valiantly blunted
many pens in the honorable labor of afford
ing people with good specialties facilities
1t may be that he once tried to put plots
in his plays. But he is older now and
wiser, and probably does not waste his la
Dor. The conversation is exceptionally
bright and spontaneous, and the characters
are well made up by an excellent corps of
entertainers. John c. Rice is a figure of
consequence in the cast He sings. dances
and dexterously avoids physical injury at
the hands of Miss DRESSER. Miss Maud
Huth's negro songs were among the most
praiseworthy and appreciated features of
the performance. The vocal endeavors of
John G. Sparks and Sally Cohen were also
received with approval. a gentleman whom
the program makes known as BILLY" Cliff
ford gave a unique and amusing touch of
the grotesque. while Jacques Kruger, in
lonely but welcome fashion, did some bona
fide acting. His picture of abandoned
old reprobate was worthy of a better en-
vironment 1t may be assumed that, as
often happens, the plot of 'Courted Into
Court was permitted to rearrange and de-
velop itself in rehearsals. There is bibu-
lous abandon about the result in this in
stance which makes 1t, to say the least.
uncanny. But the people on the stage are
funny, and the laughter and applause last
night were loud and continuous.
LAFAYETTE SQUARE OPERA HOUSE.
THE Girl From Paris as produced 600
times in England, 2O0 times in New York
and 90 times in Philadelphia, began a
weeks engagement at the Lafayette
Square Theater last night. to an audience
en- the first floor. The Girl From Paris"
is 4 connection of nonsense. some pretty
Sc nEs and choruses. some clever character
izations. rather fetching scenery and
wholesale exhibition of lingerie and hosiery.
Tie first part of the first act is rather
slJW, but with the appearance of the
French visitor and her irrepressible lover
the French spy, comes spice that fresh
ems UP things not a little. From that time
on 20 the end of the act there is exhibit
ton of OSCILLATION that would make Olga
Nethersole blush. The second act is i'm
measurably better tAan the first, and it
may be said that the first act is really but
an Introduction or a prologue for the fun
and hlarity that follows in the second.
There are some catchy and clever songs
in the piece, the majority Of which are,
however. of the nonSensical sort, but, as
they caught onto the popular fancy and
drew from two to eight encores apiece it
would seem AS though no fault could be
found with them. This act is almost a
continuous performance in the way of
laughter and if the first portion could be
made as attractive the second the rea-
sor. for the Girls great success would
re plainly apparent. There are seven peo-
pie about whom the action revolves and
while the cast is a long one. The remainder
are simply in the way of enlivening ma
terial- The east is not the same as that
Hhicn appeared in New York and Phila-
dciphia, but it would seem as though the
present one would be hard to beat and
especially the new ones who have stepped
Cara Lipman's place as Julie Bon-Bon
the gay Parisienne. was taken by Ollie
Redpath. and, although she had but two
rehearsals in the part. her work, outside
OF Inc accent, defied any one to make a
comparison. Her appearance is chic while
her voice has cute ring in it that is r-
reslsuble. and her work may be character
ized as complete success. Nick Long
lolloWed IN the footsteps of Joe Herbert
as the French spy, and he also made quite
as much of success as did Ollie Rednath
Louis Mann, who had been doing the Ger
man innkeeper. also left the comnany
nut his absence would never be noticed
in the way James Sullivan did his work
In fact. the German was the very life of
tne second act, and his characterization
was one of the best hits of that sort of
work that has been seen here Josenbine
Hail as the English savey Ruth caught the
mousse at her first appearance and secured
Sister Mary James Top Note" making in
all probability the biggest hit of the even
ing Mr.. Frank Smithson as the gallant
major OF the Battersea Butterfly Shooters
ha9 character that exactly fitted him.
and his excellent work fitted the character
as We'll Edwin Chapman and Beniam min
Howard had two small parts bur they did
their work we'll Miss Phoebe Coyn. Miss
. .Ile h simpson and Miss Millie Wilson
also nave small parts, but they do them
Wen MISS simpsons voice and Miss
ocynes comedy abilities shining with
quiet brightness; Mr. Alexander Clarke
lrg light and added not a little to
the success of the production by his dry
humor as we'll as by his GOOD stage bust
hess In the second act Two interpola1ions
that found favor We're a French uuadrilIe nv
eight dancers and Miss Anita Wilson the
GanselIse of the company, the latter receiy-
ing an immense basket of flowers for her
C,eVer work. "
GRAND OPERA HOUSE-It was a whole
kihS VINO held audience last night at the
Grand Opera House, in the person of Fran
CTS wilson If two halves make a whole
as mas been stated. there was no doubt of
ms Half A King has been here twice
ana the house which greeted this excellent
company in the three-act comic opera. wos
not only large one. but a most represen-
iatiVe one in every particular in seeming
acknowledgement of this. In the role of
iireschappe, a mountebank Mr. Wilson
mas vehicle which seems to fit him to
perfection. 1t is doubtful If he ever ap-
peared in any part where he had a better
or as good opportunity to display the pecu-
mar talents, apparently original with no
olner comedian than himself. In the
Merry Monarch" he made a decided hit
with Washingtonians. he did as Cadeaux
In Erminie," bat from the frequent ap-
pause which he received, and which he
shared with other members of his company
last night. he is best liked in this. AS Pier