Evening star., 1897-05-04
AMUsEMENrs.
LAFAYETTE SQUARE OPERA HOUSE

"A large audience witnessed q remarkably
handsome production Of Faust a: the
Lafayette Square Opera House last even
ing by the Castle Square Opera Company.
Seldom has this well-known work been
put on the stage in this city in such an
elaborate manner, and, of all the produc-
tfons seen here, that of Irvings stands
alone as its peer. Each one Of the six
scenes was splendid picture, while the
electrical Snects. for which Faust alone
affords such excellent opportunities, were
admirably conceived and as well carried
out The audience in attendance last night
fully appreciated the fact that grand oper
was being presented in most handsome
style at summer prices. and the applause
that was started with the appearance OF
Valentine in the second act was kept up
until after the beautiful picture that marks
the close OF the story. EncoraS were fire.
quent. and all of the jewels of the opera
had to be repeated. The work OF the COM
pany showed UP better. perhaps, than 1t
has in any of the previous productions
There is no doubt that the chorus of the
Castle Square Company Is one of the best
that has ever been heard in Washington,
and the famous soldiers chorus, the effect
of which was further heightened by scenic
beauties. received thunderous burst OF
applause that was well earned. Mr.. Will
hnm u. Stuart as Valentine easily carried
of the honors of the evening. His fine
voice was heard to advantage In his solo
In the second act, while in his death scene
lie easily scored the triumph Of the even
ing. Next to him Miss Mary L:nck made
such a success out of the small part OF
Siebel that she received a large share of
The generous applause. and was forced to
repeat all Of her solos. receiving a hand
some floral offering in the garden scene.
Mr.. Richie Ling made a handsome Faust,
and hts voice. while not powerful, is OIL
pleasing quality, and has good carrying
power. He seemed, however, to lack flre.
n fQ
guerfte, and both she and Faust seemed
not a little unfamiliar with their parts.
While Miss Kleins voice showed to ad-
vantage in some Of the numbers, she failed
to get the response that her work should
have demanded in the jewel song. Mr.. A.
G. Cunningham made a good Meph1s-
topheles, and, while his voice was not quite
heavy enough for the part, he sang all his
numbers in good style. and in the seccn;
act scored a hit with his Calf of Go:I
solo. His management of the electrical
effects was admirable. The small parts OF
Wagner and Martha were creditably taken
by Miss Gertrude Rutledge, whose con>
tralto voice came out splendidly in the
quartet, and Mr.. H. Vogel. Miss Rutedge
did not spoil her beauty by making up as
an old woman for the part Of Martha. bun
her voice made one forget this oversight.
Faust will be presented each evening
this week, with the customary matinees.
At the Wednesday matinee a feature will
be introduced in the shape of a rose matt
day will be given a choice variety. This
idea is one which has proved immensely
popular in Philadelphia, and the manage
nfent Of the Castle Square Company is sure
that 1t will be Just as well received at the
capital.
GRAND OPERA HOUSE.-A great au-
dience was that at the Grand last night to
see Alden Benedict and his company of
players in the romantic play, "Fabio Ro-
IT ami. or The Vendetta" a four-act dram
atization of Marie Coreli's story, and a
collection of startling and intense situa-
tions, warranted to send the shuddering
shivers down the backs of any audience.
In the first act. the scenery taken from
Turner's Bay of Naples We have the
plague and it's horrors, and buried alive;
in the second return to life in the tomb:
ir the third the statue of Phryne and the
recognition; in the fourth an eruption of
Mt. Vesuvius, and the dethronement of
eason. In these is the story of Fabio Ro-
manis supposed assassination by his faith
less wife and false friend. and the naturally
interesting situations that must follow,
when he proves to be alive and anxious to
bring the wicked couple to slow but sure
retrbution. Mr.. Benedict as Fabio is 4
slow and deliberate actor, and plays his
victims as cat would a mouse, yet the
audience would rather have more energy
and action. Mr.. Bowman as the false
friend, while stacy and disposed to sardonic
grinning, Is energetic, and Miss Olive West
as the wife, Is a handsoEler than she is
subtle actress. Mr. Sioane'S Respetti was
rather Manhattan than Neopolitan, but the
audience liked him. In fact. the audience
seemed to be enthusiastic on all points. and
when Miss Grace Hunter appeared in her
serpentine dances and showered herself in
gold and fire and flying rainbows about the
stage, she re ;eived a real ovation. She was
unmistakably the hit of the evening. The
stage settings were fine. and il Manager
Benedict will take little less time to the
production he should do all he wants to do.
THE BIOGRAPH.-The audiences at the
Biograph Sunday night and Monday indi-
Gated clearly the growing popularity of this
remarkable exhibition. In addition to such
favorste pictures as the pillow fight. the
horseless fire engine, the flying trains, the
steamers and the Inauguration scenes, a
lot of new ones have been added, notable
among them being two fine scenes taken
as the troops were passing Grants tomb
at the recent dedication in New York. A
cavalry drill and a scene at hurdle jumping
are other new ones, and a most interesting
enc Is that CT the noon dismissal of the
employees from large factory, and another
Is that of hundreds of newsboys crowd.ng
in to get their papers hot from the press
To add TO the uniqueness Of the exhibition
some of the pictures are reversed and the
audience can see the exact movements The
other way, which is almost uncanny in the
peculiar effect 1t has upon the observer
The hours are. Is usual, 2:3O 4:3O and SIS
pm.
THE BOY HTBERMAN.-when q true
artistic genius comes to the canitaI city
he or she Is taken up at once and given
the most generous patronage. The music
lovers and the amusement-seekers of
Washington are exceedingly caDtious and
there is probably no city in the country
that Is as hard to please as this one is.
Be this genius a dramatic star or a musi-
cal light. If he or she be true genius.
that Is all is asked. Such is the case with
BrOniSlaW Huberman, the boy yiOlinist
who has already given two recitals here.
and who. yielding to the opportunities of
those who have heard of him and those
who heard his mastery work, will play
again Sunday evening at the Columbia
Theater. Huberman gave his second re-
cital yesterday afternoon at the Column
bia and scored even greater triumph than
ne I'D on his first appearance here. The
Playing of the boy Is not SO wonderful as
his true musical intelligence, his power of
and his judgment. All these
are those of men three and
four times his age and the words of