Evening star., 1897-05-18
AMUeHllENTS.

AMUD6AENTSs
COLUMBIA THEATER-The Columbia
Theater last night was in gala array to
invite the public to witness the new stock
company in a new play. The summer sea-
sons hsve heretofore been productive Of
much that was excellent In the way Of re-
vivals. Indeed, despite q more modest scale
Of prices. there were many who found
greater genuine attraction In the old-fasn-
ioned plays than in a majority OF the offer-
ings of the regular season. The Columbia
management last night exploited a brand
new piece. entitled "A First Offense." from
the pen Of Mr.. Paul Wilstach. IA First
Cffense" Is not comedy, as announced on
the bills, but q farce. The human proba-
bilities are handled with rollicklng free
dom which betokens shrewd reliance on
the fact that II an audience can be made
to laugh 1t will be grateful and not demand
a punctilious logical accounting from tho
author as to the means employed. The
people wear the costume of the present era,
but they are no moro to be held accountable
for their departures from modern standards
of propriety than a party Of gnomes and
mixes. The piece Is European in its general
Quality-a gay husband. gay wife, gay
bachelor friend. gay prirna donna and q
gay defaulter being the characters about
whom number Of intricate convolutions
of circumstance are drawn. The conversa-
ton Is breezy and with very little attempt
dt SpElSully TGpdTtSe Inc ueCnuElSul OI
the plot is the chief element OF strength in
the production. The company did its work
In a manner which makes the prospect of
further acquaintance with 1t pleasing
1cle OF Major Eza Gaibyrd. whose flirtatious
tendencies years could not efface, with ire
sistible JUNCTION. A. 8. Lipman assumed
the character of the husband with
warmth and spontaneity which showed
that. notwithstanding his training as an in
terpreter OF more graceful phases of emo
ton, he can adapt himself to the demands
OF the purely comic. The wife was Miss
hainerlne Grey, whose sweet occurrences
OF race and manner were almost sufficient
te justify the extraordinary credulity which
the author required her for selfish consid-
erations of plot-development to manifest
Miss Grey is winsome and capable actress
with the unostentatiousnes oe method
which denotes intelligence and sincerity
Mr; Henry Bergman was the defaulter
and Miss Grace Mae Lamkin the prima don.
ma. Mr.. Alfred Hickman Interpreted with
good results the quietly whimsical role Of
gentleman who chafes under the necessity
od nelng nobody In particular. The two
servants, played by Mr.. Geoffrey Stein and
MISS fearl Evelynne. should be conspieu-
ousiy mentioned. They are the two nor
sonages whom Mr.. Wilstach has permit
Gal deu 10 come out OF the three acts with un-
damaged regulations. And the merri,nent
OF the audience was such as 10 show that
the absurdity and cleverness of Ii all were
sumc1ent to prevent serious resentment of
personae were scandalizing themselves
Several absolutely novel idels which "A
First Ofense" presents entitle il to be un-
ieservedly nailed as one Of the dramatic
luxufles OF the season. A box party includ-
ed Nine. de Szalay, wife of the postmaster
general OF Hungary; Major Boza Jain of the
iersian army, MIR. Hennily. assistant post
master general of Hungary, and Mr.. Yu-
kana japanese delegate to the postal con-
gress.
IA
The Castle Square Opera Company estab-
lished itself still more firmly in the favor
Of Washington theater- -goers last night by
presenting Bizet's charming opera of Car
men, at summer prices, and giving it in
manner that could but add to the already
high reputation Of that company at the
capital. The story of Carmen" without
the music is not so attractive, but when 1t.
is placed in the setting formed by Bizets
tuneful and inspiring score the work be-
comes magnet for lovers of music, and
draws, matter how conditions may af-
feet other works. Especially is this the
case when the opera is sung by compe-
tent chorus and by a competent cast, as it
was last night. The chorus outdid itself,
and received round after round of applause
for its work. The announcement that Liz
Zie Macnichol was to sing Carmen un-
doubtedly had an effect on the size of thu
house, and 1t may be said that her friends
and those who only knew her by their ac-
.quaintance with the stage were surprised
acted the part and the artistic manner in
which she sang her role. 1t has long been
the ambition of Miss MacnichoI to sing
Carmen and now that she has had an op-
portunity to display her powers in the part,
1t may be said she has succeeded admirably
In her conception of the gypsy character
Anna LIGHTER as Michaela divided the hon
ors of the evening with Miss Macnfchol
and received an emphatic encore for her
song In the third act. Miss Wynne and
Miss Castlerrigh were good as the gypsy
comrades of Carmen Richie Ling sang
Don Jose. and while his acting, as was, in
deed, that of nearly all the men in the pro-
duction, was almost above reproach. his
singing was hardly up to the mark. Ar
.nur cunningham as Escamillo sang his
numbers. and especially the Toreador song.
Iecnnlcaiiy correct, but his work lacked
fre and dramatic force. The orchestra did
good work last night and added not a little
Chic had his enlarged forces we'll IN hand
and showed at all times a thorough know1,
edge OF the work. The opera was hand.
som somey H,,e eostumed st, and staged, as is the
Sase win M all the production of this conn
-pany Carmen" Is to run all this wsaL
ana very probably before many more ner'
ioImances the male factors will eyince a
t..e it;aS more intelligence and better capabii-
i'ies Ior singing their respective roles
The NATIONAL THEATER-In his
eca''0n conpee M from the work of Francois
Juiia Marlowe and Robert Taber in :.For
Bonnie Prince Charlie" a four-aet ro-
mantlc play, which in the first two acts =.
not In the least representative of what The
next TWO Will be, for In these latter two is
q the romance. the pathos and the beautv oT
II an. The story briefly is to the effect that
saan Mary. oeggar girl, discovers a love af-
Ialr between the young pretender Prince
Sharhe, and Lady Clanmorris, wife Of
leading clan chief. and the chiefs SUSPECT
ing something Is wrong determine to dis
70 refuse their aid to the prince. thereby