Evening star., 1897-03-30
AMUsEMENTs.


in his discourse the recklessness OF youth,
and possibiy it is the same instinct that
causes the human race In its present era
of civilization to delight IN the CLINT OF
arnnor and the clash of foils. AN Enemy
to the King vas performed at the La
fayette Square Opera House last night,
and the various methods of expressing ap-
provaI from the shril whistle Of the gal
lery gamin to the gloved plaudits OF the
ladies' In the boxes, were In evidence. MI
E H. Sothern portrays the hero with q
grace which captivates the matinee CON
ti1gent and with a vfgor which enllsts tne
approval of the less susceptible male The
public has learned to like him quite as well
In medieval costume as in evening dress.
So thorough a transition successfully ac-
complished leaves no doubt of his versa
tiity. fortunate thing 1t Is that his
gentlemanly drawl and his occasional
rigidities of facial expression adapt them
selves happily to any role that he cares
TO assume. The play is a rapid succession
of episodes. exciting and skillfully devised.
from the per of r. \. Stephens. 1t Is
rather c. piece Of mechanism than an am
bilious literary attempt, although there
are sentimental passages handled with
great delicacy and with facility of Ian
guage. The story confines itself rather
severely to the fortunes of the Huguenot
hero CMr. Sothernb and his lady love (Miss
Mary Hampton).
None of the other characters present
very strong claim to the sympathies of the
audience. They assert themselves in con-
nection with the plot more than is alb
solutely essential for the development of
the situations in which the star and the
leading lady are concerned The effect is
a certain attenuation in the story. In a
large number of cases the men seem
scarcely more than figures upon which to
hang costumes. Their garments faSten the
attention of the spectator in a way that
leaves a little disappointment over the dis
coVery that they are. in sense, only
pernumeraries. There is a disposition on
the part of the supporting company to eX-
press agitation and suspense by extremely
hurried utterance- The result is sacrifice
of distinctness in enuncia ton. which in a
play where the action is rapid often
threatens to obscure important suggestions
as to cause and effect. Mr.. Sothern mod
estly put from him what to most actors
would have been an irresistible temptation
to make a speech. While An Enemy to
the King will not eclipse former features
of this actors repertoire. it is consistent,
romantic play, full of unhackneyed mate
rial, and showing resources in structural
detail worthy of Sardou himself. Last
nights house was an unmistakable omen
OF good business for the week.
Columbia Theater.-The audience which
witnessed the presentation Of "Heartease"
by Frohman's company at the Columbia
Theater last night found occasion to con-
cur in the favorable advance notices of
this production. The play and the COM
in Washington, which the old theater-
goers prophesy will be accentuated the
week grows. 'Heartease," as its old-fash-
ioned title implies, Is a play Introducing
characters and scenes of the olden time
Powdered wigs and patches, queues ana
sruftDoxes and the air of courts and gal
lants take the observer easily back to the
year 1875 In London town. when the sea-
son was at its height. But as the contrast
between a burch of garden heartsease and
a cluster of exotics, Is the sincere and SIM
pie characters of Eric Temple and his sis
ter to the brilliant Lady Neville and the
Inscriptions Sir Geoffrey Pomfret. TIE
writers of "Heartsease.' Charles Klein and
j. L. c. Clarke, have made consistency the
sustaining element of the thrilling scenes
OF human interest which they portray.
There is no strainng for effect and the
author have worked up TO the several
brilliant and stirring climaxes easily and
naturally In the course of the story. In
the last act is a climax totally unexpected
and surprising, but Immediately acceptable
by reason of its fitness and exceedingly in-
teresting in its detail. provoking the audi
| ence to spontaneous applause. The motive
of the play centers upon the struggles of
Eric Temple. a musical genius of good
birth, for fame through the production of
his opera as a stepping stone to gain the
love of the Hon. Miss Neville, the step
daughter of Lady Neville. who is the young
wife of an old husband. The plot is com.
plicated in the first act by the secret af-
| fection of Lady Neville for Eric Temple
| Miss Neville. Sir .offrey Pcmfret in his
| efforts to separate Miss Neville and Erie
| Temple steals his opera, presents it as of
| his own production and reaps fame and
| praise, but which is snatched from him by
| the return of Temple and discovery of the
| perfdy. The company includes some of
! Charles Frohman's best people, whose
| Lames are familiar to Washington theater
/ gCers. Mr.. Henry Miller is the star and as
| Eric Temple interpreted the part in such
| manner as to deserve the highest praise
| he has long been favorite here. but in
| this part he has surpa all his former
| work and proved himself an actor of the
| highest attachments. Mr.. John T. Sullivan
as the villain in the person of Sir Godfrey
| Pomfret, sustained the reputation which
| he has already won actor Mrs
| Thorndyke Boucicault, Lady Neville wor
| her way Immediately into the hearts OF
| those who had never seen her and main.
tanned the position which she held in ths
| estimation of old admirers. Miss Grace
| kimbaH, who made such a favorable i'm
| preston when she was here with Mr. Soth.
| ern, successfully assumed the difficult role
| of the Hon. Miss Neville. The other mem.
| bers of the cast were fully up to the stand
| ard. There were eight curtain calls fol-
! the company at the close of the third ac
| and Mr.. Henry Miller was compelled tt
| make speech.
The Natinoal Theater.-To these who saw
| MIR. Thomas Q. Seabrooke in Broadhurst':
play, Tine Speculator, when it was pre-
sented in Washington the first time. ther.
was feeling that, while Mr.. Seabrook,
and his supporting company were emf
nently capable people. there was no
enough In the play to bring out the full
strength of its Interpreters. There was
sense of disappointment along with this
too. for the audience felt kindly TOWARD
both players and playwright. Last nigh
Mr. Seabrooke, accompanied by an equal.
strong cast, presented The Speculator' a
the National, and the large audience sool
came to the conclusion that it was quite
good enough play. played in quite goo'
enough manner for anybody. In othe
words, it was a success. OF course, i
nay be criticised, and 1t may be com
| pared with other plays in which stool
| gambling excitement Is the spirit of til
action, but neither criticism Tor compari
son takes away from its generally attrac
tive qualities. Mr.. Set brooke the oil
speculator. John Fullerton. and Horac
| Mitchell his son Robert constitute on
/ combination on the market. and agains
II are a. II. Stuart as Henry Duncan an
Miss Lorraine Dreux as his daughter, Il
| love with Robert Fullerton. In that Is tn
| play, the Fulartons fighting to destro
Duncan. and making no less effort to saw
| the daughter ont of the wreck Anothe
pair of lovers, less prominent, are c.. W
Mcdonald as n heavy swell Englishma
/ and GeneyieVe McCloud as Lillian Fuller