Evening star., 1897-04-06
AMuSEMENTS.-


lightful comedy. an excellent company Of
players and a crowded and appreciatfve
house were the features of the presenta-
ton Of The Hobby Horse at the Lafay-
ette Square Theatcr last night. Mr.. John
Hares first appearance in Washington this
season vas greeted by the theater geers in
manner which must have been accepted as
most cordial welcome by himself and
his associates. THE Hobby Horse writ
ten by Arthur W. Pinero, supplies char
acter Of humor, somewhat dependent upon
a knowledge of certain English social con-
ditionS. At time does the mood Of the
audience go beyond broad smile or
ripple of laughter. but is kept in con-
tinual state of amusement, throughout.
The play includes horsey characters but
there is no horse play. The plot is replete
with amusing complications, the cause Of
which the audience IS familiar. of course.
though the characters do not understand
it all until the finale. 1t is altogether like
ly that last nights audience would agree t
had not witnessed a more pleasing COM
edy this season. Mr.. John Hare is the CEN
trail figure throughout the performance, al
though that fact is not obtruded upon the
observer. partly by reason of Mr.. Hare's
own handling Of the part he takes. and by
tie prominence which the good acting of
the ether players give to their parts. Mr..
Hare represents Spencer Jermyn, an old
gentleman, who is ardent admirer OF
who has young wife, childless herself and
with an overweening desire to manage
philanthropic institutions for the rearing
of orphans. MIR. Jermyn is willing to con-
ccde something to his wife's philanthropic
penchant. but insists that their philan-
thropy shall be extended not to children,
but to aged and infirm devotees of the
sport of horse racing. Mrs. Jermyn de-
cides to take plunge into practical phil
anthropy, after her own ideas, without
the knowledge of her husband which she
does in his absence from home. With this
the trouble commences. She takes service
as lady'S companion in the household OF
a young rector. poor and prospectless, but
with a capacity for falling violently in
love with Mrs. Jermyn, nevertheless. This
naturally results later in very embar-
RAISING complication for Mrs. Jermyn and
also makes an unpleasant quarter of an
hour for the young lady, a guest In her
husbands house. whose name she as
sumes in her escapade. very pretty love
rector's tender passion, and 1t seems q
pity to mar it by the rude upsetting Of
his ideals, which follows the discovery
that Mrs. Jermyn was already married
and mad been totally but unaccountably
ignorant of the fact that she had been
eEmes hing his affections. The collapse of
Mr.. Jermyn's scheme for philanthropy to-
ward the impecunious worthless of the
race track and the distressing termination
Of mis- wifes efforts along her own lines
leads to the happy determination of the
one to desert the race track and pay more
attention to his wife. and to the other to
reserve her philanthropy for home con-
sum -ption, In the wisdom OF which cOnclu-
sion the audience, which had been the wit
ness Of all that had transpired, fully con-
CURED.
AS to those who took part in the play
only the highest commendation of their
efforts is in order. 1t is needless to tell
Washington theater goers that Mr.. John
Hare is one of the most delightful come
dians upon the stage. In the first Ameri-
can tour he established that reputation,
which he now fully sustains. Mr.. Hare S
company. from the Garrick Theater, Lon
don. includes actors whose several parts
are SO well taken that 1t would almost be
invidious distinction to praise one above
another.
Columbia Theater-"The Mysterious Mr.
Bugle' is the broadly farcical title of the
moroeau which the Columbia Theater Of
fers this week. 1t is one of the new ar
rivals in the theatric field and the unusual
ly excellent cast carried the brisk compli-
cations along without a perceptible jar
1t is remarkable that when Mr. Frank r
Stockton amused the reading public will
1.-The Late Mrs. Null no enterprising Ora
matist seized upon the idea of the mythica
husband as one which would lend itself te
the stage. Miss Madeline Lucette Ryley
whose preparation of The Social Highway
man for the stage earned her instant rec
ognition as a possessor of the dramatic in
AN American Citizen showed that she
| had share of inventive power. In th'
| Mysterious Mr.. Bugle" she develops hel
story with dash and independence and tn,
| audience testified its appreciation withou
| stint. The jealousies and mishaps which
| the imaginary husband causes are ingeni
| ously arranged. There is an air of IRE
| sponsible persiflage about it all which re
| minds the auditor of some of the most sue
| ceSsful European farces; this impressio:
| being heightened by certain apprehension
| that, while the complications may b.
| straightened out to the satisfaction of tn
| persons concerned, 1t will be difficul
| matter to silence any gessips not menticne,
| on the program who may hapen to be mum
| bered among the acquaintance Of the char
| aCterS.
| unusual to her: and those who have 81
| long admired her for her gentle idylli
qualities cannot but be SURPRISED at tn
| manner in which she suits herself to tn
| role Of a reckless and rather menda cicu
| young woman, at the same time mellowinj
| and refining it, Other actresses Nigh
make the part more sparkling, but few.
any. could make it as lovable. Joseph Hol
| land is an actor who is always welcomed
He dignifies ali that he touches. and point
| sharply the distinction between the come
dian and the buffo by invariably claimin
the sympathies of the spectator and en-
abling the audience to laugh with him In
| stead of merely at him. He has assste
many times in providing a narrow escap
for plays which ill-repaid his efforts whe
they survived But he has at all time
impressed himself as an actor who pre-
| serves the best of the old traditions of tn
stage, and who Is at the same time aler
to avail himself of the best Of moder
| ideas. He has appeared several times
this city at comparatively short interval
lately, and the public has learned to ex
pee. good things from him. His welcom
when he appeared last night showed tn
confidence and esteem which his unoster
tatious but able and sincere methods hav
won for him. Mr.. Guy Standing Is anothe
actor who contributed good workmanshi
to the performance of The Mysteriou
Mr.. Bugle." Agnes Findlay was excelIen
but not conspicuous. The cast Is a sma
one. and the characters were In every pal
| ucular assumed in manner which did nc
| permit any of the numerous good thing
which sparkle through the piece to be los
for the lack Of a competent interpretatio
There is no daring originality in M
Bugle,' but it Is neither conventional nc
trite. 1t presupposes favorable dispos
tion on the part of the auditor and If
fails to meet it on a plane Of genial irr,
sponsibility the loss is his own. If he d,
sired something of poetic splendor or
study in social economy he should ha,
been warned by the title.
National Theater.-The return
Madame Sans Gene at the New Nation
Theater last evening was welcomed by