Evening star., 1897-03-23
AMUsEMENTs.

New National Theater-Mr. Wilton
Lackaye had reason to feel proud Of his
welcome at the New National Theater last
night. This city has contributed so much
talent to the stage that the mere fact
that a performer is a native Of this city
Is not as a usual thing sufficient to de-
velop enthusiasm. The demonstration last
night was, therefore, a tribute to Mr.. Lack
ayes attainments more than to his posi-
ton as a Washington man, and 1t amounted
to nothing less than an ovation. He has
very cautiously adhered to the lines upon
which his conspicuous and recent success
was achieved. The title role in ''Dr. Bel
gran' is that Of man with dialect who
makes an unscrupulous use of hypnotic
porting cast includes people of merit and
reputation, the force Of the performance
is centered almost entirely in Mr.. Lack
ayes work. Miss Wainwright plays the
ment and power c. w. Couldock's per-
formance adds another creation to the
many which cause him to be affectionately
welcomed whenever he appears. But Bel
graft is the pre-eminent quantity. The
attraction Of the piece does not lie in its
qualities as a drama, but in the manner
in which Lackaye portrays the over
throw of powerful Intellectual and moral
himself is not to blame. The story is work.
ed out In way which takes but slight
account of the appetites of an audience for
rewards and retributions. This may have
been an intentional departure, but it elimi-
mates much of the difficulty, for the play
writer makes very gloomy story. Despite
the lack of regard for poetic justice, the
performance cannot but awaken interest.
Mr.. Lackayes Belgraff must command the
attention and admiration which attach to
a masterpiece.
Columbia Theater.-"Shamus O'Brien."
the Irish opera written by George JeSsOp,
and composed by DIR. Villiers Stanford, as
produced at the Columbia Theater last
night, was one of the most enjoyable pro-
drctions of English opera that has been
heard here for some time There are no
singers iE either cast or chorus who can
Individually be called great, but each one
in the presentation is fully able to cope
with all of the demands of his or ner part.
"Shamus O'Brien'' is the best acted opera
that has been seen here in many years.
Every member of the cast is finished ac-
tor, and the performance was notable in
that the dramatic side was fully as accept
able as the musical. The chorus was ex-
cellent, singing the various numbers with
volt me and precision. 1t was not only
splendid body of singers, all with fresh,
young voices, but was also one of the best
locking choruseS that has been here.
The book of the opera is written in
highly interesting fashion, being built from
James Sheridan Fanu's familiar poem
The music is written in the modern
school and is enjoyable There are num-
Der of pleasing airs, that carry themselves,
while at times the concerted numbers rise
to almost the height of grand opera. AT no
time does it descend to cheapness The
orchestra was augmented. and was led by
j. Clarence West. the regular director of
the company being Ill in Chicago. There is
a curious distribution of parts in the cast.
The villain, instead of being a bass is a
robust tenor, while the hero Is a baritone
A priest is baritone and hardy soldier
is tenor. Albeit, the parts were sung
and acted especially the latter, in a way to
please the most captious critic Joseph
o Mara. the villain with the tenor voice
carried off the honors if there were any
distinction to be made, both in his dra-
mauc WORK In portraying the temperamental
changes of his part and in his singing. He
showed the entire gamut of human emo
tions, from treachery to comedy and pa
thos, and did it so well it was almost for
gotten that he was the villain, and as such
naturally out of favor with his audience
Dennis OSuilivan. Shamus the hero
sang his role in good voice, and was in line
with o Mara in his acting. His athletic
bulld and splendid stage presence made
MIN favorfte at once. A. G. Cunningham
as the priest and Reginald Roberts as the
captain filled out the male quartet and
made as much success out of their parts
as did the two principals mentioned. Miss
Anna Roberts was suffering with a cold
but sang her part in good voice and. like
the rest. her dramatic work was excellent
She played the heroine, Shamus wife Miss
Carr Shaw, soubrette of pleasing voice
and appearance had an agreeable, though
not powerful. voice. and in many other
ways established herself as a favorite.
There will be no performance of "Shamus
OBrien' at the Columbia tonight the Bos-
ton symphony giving its last concert of
the season there.
Lafayette Square Opera House-A large
and fashionable audience, including in a
NUMBER or brilliant box parties the Vice
President of the United States and ladies.
the Speaker of the House of Representa-
tlVes and ladies', the secretary to the Presi-
dent and ladies and a number of senators
and representatives: last night attended
the first production in this city of Sardous
new play. "Spiritisme,' as presented by
Frohman company. 1t is safe to say that
Sardou can write a play which is some
what better than any one else can write
but in this instance he has not written one
WHICH is better than Sardou can write In
other words, while he has a plot of the
most Sardouesque character, there is more
OF the metaphysic than the dramatic in it.
and the result Is too much talk The plot
has the faithless wife Of a doting husba nd
represent to him that she is going away on
train, when, in fact, she goes across the
street to the house of her lover. The train
is wrecked and burned almost at the sta
ton and as the wife is supposed to be on
that train and is not found, she is given up
as dead. and she cannot contradict the
story lest a greater calamity result. The
spiritualistic feature of the play grows
out of the husband seeking by the practice
of spiritism to communicate with his dead
wife. She comes back to him In spirit, as
he thinks, and he forgives her. after she
has told him all. Then he goes farther
and forgfves her. when she tells him she
Is not a spirit. The difficult part of the
wife is played with great strength and
feeling by Miss Virginia Harmed; the role
of the husband is assumed with powerful
naturalness by Mr. Theo. Roberts, who
succeeds the late Mr.. Wheatcroft in the
part. Mr.. Barrymore as the lover and Mr.
Gilmour as the wife's cousin and best friend
present two strongly contrasted characters
with equal merit Mr.. VIM. F. Owen and
Mr. Charles Harbury are two physicians
one of France and one of Scotland, COM
pairing with each. as do Frenchmen and
Scotchmen. The play is cast as the Froh-
mans always cast their plays, and Sar
dou himself could scarcely ask that it be
put in other hands than now present 1t.
Academy of Music.-A fair-sized audience
witnessed the initial presentation of the
farce comedy Girl Wanted" in Washington
last evening at the Academy of Music.
What little plot there Is to the piece deals
with the trials of a rich mans step-sister
and daughter. his only relatives living, who
hope to become his heirs: but the rich man
threatens to leave the money to an old
friend in Maine. To prevent this threat be-
ing carried out various dissuises and tricks
are tried. Frank Bush. as the lover of the
niece of the rich man, assumes half doz-