Evening star., 1897-03-02
AMUSEMENTs.

lib1e entertainer. Mr.. Sol Smith Russell,
appeared at the New National Theater last
| night with the usual qualification on the
part of the audience. He has established
certain traditions for himself, and he lives
up to these with the utmost consistency.
The public expects to see him as a shy.
unconventional person. and there would
probably be a sense of disappointment if
any of his plays should by chance, exhibit
any dramatic originality or force other
than what is absolutely demanded to make
a background for the character he as
sumes. "A Bachelors Romance" Is the
latest member of an unbroken dynasty of
mediocre dramas recorded on Mr. Russells
programs from season to season. His part
Is that OF a literary man. who. after the
manner Of numerous other stage heroes,
ills in love- and wonders what can be the
matter with him. The role enables Mr.
Russell to be himself as unreservedly as
possible. and is therefore to be accepted
as popular achievement. Pathos has
been bestowed with a liberal pen. nearly
every character having at one time or an
other a chance to try his luck with the
lachrymal glands of the audience. But
there is. nevertheless. enough opportunity
for fun TO keep Mr.. Russeirs normal func-
tions from being perverted; and there was
enough response to the plunge into senti-
ment to show that tears are still ranked
among the histrionic luxuries "A Bach
elors Romance" shows q great deal of
skill in combining and CLOSING old mate
rial, and the atmosphere of tranquility
which Is absolutely essential in a play for
Mr.. Russell would prevent equally, am
bilious declamatory flights and abtect
horse-play. The most difficult role in the
performance is that of Sylvia. the bach
elor's ward who Unexpectedly grows up
1t is assumed in a highly creditable man
ner by Miss Bertha Creighton. George W.
Denham and Alfred Hudson both contrib
ute some admirable character delineation.
The audience was large, and SO prompt in
its approval that Mr.. Russell was COM
PEELED 70 deliver speech before the cur
tain when 1t rang down on the first act.
Whatever may be its uHacknowledged obli-
cations as to ideas. and its triteness of lit
erary method. there is gainsaying the
fact that "A Bachelors Romance" with
Mr.. Russell and Miss Creighton in the lead
ing roles. is wholesome and highly en-
joyable entertainment. There will be
matinee tomorrow. Wednesday, afternoon
end also one on Saturday.
Lafayette Square Opera House.-A mill
tary play next to hot political campaign
or declaration of war has the power of
stirring the diverse emotions of people, and
cne of the leading and latest of this class
of play is David Belasco'S romantic melo-
drama, The Heart of Maryland" The
scenes of the play are laid In the beautiful
Catoctin valley. not more than fifty miles
from Washington, and in this city the play
received Its first production, little more
than year ago Its success has been what
theatrical managers love to refer to as
phenomenal" and there was no indication
in the large audience last night of wan
ing popularity. There have been some
changes from the original cast, but not at all
to the detrimenI of the presentation, and it
would seem that each part was about as
well done as ii could be done. 1t is scarcely
necessary to recount the incidents of the
play, but chief in them is Mrs. Leslie Car
ter, VINO created the character of Mary
land Calvert, and has gone on improving
he ha m dc hnr ly
powerful actress in it. AS Col. Alan Ken
drick. her sweetheart, Mr.. Herbert Kelcey
Is a handsome Union officer, who looks as
well he plays. A very nasty villain in
deed. is Mr.. John E. Kellerd as Col. Thorpe,
and the scene in which Maryland Calvert
fills him full of bayonet jabs is not only
very strong but meets with the vOciferous
approval of the entire house. The death
scene of Lloyd Calvert. as done by Mr..
Williams is strong enough to make the
cold chills run down ones back. OF course,
the piece de resistance of the play is in
the third act when Mrs. Carter in a
burst of dramatic and theatric acroba tism
swings from the clapper of the bell in
the church tower and saves the life OF
her lover AS emotional actress in
this sensational scene no one can dispute
Mrs. Carters power. In all points the play
Went well and smoothly, and it was en-
joyed by fine audience, including among
the visitors Gov. Bushnell of Ohio and
party in decorated boxes Mr.. Abner Nc
kinley and Miss Mckinley and party and
number of theater parties all over the
house.
Columbia Theater.-The free" adaptation
of Lost, Strayed or Stolen by ]. Cheever
Goodwin has not taken from the original
musical farce enough of the French fun
and dash to hurt 1t in the least. 1t must
have been altogether too excruciatirgly
funny and amusing otherwise. AS 1t stands
now it proves most hilarious farce. with
a musical background not too dense to in
terfere with the enjoyment of those who do
not care for singing. and yet sufficiently in
evidence to cater to the happiness of those
who love light, catchy airs and sprightly
chorus singing The swish of French skirts
and the snap-dash of French comedy are
constantly on top of the production. which
is, fortunately, devoid of opportunities for
speciality work. and, so far an exceed
ingly frail farce be, it is legitimate.
The article Lost. Strayed or Stolen is
six-weeks-old baby, about to be christened.
BY curious complication arising from
divided authority in the parental house
hold. three godfathers are invited to Off
ciate. and the distracted father, a prosper
Gus Partisan florist, is about to plan an act
of violence to rid himself of the superfuous
talent in this direction when the baby dis
appears. The frantic father sings a song
and does dance. and then, accompanied
by the three godfathers, rushes off in chase
of the infant. This leads the quartet into
some very funny situations. In the second
act they turn up in the barrackJ room of
a regiment. where they are obliged 10 don
uniforms to escape detection when the cap
tain comes for inspection. The fun here is
mostly the result of grotesque cOStuming,
but ii seized the audience violently, never
theless. In the third act the chase winds
up In the boudoir of an actress, where the
pursuers. now reduced to three, become
dreadfully involved because of the jealousy
of the actress protector, a peppery-tem-
pered Cuban. The three men are set to
work as artisans, and the laughter result
ing from the comcaf situations is ceaseless
throughout the act. The baby is found in
the last act. and the farce ends with
rousing chorus.
Louis Harrison as the father is very
funny indeed. The three godfathers are
ably and humorously impersonated by
Messrs. Paul Dresser, Bob F. Cotton and
Claude Brooke. Bert c. Thayer makes a
handsome young conscript of aristocratic
associations and good vocal abilities, and
Mr.. Dan Packard has good part pes
simistic corporal. Miss Georgia Caine ap-
pears in only one act. but makes the most
of her opportunities there, and sings and
acts in a captivating manner. There are
upwards of score of pretty girls in the
company, all good dancers and singers. The
male chorus work in the second act is of
superior sort. 1T is Boy" kissing and
Two Heads Are Better Than One are
among the bright songs that punctuate the
farce. Last night the theater was crowded.
Grand Opera House Yesterday after
noon Eddie Foy and his American Travesty
Company in ''Off the Earth started in al
the Grand Opera House to break the rec