Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-31
AMUsEMENTs.

ton dramatic season was inaugurated last
night by Mr.. Robert Downing, an actor in
whom the city naturally feels a peculiar
interest. Mr.. Downing's pre-eminent quail
ity 70 enterprise combined with con-
scientious patience in pursuing the highest
ideals of his art He is not only an actor,
but producer of plays. and, while some
of his enterprises may have lacked the
qualities which arouse the popular fancy
to unanimous applause. they have without
exception been sufficiently lofty In their
aims and careful enough In their inter-
probation as to command public interest
and critical respect. He has a novelty in
store for this season, but with business
like prudence the management displayed
its wares to the best advantage by OPEN
ing with ''Virginius'-one Of the good old
fashioned tragedies in which the various
members of the cast are permitted to as
sert themselves as central figures Of occa-
sional scenes. The role of Appius Claudius
permits Edmund Collier to impress HIM
self as an actor of admirable presence and
as forceful reader; that of Icilius en-
ables Mr. Eugene Moore to claim favorable
notice for his intelligent ideals and his con-
scientiously bestowed energy. Caius Claud-
ius presents opportunities which Mr. Alex
ander Carleton improved, and the role of
Dentalus was assumed with the rugged
force which 1t demands by Clement St.
Martin. Virginia was played by Miss AIDE
laide Allen with sweetness, fervor and dis
netism necessary to realize the highest
possibilities of the part And the star HIM
self was at his best Whether the cause
was the fact that the occasion was a re-
union on the fifth anniversary of his first
appearance under w. A. McConnell's man
agenent; whether it was the inspiring
presence of his brethren of the Mystic
Shrine, or whether 1t was the hearty ap-
plause which greeted the performance, the
fact stands that Mr.. Downing has never
given more satisfactory performance
than that of last night. 1t has not always
happened in his case that art overshadowed
avoirdupois, but happily surrounded as he
was as to support and with the benefit of
excellent stage management, he brought
the woes of the Roman father home to the
hearts of his audience, and further forth
fled the approval he had already earned
by very happy little speech In response
to curtain recall. Tonight Mr.. Downing
will be seen in "Othello.
SUITLAND PARK TOURNAMENT
There is to be a merry time at Suitland
Park tomorrow. 1t Is the occasion or
grand tournament and dress ball. All the
finest riders will be on hand. me tlltlng
will begin promptly at 2 pm. A full band
will be in attendance to make things go
off with rush. The browning of the queen
will take place at pm. In addition TO
all this merrymaking there will be dancing
all day long and in the evening. With all
these opportunities for fun, it will be inn
possible to put in a dull day at the Park.
big crowd, and there is sure to be one.
There will be buses every few minutes
from IL to O'Clock to take the folks from
the Navy Yard to the Park. Everything
has been arranged for the convenience of
the guests.
KERNAN'S LYCEUM THEATER.-The
periodical visits of Miacos City Club are
always gratifying to the patrons of ker-
mans, but the present incursion OF the COM
pany has excited unprecedented enthuiasm
among these who lake delight in pretty
faces and shapely forms. daintily and
scantily clad. Miaco has beaten his pre-
vicus record. There is not homely girl
on the stage. the singing is far above the
average, and the burlesques are given with
a dash that renders one forglving OF tpelr
literary delinquences. The curtain raiser
and the afterpiece, Madame Mays First
Night and Mr.. Paris at Niagara" were
lively and generally free from the witless
horseplay SO often relied upon in such UNI
dertakings. A series of carefully prepared
and wel-lighted living pictures was in
terspersed with the specialties Among
IL ose who contributed to the enjoyment of
the evening were Lew Palmer in song and
limitations. Bert Leslie and Carrie Fulton
in amusing buTlesque, Dick and Kittie
Kumins. Dave Conroy and Phil McFar-
land, Irish comedians; Harry Baker and
Gladys st. John, acrobatic dancing.
GRAND OPERA HOUSE.-A large au-
tience attended the opening of the Grand
Opera House for the season of 1918 last
night and witnessed vaudeville show
that was generally good. The Grand Opera
House is held in kind remembrance by
very many of the theater-goers of Wash
ington, who like the comfortable chairs and
aisles and it's general air of rooniness, and
those who attended last night were more
than pleased with the decorative scheme
entered upon by Messrs. Herman and Rife
The bill last night comprised such stars as
Lew Dockstader. Chas. T. Aldrich Kitty
Mitchell and Sam J. Ryan, together with
three or four other features, and was
enjoyable. Lew Dockstader, of course was
the followers of minstrelsy and vaudeville
know his capabilities well. There is al
ways something Few in his budget of good
sayings always some new song or songs,
and some laughable little business to ac-
company them. His best hit was a song
on the Klondike that took in several local
features. Next to Dockstader, Chas. T.
Aldrich in an eccentric tramp act made the
hit. Aldrich Is we'll remembered in Wash
ington, and the laughs that were drawn
By his funny antics and clever wit showed
that he has many friends here. Kitty
Mitchell wirscme comedienne, pleased
in trio of excellent songs and displayed
deal of grace III an extemporiZed dance.
Sam j. Ryan. with song that was not
perhaps as new as.it might have been and
some jokes that were also little behind
the age, excited many hearty laughs never
theless. Mccarthy ard Reynolds did neat
turn, In which singing, dancing and quick
VIII were features, ana Dora Wiley sang
several songs that drew applause The
show was brought to a close with an OK
cellent exhibition of fancy bicycle riding by
Harry and Jennie Kramer that fairly
eclipsed anything of the kind that has
been seen here. The only feature of the
bill that was off color was the Irish team
IerSI son and Mari. Their jokes were de-
cdedly out OF place and they failed to ex-
cite even a fair amount of hilarity in the
gallery.
GLEN ECHO-The fact that the Fa-
dettes, the Boston woman's orchestra, is to
leave Glen Echo after the performance this
evening had the effect OF drawing many
music-lovers to that popular resort last
night, and in all probability the same large
crowd will be in evidence tonight to give
the musicians a good send-off Tomorrow
right Is Cuban night and the first appear
ance of Haley's Inaugural Orchestra will
take place at that time, so that a large
audience is assured then. The Fadettes
we're the central attraction of course. last
night, but the other features provided by
Manager Middleton secured favorable rec
ognition. Miss Gertrude Ferguson, a dam
ty little dancer, was forced to respond TO
several encores. while Hoppe, the juggler.
had to give several exhibitions of his art
rolled into one. before his audience would
be satisfied to let him go. Hart and Ir-
wing. understanding artists, scored a hit
and completely mystifed the spectators