Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-20

With its wealth of dazzlingly beautiful
scenery. handsome and attractive young
ladies and ccmely young men, in elaborate
and snowy costumes. quartet of sweet
singers and host Of funny comedians and
clever actors. DeWolf Hopper's sumptu-
Gus production of John Philip Sousa and
Charles Klein's brilliant comic opera, "El
Captain" will again be presented at the
Lafayette Square Opera House next Mon
day evening. 'El CAPTAIN" will be pre-
scented in improved form. as the gor-
geous stage settings that were so greatly
admired last season, have been made more
elaborate and the bewildering array of
brilliant COSTUMES and handsome dresses
has been considerably augmented, while
several new features have been added. and
the chorus, which last season was one OF
the best which visited our city, has been
materially increased. and it now contains
number of the handsomest young ladies
ever seen on the light comic opera stage.
The cast which the management announce
contains all of last years fayorites, prom
inent among whom are Edna Wallace Hop
per, the comedians charming little wife.
WHO, contrary to common report, still re-
mains one of the leading features of this
organization; Nella Bergen, the handsome
new prima donna of the Hopper forces,
who last year made such marked i'm
preston by her excellent singing; Alice
Hosmers. the favorite contralco. as well as
Katherine Carlisle Edmund Stanley, AL
fred Klein Thomas s. Guise. Harry P:
Louis Shrader- No doubt, there will be q
general desire to again see and hear the
Sousa-Klein opera before it is retired in
favor of the comedians new opera by the
same authors. and which will be produced
in New York or Boston early next season.
Mr. Hopper'S engagement is for one week
only. including Thanksgiving AMI Saturday
matinees.
NEW NATIONAL THEATER.-With all
due respect to the excellent attractions
far apDparpd n Neu
tional Theater this season and to the list
announced for future presentation at that
theater,-i 1t may tFathfuly be stated that
the present week will be one of the most
important of the entire season, both to the
management and to the patrons of the
hospitabie and popular play house. THE
Sporting Duchess" has long been consider
ed the greatest drama tic production that
this country has known in many years,
and the cast Is by far of the greatest fame
that has ever been secured for one organ
ization. If the ail-star casts formed for
rare special performances are not consid-
cred. 1t is remarkable fact that after
several seasons OF phenomenal success, and
before any indication that its drawing
power in the theaters first visited is
hausted. The Sporting Duchess is to be
given with all of the scenic splendor that
originally added TO its fame and with the
six Leading characters still impersonated by
Six stars of national reputation The stage
of the New National Theater is admirably
adapted for this purpose. and it may safely
be anticipated that the scenes viii be given
as they seldom have been in this country.
There was a sporting duchess in real life,
after whom the stage character. to be i'm
perSonated by FfOll!ott PaSet, was model
ed She was the Duchess of Milford. who
was known on the English turf MIR.
Miner. because she owned racing stable
under that name. She was mannish and
sporty" wore loud checks. made her own
bets, personally directed the running of her
horses, ard was weu-known and pictur-
esque figure on every British race track
Sha dfnsr hon In ha rnT-x-
she comes alorg in the nick of time to save
from ruin the hero. Lord Desborough.
whose wife has left him. through the plots
of the villain and fascinating adven-
turess, and whose horse. Clipstone is
tered to run for the derby. AT the sale at
TattersalTs the duchess buys Clipstone at
the entreaty of an officer in the Hussars.
who awakerS 4 tender sentiment in her
and agrees to marry her. The horse is
stored 10 Lord Desborough.and then comes
the Villains attempt TO "hocus II, the es-
arrangement of the lords jockey, and a
multitude of dramatic and comedy compl-
cations. Finally. everything comes out
right Lord Desborough wins the derby.
recoups his fortunes, and he and his wife
are united at the bedside of their dying
child The good-hearted duchess, learning
that her affianced had q previous love-a
dear young thing for whom he is ever
sghing-foregoes neF claim and blesSes the
happy couple.
The names OF the principal people are ].
H. Stoddart, Cora Tanner, Ffolliott Paget,
Meretti- Not one needs an Introduction,
the career of each forms chapter in the
centuries of dramatic history. Matinees
will be given on Thanksgiving day and
Saturday in addition to a special popular
price matinee on Wednesday.
COLUMBIA THEATER.-Cha1les Cogh-
lan's new romantic comedy drama, THE
Royal Box" which has attracted considera-
Bile attention of late, Will be produced for
the first time on the stage al the Columbia
Nor d-r- INnO NCOhl l1
will be supported by a company of the
highest ability. which includes Mrs. Louise
Tborndyke-Boucicault. Miss Grace Fflkins.
Miss Lulu Klein, Miss Gertrude Coghlan,
Miss Addie Plunkett and Messrs. E. j. Rat
cliff, Walter Craven. Albert Bruning,
Charles Stanley. Claude Brooke. Frank
Sheridan, Guy Nichols, Charles Plunkett,
Taylor Granville and William Morton. ir.
Miss Gertrude Cogalan. a daughter OF Mr..
Coghlan, makes her debut in this produc-
ton Mr.. Coghlan the original pro-
auctions, in which Maitre and Rossi ap-
pe&red. and in presenting THE Royal Box
TO American audiences for critical approval
e. he has had the advantage, not only of
years of study of the character, but also
of having such eminent artists as
Maitre and Rossi play the part of Kean.
which is substantially drawn on the same
iLes Clarence in The Royal Box The
part of Clarence very happily fits Mr..
Coghlan's abilities. which are of peculiar
order. possessed by few artists in the his
tory of the stage AS an interpreter of
by any actor on the English-speaking stage.
The range of the character of Clarence Is
very broad one and il will be a most severe
test OF Mr. Coghlans abilities to convinc-
frgly portray the natural emotions of
cor ceited. sef-opinionated and jealous mars
crossed in the love of high lady of the
court by her equals in rank, whom he is
led to so intensely hate that he Is brought
to the verge Of insanity In the fourth
act Mr.. Coghlan will present remarkable
situation, which will be a severe test of
his acknowledged abilities. The particu-
lars of this situation he has refused to
disclose in advance of the first perform
ance. but II is known to be particularly
novel and remarkable for its intense dra-
matte interests. The scenery will be mag
nihcent. every set used being provided by
the company. The costumes will be beau
tiful in the extreme. especially the dresses
worn by the principals. The gowns of
Mrs Thorndyke-Boucicault and Miss Fill
kiLs will be remarkable for rich fabrics
and brilliant adornments 1t Is the pur-
pose of the management of Mr.. Coghlan
10 present to Washington theater-goers
Monday evening a complete production,
ard their efforts will undoubtedly meet
wit hist nj tai