Evening star., 1897-06-01
AMUsEMENTs.

COLUMBIA THEATER. - Not many
years ago. that Interesting parsonage, 1.-The
old-time theater-goer," was often heard to
speak with great longing for the good old
days when we had stock companies. And
the younger generation acquired the habit
Of looking at him with respectful liberation
and regarding his remark merely as one of
the plants which people are wont to utter
when they fear that th4 world is going too
fast and that they are losing step with It..
But the summer comedy seasons in WASH
ington have fully vindicated. the old play
goer, and the Columbia Theater Stock
Company has SO far. been patronizs d
Husband" was presented. The piece was
very clumsily christened. Its title conveys
a suggestion of dashing cynicism which
does not exist. On the contrary 1t Is one
of the most innocuous and, at the same
time. delightful matinee dramas ever
penned. Mr.. Lipman assumes the role of
the student who has, married popular
artist thereby suffering total eclipse, ane
plays it well. He does not attempt the
purely farcical but at times employs the
splendid legitimate training he has had 70
claim serious sympathy despite the trivial
causes of the hero's trouble. Miss kather-
Inc Gray played effectively the part of the
artist wife. Mr. Boag made his first ap-
pearance with the company in role that
was many sizes too small for him, but
which he played with animation and skill.
Miss Grayce Scott was winsomely merry
and Mr.. Alfred Hickman displayed a vi
vacity which lends color to the hope that
he may forget he ever had a reputation
to sustain as Little Billy The work of
James o. Barrows needs no comment. Its
excellence is to be taken for granted. AS
in the case Of 1.-The Lone Fisherman" one
of the hits of the performance was made
by member Of the company who had no
speaking part-an infant in arms. Had
n
ing he would have said: when in doubt,
play the baby" There is no other device
SO sure of appreciation, and Mr.. Lipman
vas compelled. in all fairness, to share the
honor of curtain call with the tiny Ros-
cius.
LAFAYETTE SQUARE OPERA HOUSE.
Whether it was holiday night the at
tractiveness Of the comic opera 'I'aul
Jones' or the reputation of the Castle
square Company, or, perhaps, all three
features together. that drew a crowd to
the Lafayette Square Opera House last
night, 1t is hard to say, but the crowd was
there. and long before the first act was
completed the IS. R. o. sign was out. 1t
was not only large audience, but it in
cluded many of Washington's best-known
people, and was enthusiastic to degree
that made 1t necessary to repeat nearly all
the gems of the beautiful opera. Paul
Jones' Is not a popular opera, but it is
beautiful one SO far as it's musical score Is
concerned. The work was staged last night
with the same elaborate detail that has
characterized all the productions of the
Castle Square Company in Washington,
while the costumes and other accessories
were pleasing and effective. The cast last
night was strong one and all of the prn-
cipal parts were well taken Lizzie Mac
nchol as Paul Jones carried off the vocal
honorS, although Miss Anna LIGHTER as
Yvonne came in for a large share of
praise. Miss Macnichors pleasing person.
ality added not little to the part, and all
or ner work was we'll appreciated. Miss
LIGHTER received generous applause for her
solo in the second act, and was forced to
repeat 1t. Miss Bessie Fairbairn was the
Chopinette, and Miss Celeste Wynne the
Malaguena, the former adding not a little
to the comedy work of Mr.. William Wolff
Miss Belle Travers and Miss Clara Selton
had small parts, and did them well. Mr.
Joseph Sheehan easily led the men so far
as singing was concerned, and for his solo
in the second act received, perhaps the
most enthusiastic applause of the evening.
1t was exceedingly well done, and brought
out the strength and sweetness in his
voice. William Schuster as Biscoquet,
Maurice Abbey as the Don Trocadero
Arthur Lieblee as the Yankee skipper Of
the privateer and Eugene Leamy as Cap
tain Octri were all good, Mr.. Schuster in
his duet with Miss LIGHTER coming in for a
share of the honors Mr. Wolff as Bouilla-
balse, the old smuggler, did the best piece
OF work he has done here. His efforts were
not strained, and were, in the main with
out horSeplay. He-made himself felt in the
opera, and after his first appearance al
ways received the lions share of attention
whenever he was the stage He was
ably seconded by Arthur Wooley as Petit
Pierre. and the two made lots of fun. The
chorus, as Is usually the case, was not Only
strong in volume and we'll balanced but
was exceedingly well trained, and in the
hnales of all the acts was heard to better
advantage than heretofore. The only fault
TO be found with the whole production vas
a lack of familiarity at times on the part
Oh some OF the principals with the lines,
but this will be eradicated before another
performance. Tonight will be the fift. t.eth
anniversary of the company's engagement
mere, and each lady present will be the re-
c1pient of handsome souvenir.
GRAND OPERA HOUSE.-The Grau1
opera House was reopened last evening
by Grau's Celebrities, vaudeville troupe
before an audience which filled the house
The company is composed of some of the
best people in the vaudeville line and the
performance last evening was received with
management of the complete success Of the
enterprise. Every member of the COM
pany is star in his or her particular line
most of them having but recently completed
long engagements in New York Some of
the songs were rather risque, but rede-
manded time and again. The performance
was inaugLrated by William Douglas and
Margie Ford. who sang and danced in a
way that earned several well-deserved en-
cores. Anrie Driver, the soubrette electri-
fed the audience by her songs, while George
w. Monroe MY Aunt Bridget" kept the
house in constant roar by his inimi;able