The times., 1897-04-04

his talents but in that class he has made
himself one Of the authors to l;e reckoned
with i'll writing the story of American
Ineiodrama The present play has achieved
a hit which has brought an offer from
moned parties to place another of Mr..
Byron'S Older plays, Across the Cont
nent." on the road next year This was
one OF the first successful plays written
on an American theme
Ye festive rustic has control of the Bijou
this week He is j. C. Lewis, ycicpt
farmer" and his comedy is Isl Plunk-
ard" popular piece OF 50 long standing
that it is not quite clear whether this
familiar jay Eame was first used iy come
dian Lewis, or did he take it from real
life. The confiding advance man hints
tnAt the farmer band on their daily nom
ing hay ride is one of the free features
which makes such hit that it i0SIIccs
the people to come in droves To see the
comedy.
Weber's Olympia is Manager Kernans
attraction at the Lyceum this week. Tins
company is an old-tiine fayorite with pa
irons of this house. one of the hits o + the
performance will probably be "Thr Right
Mr. wrong" which is 4 burieSque on
Roland Reeds comedy, The Wrong MI.
Wright"
VIII Haley and his band give concert at
the National tonight His concert last
month was interfered with by arrangement
incident TO the programs which he played
at the Inauguration hall That event
brought the Washington musicians into
direct contra ST with New YorS's crack hand
and ii is fair to say that the Haley's
weren't a shadow behind. Mr.. Haley has
composed a new two-step, The American
Beauty" which will be played tonight.
But in figuring up the theatrical events
Of the week, the enterprise OF Thursday
must not be overlooked You We're told
last Sunday how an entire opera company
Of 100, with orchestra, costumes. and seen
erv, is to be brought from Philadelphia
for a noon matinee at the Lafayette and
sent home with make up on. 1t will be
remarkable matinee aud more remark
able train load of strange people.
This occasion is to give our thcater-
goers sample of what they may expect
later on, when the permanent season
opens, April 10
The management are eXhauSting re-
sources to give Il desirable article. Does
Washington wantpemanentopera? There
Is doubtless quite u percentage of the
population in Washington who want light,
comic and grand opera, at a cost the
general public can afford, and there is not
wanting in this number many fashionable
and rich folks. who fully realize how much
overtaxed they have been for the star
system with star prices.
The idea of o lyIic stock company is
not new, hut as it is carried out in phil
adclphia. there are many clements which
mark its individuality. When a year ago
the company was first installed at the
Grand Opera House and the plans were an
nounCed, predictions were plentiful that
it could not he done What. said the wise
acres, give grand ana comic opera, with a
double company of high salanel principals
a large chorus. new scenery, and new
costumes. and a change of opera each
week at such prices! Impossible! But the
men who had the matterin hand, not hing
dauntcd, went ahead on their original
lines, and progress marked their every
step. with the people still cTowding the
biggest theater in the Quaker City.
The management promised the Phila-
delphia public grand opera ana comic
opera in perfect form. A company OF
principals, capable and efficient. a chorus
that could sing An orchestra composed
Of competent musicians. A change Of
opera every week. New costumes, new
scenery, new effects \ constant study
to please patrons. and prices within the
means OF all, that would remain fixed.
They kept their promise ami the enter
prise was a success which opened every
body's eyes VIII this same plan prove
profitable during the summer in Wash
in-ton? 1t ought to