Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-04-24

performed by a good company, with a
large and competent chorus and a richness
of stage setting and costuming that has
never before been witnessed here. The or
ganization has a wealth OF principals, and
during the week. Misses LIGHTER and Elaad
have alternated in the leading soprano role
Misses Judson and Worden in the second
soprano and Misses Macnichol and Linck
If the contralto parts. The male contin-
gent has remained the same, although 1t is
likely that Richie Ling will sing the Bar
on tonight, as he is to do the part in Balti-
mere next week. The splendid staging of
the opera has been subject of warm
praise, and this is due to the effective work
of the stage manager, Mr.. A. +. McCollin.
Mr.. McCollin some years ago, before he
became stout, used to be 4 tenor, and a
good one, too. He was the original Ralph
Rackstraw in "Pirafore'' in this country,
sirging the part with Charley Ford's opera
company. Then he was leading tenor in
several other organizations, and subse-
Quently headed his own company, which
did quite repertoire of comic opera. Now
he rarely takes part, his entire time be-
Ing occupied In drilling the other people
and In making the productions effective.
Il had funny experience with Willard
Spencer last week" he said the other night
I'VE were to do the Princess Bonnie in
Philadelphia this week. and Spencer was
awfully anxisus about the rehearsals We'd
nesday came along and rehearsal of
Bonnie had been called and Spencer was on
pins and needles He told me that before
the opera was first produced the company
had rehearsed for eight weeks before II
could get perfect In the score and business
1 told him that was all right but that we
had different kind of a company and tina,
"a nave the piece all right by Monday.
ne looked 1ncredulous, but didn't say any
thing more Thursday l called the chorus
and worked with them; Friday / had both
principals and chorus, and Saturday 1
1ion DO thing with Bonnie" Sunday
however, had all the people together and
worked them from Q O'Clock in the morn
ing until . at night, and when We brought
the opera out Monday night it was a big
~. spencer was perfectly amazed at the
result, and said he could only find four
minor points in regard to business that he
would like to suggest That's the way We
DO Things. added Mr.. McColItn
Wait until we do Faust here" he CON-
tinued. and I'll show you the greatest
Paoauetion that was ever made of that
~. oau u,.u. opera or course. it will be sung
Al right. but / am referring to the stage
enects The feature will be in the third
act when the soldiers return from the
war will have full brass band on the
etageand. besides our own great big chorus
We will have about a hundred sinners &c
soldiers They will march on the stage in
piatoons, and at the head of each will h.
an orncer on horseback. and at the close
OF the scene all the horses will gallon down
TO the front, making a thrilling martial
effect" - 'AoA
Mr. McCollin has not been in Washing.
ION Ior many years, and Is greatly pleased
at the improvements that have been made
IN the capital city The last time he PLAYED
mere was at what is now the Bijou when
It was under Mr.. Ford's MANAGEMENT.
Since then the Grand Opera House. tho,
Academy of Music the LAFAYETTE Suar.
opera House and the Columbia Theater
have been built.
that actors almost Invariably have fnclina-
lions toward other professions and so
u Will not be surprising to learn that James
X Hackett has always had a leaning to-
ward the ministry. When a Young man at
college Hackett had a chuni ard often
while sitting in their rooms at night they
would talk over their probable vocations
IN life after graduating. Hackett then be-
trayed his feelings toward becoming n
preacher of the Gospel, while his cnu1n.
strange TO say was ambitious to go en- the
stage AS 1t turned out, Hackett has be
come Famous as actor while his old
schoolmate has a rectory in a small Ne.y
England town. The formers admirers still
have fears that the stage will some day
lose their favorite leading man
The Columbia Tbeater is to have sum-
mer comedy season. and Manager Luckett
mas ceen to New York to engage his peo-
pie He Will have Edgar L. Davenport as
MS leading man and Katherine Gray as his
leading lady. Mr.. Davenport Is a son OF
the late E. l.. Davenport, who was one of
the brightest and most versatile actors that
the American stage has produced and OF
course. brother of Fanny Davenport He
Is young man of good abilities and will
Al once become a favorite Miss Gray Is a
handsome young woman who won grea:
FAVOR when she was with Mr. Richard
Mansfield. and she will undoubtedly be-
come popular here Miss Grace May Lam
KIN VIII De the Juvenile woman and Cecie
MOTIFS the soubrette. Among the gentle
men In the company are Alfred Hickman
Henry Bergman. Godfrey Stein and VIM
Boas- The last two are Westinghouse
on the stage. Mr.. Boag is one of the best
character actors of the time and his ex-
cellent work with Mr.. Crane is well re-
membered The season will begin May Ii
and the flrst play will be the big New York
success. Americans Abroad" and this will
be followed by "A Scrap Of Paper" 1t is
the Intention of the management to give
little higher class of plays than has been
usual during the summer season. that is
TO give more pure comedy and less farce
comedy
Lafayette Square Opera House-"The
Queens Lace Handkerchief" never before
presented in this city at prices within The
reach of ALL will be the second week
Offering al the Lafayette Square Opera
House, and the favor and patronage the
Castle Square Opera Company won last
s.
entation of johann Strauss fine creation
husically the opera is rich in color and
style; dramatically viewed IL tells a story
al once natural. refined and interestingly
pretty The action takes place at the court
OF Portugal in 1870. The kingdom is ruled
by the ministry, headed by the prime min
lster. who is ir league with Philip III of
SPAIN To keep the power in his own
nand he foments discord between the
young queen, aged seventeen and the
KING, who Is nineteen. and encourages the
latter in all sorts of dissipation. Cervantes.
the poet, banished from Spain, is at the
time captain in the Royal Guard and in
love with Irene. first lady In waiting to
the queen; these two hefriend the young
king and queen and desire to depose the
ministry. Cervantes Is appointed reader
10 her majesty. and her neglected girlsh
heart conceives a sentiment for him. and
she writes on her handkerchief "A queen
loves you," and placing 1t in the manu-
script OF Don Quixote, hands 1t to him
The book is seized and Cervantes Is ar.
rested for treason. Irene and the king
eject his release by proving that he is in
sane and the faithful sovereigns ascend
the throne and declare the regency at an
end The prime minister then plays his
last card. and hands the king the queens
lace handkerchief with the compromisinp
words written on it, Cervantes is again
arrested. and the queen banished to a