Evening star., 1897-01-20
AMUsEMENTs.

Richard Mansf1eld's performance OF Baron
Chevrial In "A Partisan Romance" 10 recog-
nized a. one Of the classics of the modern
drama. It 10 study In the field which this
actor excels It is not an emotional type,
but . cold. sharply drawn picture Of an ex-
ceptional character. one which excites in
terest. but not sympathy. Mr.. Mansfield's 8
genius 10 essentially cynical: his enthusi-
aSrns are seldom convincing. and in the part
Of Chevrial this quality of his art finds ex-
preston as happily as in any other role in
his repertoire. The large and fashionable
audience present at the Lafayette Square
Opera House. the attention given the per-
formance and the enthusiastic ana demon
citation of Mr. Mansfield in this mastery i'm
personation. Miss Cameron was seen to
good advantage as Marcelle, and the rest
OF the cast was competent. Tonight Mr..
Mansfield will be seen in Richard Ill"
Mr.. E. 8. Willard.-The distinguished ac-
ter, Mr.. E. g. Willard, will begin q limited
engagement at the Lafayette Square Thea
ter on the 25th instant, appearing here for
the first time in three years. The return of
Mr.. Willard to Washington has long been
anticipated with delight by his many
friends. and an immense audience will well
come him on his opening night. He has
selected for his opening performance an
entirely new play, by Henry Arthur Jones.
entitled THE Rogue's Comedy in which
Mr.. Willard achieved gratifying success in
London last spring, the story Of which is
said to be replete with humor and pathos
and affords Mr.. Willard opportunities
worthy OF his art. The central figure is a
professor with past He has been a
notorious member of "long frm" and as
such not wholly unknown to the police;
but, thanks to the fame Of his reputed ex-
traordinary powers of second sight, he has
become kind of craze in London society.
His rise to power and fortune is shown in
mastery way, and then the pricking of
the bubble and his downfall through the
persistent efforts of young lawyer, who is
In reality his son.
Boston Symphony orchestra.-The third
concert of the series to be given this winter
by the Boston Symphony Orchestra was
rendered at the Columbia Theater last
night. The program was a brief one, but
the numbers were well executed under the
mastery conductorship of Mr.. Emil Paur.
Mozart's Symphony In G minor was the
most elaborate number Of the evening, and
enthusiastic audience. The house was
crowded. as usual, when the Boston SYM
phony Orchestra gives the music-loving
populace of Washington a treat and many
distinguished people occupied seats In the
tody of the house and in the boxes. Miss
Marie Toulinguet, the soloist, sang for the
first time before Washington audience and
her execution of the air, "Ombra mai fui,'
from "xerxes" was recognized by vigorous
applause. more In the nature of a friendly
compliment than as tribute to high talent.
Later in the evening Miss Toulinguet sang
the well-known aria from "Freischutz." J"
The work of the orchestra was fully up to
the high standard which it maintains, as
shown in the entr'actes and ballet music
from Carmen" The overture to Won We
ber's "Oberon," and the "Mephisto Waltz
from Lenau's Faust" completed the pro-
gram.
Mr. VIM. H. Crane.-Mr. Crane is meet
Ing with great success in his new play, "A
Fool Of Fortune" which is now bringing to
an end Its engagement of fortnight In
Philadelphia, and which will be seen at the
New National Theater next week. The re-
ceipts Of its first week are said to have
gone over $4,000, and thus far the play
has proved itself to be one Of the best
pieces of theatrical property 1t was ever
the actors good fortune to secure. The
play is the work Of Miss Martha Morton,
who Is the most successful of all the female
dramatists in this country. The part play
ed by Mr.. Crane in his new play is that of
n oney in Wall street. He is one of those
hustling, jolly fellows with q quantity Of
what the world calls horse sense. He is
honest, loyal to his friends and the possess
sor of big heart. Before the play was
presented in New York there was much
curiosity regarding It. Some men acquaint-
ed with the comedy remarked one night in
the Lambs Club that in it the comedian
died. This fact was noised about very
quickly, and there were few people who
were ready to believe it. The idea of man
who had simply to puff out his cheeks, wag
his head and place his thumbs in the arm
holes of his waistccat in order to set an
audience in a roar. dying was to them pre-
posterous. When the play was presented all
OF these people were present, and it must
be said to Mr.. Cranes credit that 1t was
these same people who We're loudest in their
praise of his work. The play will be staged
nicely and will have its original cast.
Fields Minstrels.-The arrival of the Al.
G. Field Minstrels in town was heralded
this morning by flying banners and three
bands of music, that plraded the principal
front of the Columbia Theater, where their
engagement begins tonight. The usual bar
gain matinee will be given tomorrow after
noon when, in addition to the regular price
of so cents and no reserved seats. the
gallery will be at 25 cents. Mr.. Field
alert to the tastes of his legion of
admirers. has this season equipped the
strongest minstrel show ever seen. The
first part, which is the creation of Mr..
Fields fertile brain, is on scale of gran
deur never before equaled. The scenic set
tings and costumes used in this portion of
the entertainment are exquisite. the harmo-
nicus blending Of cclors being remarkable
The olio of European novelties includes
Lew Sulley, the prince of entertainers; Ed
die Fox. the master in limitations upon the
violin; Ollie Young, club expert; Bogert and
O'Brien, musical comedy experts A funny
burlesque is a game of base ball, in which
Mr.. Field enacts the roll of Lii Hung Chang
the umpire. 1He performance COLcluueS
with an amusing absurdity, THE Dark
Town Circus" done by Clayton and Jenkins
and their donkey Jasper.
1.-The Cherry Pickers. Mr.. Arthur's new
play, 1.-The Cherry Pickers,' which comes
to the Columbia Theater next week, is an
interesting contribution to the melodra-
matte stage. The story is laid in India and
Afghanistan during the campaign of 1879
so, and is full of local color. THE Cherry
Pickers'' is a regiment of British hussars
a distinctive feature of whose gay uni
forms is their cherry-red trousers. The
piece bears the evidences of skilled work.
manship, and Mr.. Arthur has permitted
few lapses in it's action. Two situations
are fairly stirring; one is to be found in the
second t,wnen the hero thrusts his sword
through a screen behind which his rival is
hiding: the other exciting episode Is in the
third act in the gun room of prison fort
ress at Candahar. The gun is fired with
stunning effect, but the hero, whom the
wicked colonel had intended should be
blown to smithereens, Is rescued by timely
Intervention and foresight of the heroine.
in accordance with the law and logic of
melodrama. Special care seems to have
been taken in mounting the melodrama, the
scenery and costuming being faithful in de-
tail and rich in effect. The company is
mertorious.
THE Two Orphans.'-Kate Claxton ap-
pears at the Academy next week in her
wel-known character Of Louise, the blind
girl, in her magnificent revival of "The