Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-26
AMUSEMENTS.

THE NEW NATIONAL THEATER.-
Within a comparatively few years Mr..
Wilton Lackaye has succeeded in taking
most enviable rank on the American stage.
Having by careful and intelligent work
built the foundation for conspicuous sue
cess, he has by subsequent performances
of artistic merit, clinched his title to the
ercomiums showered upon him.
The audience that greeted him at the
New National Theeter last night was OBJ
viously predisposed in his favor. 1t greet
ed him with an enthusiasm which showed
that rot only the clientele which Loyalty
loves to welcome MIN as a Washington
man was ready with its plaudits but that
the colder contingent which regards MIN
as a star in the general armament has
learned to put full faith in what he has
to offer.
"A Royal Secret is, Notwithstanding the
suggestion of story-paper fiction conveyed
by its title. an almost audacious attempt
to blend scholarship with material which
will catch and hold the popular interest.
1t cannot be complained OF as lacking OPP
portunities for Mr.. Lackaye to exert his
powers. nor are the other members OF an
excellent cast neglected. The plot is in
genious and intricate at times to the verge
of obscurity. But there is never doubt
that Jean Mondory as portrayed by Mr.
Lackaye is OF natures noblemen; that
Nicholas as played bv that favori.e actor,
James o. Barrows, is a most lovable and
humorous tradcSmal: that ArInande Bes u
pre- as presented by Miss Fanny Mcintyre
is heroine worthy of the devotion she
inspires. nor that Marsot. the part taken
by Miss Alice Evans, is sweet, bright and
jolly bit of feIniEiEity. Mr.. Alexander
kearney has much to do as Louis XIV of
France and as the man in the iron mask.
and he does it all Well.
There is one incident in the piece so pow
erful that it merits description. The actor,
Jean Mondory, finds that his sweetheart
is the object of the kings lecherous ad-
miration. Mondory is to play Hamlet
for the king. and after reciting the solilo-
Guizing beginning, Ito be or not to be- is
driven to so intense a degree of jealousy
by the kings attentions that he breaks
down in his acting and denounces the SOW
ereign in the presence of the court The
soliloquy won for Mr.. Lackaye applause.
which was 6 warm tribute to his powers
as a Shakespearean reader. The gradual
merging of the actors mimicry into the
fierce cutlery of a jealous husbands heart
called for rare skill, both in the authorship
ard in the Interpretation, and another and
greater outburst of enthusiasm from the
auditorium gave recognition of thorough
craftsmanship.
An Unconditional scrutiny of "a Royal Sc
cret' as a drama might suggest that SYM
metry of design seems sacrificed for the
sake of brisk action and that climaxes
would be more stirring if they were less
lavshly offered. But who shall be unemo-
t1onal when actors are magnetic and when
lives and honors are at stake? Besides,
the fact remains that brisk action and
climaxes the public must have, while it
has in numerous instances showed the
most benign liberation for a lack of SYM
metry.
So well pleased was the audience at the
close of the second act that it demanded a
curtain speech from Mr.. Lackaye. And,
this demand not being acceded to. the
demonstrations We're repeated at the close
OF the third act as a Oxen tina. subse-
quent events had in nowse duled the car
her approval. Mr.. Jackaye resolutely re-
fused all invitations to display his talents
as an extemporaneouS speaker, hearty and
uhn:Stakabiy sincere as they were. "A
Royal Secret tells an interesting story
presents some well-drawn characters and
gives renewed assurance that Mr.. Lack
ayes capabilities are far from being limit
ed TO the Interpretation of the gruesome.
LAFAYETTE SQUARE THEATER-The
opera written by Victor Herbert and Harry
b. Smith for Camille D'Arville and styled
Peg ellington as produced at the La
f&yette Square Tneater last night was all
things cor sidered. of the most salts
factory works of the kind that has been
seen here for long time The opera it
self IS tuneful there are some excellent
lines to it, although at times there is dis
position to lose the thread of the story,
while both the cast and chorus were in
dividually and collectively good The stage
pictures as we'll as the costumes and other
aces sories were all that could be desired
ard the whole production may be styled
distinctive success. Victor Herbert seems
to have done some of his very best work
In Peg Wooffington." The solos, duets and
choruses are not only catchy, but may be
called good music as well, while the orches-
tration of the opera is something beautiful
The story of it has been told in these
columns and it is sufficient to saw. as a re-
minder, that the plot is woven around an
incident In the life of the famous English
actress. 1t has been limited that Camille
ID Arville got ahead of the fair Lillian who
also wanted an opera written for her on
this line, and the character of the work
does give evidence of this tale Miss
D'Arville is given ample opportunity to
show her vocal accomplishments in fact
almost to the overshadowing of the others
In the cast, but those who attended last
night We're there to hear her and they
Wei Id not have demonstrated had she sung
the whole opera by herself. Her dramatic
work was feature as we'll as her singing
last night ard all through she seemed to
be thoroughly imbued with the spirit of
her part Miss DArville was ably sup
ported by Hugh Chilvers, as Capt Adair
who constitutes the incident; Maud Court
ney as Lady Betty, the heress who is the
means of onticlng Adairs love from Peggy:
Snitz Edwards as Mat Bowstring; Albert
Hart as Joe Wattles. the head Of a troup
of strolling players: r. w. Guise as Major
Firelock, and Lcttie Lyford. Ada Somers,
Rose KRONE, Austin Walsh, Archie Hughes,
jones, ernest De Horn and George
Layton in acceptably portrayed small parts
The comedy element in the opera is sup
piled by Albert, Hart. and the only thing
that Is needfui in a criticism of his work
is to say that De Wolf Hopper may well
lie inclined to look upon him with feelings
of the liveiiest kind of concern. Mr. Hart
has good singing voice, an extremely
comical pcrs onaiity and the ability to
throw his niinble legs into several hundred
positions. He made a complete success Of
lis part last night and secured quad
ruple encore of the catchy bagpipe song
Sn'tz Edwards has the second comedy part,
and one fault to fird with the opera is that
it does not give him enough chance to
show his capa bilitIes in that line. Hugh
Chlvers has a round, robust, high baritone
of but fair quality, however, although he
makes up for his lack in this direction by
his good stage appearance. His dramatic
work was also good. r. w. Guise made a
good officer in his majesty's service and
occupied, 1t Is presumed, the third comedy
role. The chorus is one of the best that has
been heard here with any company. All of
Its numbers were sung with precision of at
tack, tremendous volume and with all
the evidence of thorough training The
soldiers chorus was particularly fine, as
was the choral with the orchestra in the
first act. in which the almost perfect
balancing of the choir of singers was
plainly In evidence. The costunling of the
second act was one of the features of the