Evening star., 1897-04-14
AMUsEaIENTS. A

The event in Washington's amusement
world is the coming next week Of the Cas-
tie Square Opera Company, which will
open its season of opera in English at
popular prices at the Lafayette Square
Opera House, with Johann Strauss beauti-
full "Gipsy Baron" a work this energetic
composer wrote in his best mood and most
brilliant moments. THE Gipsy Baron Is
a merry conceit, neither light, grand Tor
comic opera, strictly speaking, yet finely
judicious and happy blending Of the three,
with that air Of romance SO needful to a
product that has the air of gipsyland in
terwoven. Melody ripples through the
whole score. with rhythmatic movements
in abundance. The numbers are superb,
the choruses beautiful and the orchestra
tion impressive. The scenic effects will be
suberb and a very attractive feature of
the whole. The Castle Square Opera Com.
pany, which is now rounding out the first
year of its PHILADELPHIA season without
having missed a single performance since
the opening night, will give 90 this city
the same splendid service that has made
the cOmpany's business in the Quaker city
SO phenomenal. The beauty of the pro-
ductions will be a matter of surprise and
comment, and the company will be COM
posed of the best talent obtainable-opera
singers who have won on their merits a..d
who will make summer opera most popular
here. The cast that will produce The
Gipsy Baron includes Thomas H. Persse,
a tenor of meritOrious excellence, as Ba-
rinkay; William Wolff, general director of
the organization, as Zsoupan; VIM. Schus-
ter. as Carnero; Melville Stewart, well
known here. as Count Hominay, and Regi-
maid Roberts. as Ottakar. Miss AEna
LIGHTER, prima donna of exceptional bril-
liancy. will be Safn, having as alternate
Miss Eland. Miss Lizzie Macnichol, Wash
ington's own contralto, will alternate with
oorott nn1
Europe to rejoin the company. Miss Or
iska Worden, niece of Admiral Worden,
will sing Arsena, and Miss Gertrude Rut-
ledge Mirabella; Harry Morton will be
Jozsy, and Frank Ranney, Pail. Nothing
to make the operas and surroundings har-
monize with good taste and refinement
will be omitted. Prices for evenings will
be %, so and IS cents. Masinees, WeGres-
day and Saturday, 25 and so cents; nothing
higher, and all reserved.
"A Midnight Bell"-Hoyt's masterpiece.
"A Midnight Bell" with the popular come
dian, Digby Bell, as the unctuous Deacon
Iidd' @ and with his charming wife. the emf
character of the Spinster, will receive a
superb production on the occasion of its
presentation in this city next week at the
New National. The cast will consist of
twenty-three people, among them being
some of the best-known artists in the the
atrical profession. New and elaborate
scenery will mark it's advent here and is
now being painted by the celebrated art
ist, Arthur Voegtlin. Complete new music
has been arranged by the famous Victor
Herbert. conductor of the 90 Regiment,
"Gilmore,s," Band, and composer of the
of the Nile" and other successes. The
production and presentation will be under
the management of Duncan B. Harrison.
Walker Whitesde.-That Mr.. Walker
Whiteside. the American tragedian, will
appear in this city next week should be
fn all of
mate drama: The unanimity with which
the critics have commended Mr. White
sides work must be accepted as founded
on conviction. No player since the days
when Edwin Booth was in the zenith of
his fame has ever been accorded such un-
stinted praise. Booth was undoubtedly the
greatest Hamlet of his time. There was
none in America or Europe worthy to share
the glory of renown with him. He gave
to the American stage enduring luster,
such as neither Forrest nor Davenport
long as the stage exists thu mantle of
Booth will have significance not ac-
corded the posthumous fame of any of the
other players that the world has seen and
wears the mantle of the greatest of all
Hamets must indeed be worthy OF distinc-
tion. And it is this distinction that has
been accorded Mr.. Whitesidr Thos. who
have seen and studied Mr.. Whiteside's
work find in him all the qualifications Of
the ideal Prince of Denmark He gives to
the character of Hamlet The years that
seem to accord with the poets fancy and
the most studious Interpretation Of the
text. Thoughtful beyond Ibis years his
face and eyes have the fine intellectual
expressiveness which accords SO we'll with
the prince, to whom philosophy was an
instinct, and whose soul had delved deep
into the unsolved spiritual mysteries Of
life Endowed by rature with a voice of
marvellous fexibiiity, the modulated soft
ness of his reading in the quiet passages
of the text seems to accentuate the ringing
intonatfon with which the sublimely pas
slonate lines are rendered. Mr.. Whirestde
is evidently not a one-part PLAYER how
ever. While fitted by nature to be the
ideal Hamlet, he is credited with giving to
every role he has essayed a character and
freshness that indeIibly stamped him as
a finished and conscientious actor The
following is the repertoire of the week:
Monday, Friday and Saturday matinee
-: Hamlet Tuesday and Thursday "Riche-
lieu" Wednesday, double BILL Cousin of
the King" and Fools Revenge" Satur-
day evening, "Othello."
Old Lavender.-"Old Lavender" that ever
popular play from the pen Of Mr.. Edward
Harrigan, will be the next attraction at
the Academy. Mr.. Harrigan is surrounded
with clever company, many of whom
have been with him for years and con-
tributed to make his many successes popu-
lar. "Old Lavender will live as it appeals
to man with a virility that is true The en-
oomiums upon it by the writers Of America
are we'll known. Matthew Arnold the Eng
lish poet, praises the play as a true piece Of
dramatic writing, and published in the Lon
don Society a review of the play, closing
his article by saying, America at last has
found dramatist."
10th Century Maids.-Harry Morris will
present his company of burlesque artists
which he styles the Goth Century Maids"
at kernan's Lyceum next week, giving also
the regular matinee performances. The en-
tertainment opens with a unique operatic
satire, styled The Girl Bachelors Ball"
interpreted by company of artists we'll
allie to bring out all the possibilities sug-
eested in the characters which they are
cast to portray. The costumes are bea ,1ti-
ful, the scenery massive. the music catchy
and the electrical and mechanical effects
add greatly to the spectacle The olto of
specialties which follow include such we'll
known artists as Lew Randall, the eccentric
acrobat and dancer; Carter and Auber,
operate vocalists; Thompson and Collins.
the monarchs Of parody singers Nettfe De
Coursey LA Petite Chanteuse) who will
present novel vocal sketch, entitled IA
Nights Frolic," and many others of equal
note The feature of the entertainment is
the living reproduction Of celebrated works
OF art, in which Viola Thorndyke will be
the central figure, assisted by Lillian
Murtha and ten of the handsomest poseurs