Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-05
AMusEMENrs.

gentleman, indeed, Is Louis De Beaumont
the hero whom Robert Mantell imperson-
ates in "a Secret Warrant" at the New
National Tneater this week, and Margaret
Bertrand, the character assumed by Miss
Charlotte Behreps, Is a young woman
whose attributes might well inspire hero
to feats of swordsmanship and eloquence
Of speech. Mr.. Mantell possesses that en-
viable histrtonic Quality-personality. His
appearance in any city calls forth loyal
and devoted clientele who are unwavertng
in their demands for a lifted curtain after
strong final scores, whether the star be
engaged in the production of one of the
old stand-bys of romance, or, as in the pres
ent case, the exploitation of a new drama.
"A Secret Warrant deals with historic
period in which the rights OF the individual
were but slightly regarded when royal
within stood opposed. There are some deli
cate touches of comedy and some moving
sentimental passages. 1t Is OF course, IN
admired The piece is well up to the aver
age modern product in the field of French
ron;aptic composition, any effort In which
is inevitably to some degree Initiative
There are times when the players seem
compelled to bestow more than due meas
ure Of personal exertion to make up for
lack of inherent force in the scene. But
the audience was roUsed to enthusiasm and
applause which proclaimed that there are no
Erconquerable dead centers in the mechan-
ism of the performance. The company in
cludes some, very ffioient people. Miss Nina
Morris as the revengeful woman and Mr.
Beverly w. Turner were notably capable.
Mr.. Howard Hare as the Regent of France,
had very snail part, but made the most
of its opportunities. The central figure at
all times was. properly enough. Mr.. Man
tell. And it is safe to say that the audi
ence without dissent accorded him rank as
one of the most graceful stage cavaliers
who ever bent a knee and vowed affection
for a lady fair.
COLUMBIA THEATER.-There is but
one thing to say Of the production Of YER
dis. ever beautiful I'll Trovatore'' by the
Castle Square Opera Company at the CO.
iumbia Theater last night. With regard to
ell the factors that entered into the sue
cess Of the presentation, the members of
the cast, the chorus and the manner in
which the work was staged, the opera has
never been put on in more satisfactory
manner in Washington. Last night was
the 1O6th performance of the Castle Square
Company in this city, and an audience that
o over into the standing room on the
first floor testified to the fact that the or
ganization is still in high favor with the
music lovers mere, while the splendid
achievement of the company did much to
strengthen that regard and favor. I'll
Trovatore" has been so much abused, SO
hacked to pieces and so miserably staged
here that a performance such as the one
last night seems all the more worthy of
praise. The cast was admirably chosen.
Miss Grace Golden's Leonora was an ar
tistic conception of the highest order, and
in the tower scene she displayed a great
amount of dramatic fire. She earned the
heartiest kind of applause for all of her
solos, and secured two curtain calls, one
for the admirable manner in which she
gave the duet with the Count di Luna in
the tower scene. It may be said that the
part of AZucena has never been more salts
factorily portrayed than 1t was last night
Shn wv in
splendid voice. and gave an intelligent and
artistic Interpretation that contributed
much to the success of the opera. Her duet
with Manrico IN the prison showed the
sweetness and sympathy that predominant
In her voice. while its full strength was
brought out in her solo in the second act.
Joseph Sheehan was also In splendid voice,
and in the tower scene fairly carried his
audience with him to the last note, while
In the prison scene his voice blended with
the utmost nicely of tone with Miss Mac
nichors beautiful contralto. He also won
great applause for his solo in the fourth
part Of the Count di Luna well, and his
solo, Tempest of the Heart" earned one
of the most emphatic encores of the even
ing. In his duet with Leonora he made a
and vocally. William Wolff did the small
amount of work embraced in the part of
Fernando well, and surprised even his ad-
mirers with the depth and quality of his
pretty Inez, while A. Lehman and w. c.
Brockmeyer filled small parts acceptably.
There are several special features in the
production that merit the utmost OF favor
able criticism. They are the anvil chorus,
which was probably never better sung by
any organization or chorus in this city,
and the whole Of the tower scene. This
latter portion was repeated upon a spon-
taneous outburst of the most enthusiastic
Kind of applause, and but for prompt action
on the stage second encore would have
been demanded. The opera was handsome
ly mounted, and every detail of stagecraft
was carefully looked after, while the cos
tunes were thoroughly in keeping with the
stage settings. The orchestra, under the
direction of Adolph Liesagang, gave valu-
able assistance. and for a first night it's
work was unusually smooth. I'll Trova-
tore will be given all this week, with mat
inees Thursday and Saturday
LAFAYETTE SQUARE OPERA HOUSE.
"A medley Of mirth and music is Papa
the Lafayette by Thomas Q. seabrooke ana
his lively, jolly company. The house was
well filled. and the inimitabe Seabrooke
was heartily greeted by numerous friends
upon his first entrance. In the boxes were
portions of the Chinese, Japanese and Cor
can legations. Mr.. and Mrs. Frank Schnei-
der accompanied Minister and Mrs Yu
The latter were among the most apprecia-
tive auditors. OF course, there is not much
plot to the piece. 1t is originally from the
French. the scene being laid in Normandy.
Papa Gou Gou is n cider merchant, sup
posed to be well-to-do. but he alone knows
he is or the verge Of failure. He marries
his daughter to man supposed to a mil
ilcnaire. Father-in-law and son-in-law dis
cover in the most humorous manner that
neither Is worth penny. About this time
sailor nephew Of Papa Gou Gou turns up,
after years of absence. with will from an
uncle who leaves all his property to the
sailor lad and the daughter Of Papa Gou
Gou on condition that they marry each
other The old man then begins to plot to
secure the two million francs, adopting all
kinds OF schemes and lying at the most
lively rate. Every scheme he plans is de-
stroyed until by accident things work his
way. Seabrooke Is a whole team in him
self. and maintains all that has been sai.1
OF him. He is well-got.en I'D and sing.
pleasantly. His enunciation is splendid,
each word being clear. and the meaning OF
the songs plain and witty. Next to Sea-
brooke In popularity is little Miss Ida Mule
the guardian of the geese, and, as the
story turns out at last. the real daughter
or Papa Gou Gou. She and William Norris
~ IT.. the part of a fool with gallant in:en.
lions, were repeatedly encore1 by the audi
ence. Their work was pleasant and eniov-
ehie Norris does the simpleton well. Leon.
ara walker and Edna Thornton heretofore
seer here. sing tenor and soprano roles
THORNTON