Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-01
AMUsEMENTs.
LAFAYETTE SQUARE OPERA HOUSE.

| ADJUSTMENTS.
LAFAYETTE SQUARE OPERA HOUSE.
| "A very distinguished audience. including
President Dole and ex-President Harrison.
/ saw "A Marriage of Convenience at the
Lafayette Square Opera House last night.
4 The production has the attraction which a
competent cast of characters, brilliant cos
tunes and rich scenery impart. The story
is worked out to greater length than the
| subject justifies. The incidents occur in
the drawing room of the Comte dc Can
dale. Some highly ornate and beautiful
| effects in interior decoration are displayed.
| But the scenic brilliancy is scarcely sui;
| ficient to warrant the employment of the
same setting through the entire play. A
| welcome. for the same theme pursued
without impressive incident through four
| acts is In danger of becoming little mo-
| nOtonous. However the plot in "A Mar
| rage of Convenience has stood previous,
| though less severe, tests The husband
who remains philosophic in the presence
| of pursuer of his wife's affection has
| frequently been adapted from the French,
| and has sometimes been presented with so
| m"ch art by the author to prevent him
| from appearing contemplate Whether or
not this result has been achieved in "A
Marriage of Convenience must be mat
| ter Of individual opinion. But it will be
hardly possible to reconcile all of John
Drew's admirers to the idea of his assum-
ing the role of a. husband who. believing
| that his wife does not love him, consents
| to bubble concerning her virtue with the
bosom friend who seeks to become her
| lover. The philosophic husband is inter-
esting and sometimes amusing, but the
| topic requires great delicacy in its treat
| ment to make the result universally ac-
ceptable.
The artificial period in which the play is
Ia off rottG I'll,
would be wholly repudiated in more
modern picture. Miss Isabel Irving, as the
Comtesse de Candale, the convent girl
who becomes the bride in the marriage of
attractive in appearance. Miss Elsie De
Wolfe played the part Of the Comtesse' g
maid with spirit, Arthur Byron was more
amusing than virile as the Comics rival,
and D. H. Harlins contributed sturdy ex-
cellence to the role Of the provincial uncle
who brings about reconciliation. John
Drew Is in this play the sincere, capable
actor that he always was.
The play itself Is not a work of great
Importance. Had the subject been less ex-
tensively treated. 1t would have passed as
delicate trifle: another version of the
old story Of the husband who falls in love
with his wife. But when it urges close
scrutiny of the principal character. there
is danger that an unpleasant impression
may tinge the fragile fabric.
of a f1rst-class variety company found
quick and ready response at the Grand
Opera House last night, when Hyde's COM
edians began a weeks engagement, the
entire house being filled. with enthusi-
astic audience. From the first to the last
number on the long program there is not Il
weak act all being of the first-class order,
embracing enjoyable musical. burlesque
and vocal novelties that called forth con-
tinuous praise. If the stars Of the program
were picked out they would probably en-
brace Miss Helene Mora, Mcintyre and
Heath, and Williams and Walker. but the
remaining acts were but slightly removed
from these "top-liners" in the vaudeville
business. A wonderful acrobatic pair, the
Randalls, opened the evenings entertain
ment. and were heartily applauded. Thorne
and Carlton followed in a sketch, entitled
THE Rustic Actor" Williams and Walker
appeared as the real coons," the negro
comedy work Of both gentlemen. who were
| assisted by two bright young ladies, being
OF the highest order. Then Miss Mora rem
dered several enjoyable songs in her own
style. one in particular, Home, Sweet
Home, sang In uniform, being received
with unbounded enthusiasm. novelty,
in the shape Of the great Lafayette, Eu-
ropes wonderful fantastist and mimic, was
the next number. and through his undOubt-
ed clcverness this gentleman earned well
merited praise and applause. Charles r.
Sweet, the piano tramp, gave speciality
that was full Of many good things in II
| musical and storytelling line. Garfield and
Carlton, in character comedy sketch,
were next to last OH the bill, but the in
dividual work Of both the members of the
team called out unlimited praise. The clos
ing number. THE Georgia Minstrels," by
Mcintyre and Heath, was great treat for
those of the spectators who have not had
the opportunity of seeing these clever
comedians in late years. A large delega-
ton of the Elks were on. hand, occupying
several rows Of the front seats, a magnifi-
cent bouquet of. roses being passed over
a IN nv t,f fhnS "
number. +.:-.=
ACADEMY OF MUSIC.-'Shannon OF the
Sixth" a romantic military drama based
dia drew a good audience to the Academy
Of Music last night. This is the second
visit of the play to Washington and it is
only just to say that it has improved dur
ing the interim. The plot turns on the
stealing of the great diamond. 1.-The light
of heaven" from the temple of Buddha.
The theft was really committed by Capt.
Arlington Of the 9th, who. by ingenious
trick, threw suspicion on Lieut.. Shannon
Arlington passed the prize over to Surahda
Sepoy woman whom he had wronged
and who was gultless Of any knowledge Of
the crime. Shannon is dishcnored, escapes
from prison and becomes a wanderer seek
ing the coast to take ship for his home in
Ireland. Far up In the HiInalayas ne meets
his sweetheart, Dora Kimber, who had lost
her way from the column Of troops led by
meets with Ram Koorah, a. Brahmin priest
who had. like Shannon. been dishonored
through the loss of the famous diamond
which had been under his care when
stolen Surahda, the unfortunate mistress
| Of Capt. Arlington. also meets these other
unfortunates in the wilds of the noun
tsins, being now an outcast and a wan
derer herself. 1t is in these meetings, in
the third act. that the most interesting
feature Of the play Is worked out, reaching
a climax In hot engagement between the
Sepoys and the troops of Gen. Kimber
The last scene Of this act shows the rescue
OF Miss kimber. who had been captured
| and dashed to the muzzle of a cannon to be
blown away" in imitation Of the custom
which the British themselves had intro
duoed. In this act too, Shannon and Ar
lirgton meet for the first time after the
escape of the former, and duel follows. in
which the villain is worsted and begs for
quarter. In the finale Shannon is exoner-
ated and marries the girl of his choice ana
everything turns out entirely satisfactory
| to all concerned.
Mr.. w. H. Power, as the hero CT the
| play, sustains well the character OF the
brave and impetuous young Irish officer