Evening star., 1898-01-11
AMCSENENTS.

Lawrence Barrett, or CharleS Wynd nam, OF
George Boniface, sr, the elder Sothern,
Nat. Goodwin. and lesser lights in the de-
lueation of the character of the great
English actor who lends his name to the
play. Those who saw Mr.. Willard at the
Lafayette Square last night in David Car
rick" were compelled to acknowledge that
the performance exceeded in merit many
that nave been witnessed in this city and
compared favorably with the best. 1t
would be insufficient to say that last
rights performance was a finished and
artistic one. There were portions of the
play where the work of the principal reach
ed point of excellence never before sur
passed in this class of acting upon any
stage in Washington.
Those who have watched Mr.. Willard's s
work year by year as the returning dra-
matte seasons have brought him to Wash
ington were struck last night by his YER
satility as demonstrated in his handling of
the character of David Garrick." 1t was
utterly at variance with any other part in
which Mr.. Willard has become familiar to
Washingtonans. In 1.-The Middleman' his
friends have seen his art of depicting a
somber and semi-tragic character. In
David Garrick" Mr. Willard shows alter
nate flashes of comedy and pathos, quick
transition from the one to the other, whose
sharp contrasts bring out vividly his abili-
ties. This is especially noticeable i'll the
second act, where David Garrick is simu-
lating the part of a drunkard, gamester
and bully in order TO disgust, in fulfillment
of a rash promise, the woman he really
loves, and whose good opinion lie cherishes
mere than all upon earth. In the midst of
his stimulation he allows himself to relapse
into his natural self for few moments,
and the manner in which he returns to the
self-imposed part demonstrates the art Of
the actor. In his representation of drunk
en- man Mr.. Willard performs piece of
realism that none of his predecessors in
this part exceled. No better testimony TO
this fact could be found than the Coiltin-
uous laughter and applause of the male
portion of the audience, who recognized the
re aistic effects.
While this was going on, a minor part
was being acted, a pathetic foil to Mr..
Wizards comedy. The woman he loved
and who returned his passion was witness
ing the shattering of her idol, and under
going cruel disillusion. Miss Maud Hof-
man, as Ada Ingot, enlisted the favor of
the audience by her personal charms as
well as through her characterization of
the love-smitten daughter of old lnSot;
She failed, however, to equal some of those
who have won distinction in the part. The
&C mpany is generally good one Mr.. Ner-
ner Charges as Simon Ingot, alderman of
the city of London and director in the East
II dia Company, fills the ideal of the sturdy,
money-gettilg old Briton, and deserves
special notice for his work. On the other
han d. Mr.. Bromley Davenport failed to
make of Richard Chvy all that some 9th
ers have got out of the part.
The presentation of the play was preceded
by a curtain raiser. THE Interviewer, iii
which Miss Keith Wakemann and Mr.. Os
valid Yorke made the best they could out
Of an impossible newspaper woman and an
incredibly sullible dramatic author. To-
hight Mr.. Willard will be seen as Tom
Finch. in a dramatization Of Dickens
Martin Chuzzlewit."
ACADEMY OF MUSIC. Northern
7 ic r,,ili 1rar
ing with incidents in the Indian wars in the
northwest occupies the boards at the
Academy this week. This is the second
visit of !he play to this city, and the en-
thusiastic reception accorded it last night
indicated that it has grown in favor with
larger acquaintance. The Academy was
crowded with highly appreciative audi
encc. The scene of the play is located in
Montana. and the time when General Crook
made his, celebrated campaign against Sit
ting Bull in 1876, eliminating in the trag-
edy On the Little Big Horn, in which the
gallant Custer ard his band lost their lives
The plot turns on the loves and scientific
crimes of Sidney Sherwood, an army
Eeon who first commits crime for the pur-
pose of satisfying his desire to gain scien-
tiiiC data and later, to carry out his per-
sonal ends. The part of the hero is divided
between John Swiftwind, ful-blooded
Sioux Indian, who is assistant to Surgeon
Sherwood and Wallace Gray, who deserted
his post under fire, but who subsequently
The play is staged in unusually attractive
style, no expense having been, spared to
make the scenic effects as realistic as pos
sibie. OF the east Mr. Robert Neils Sid
ney Sherwood is an intelligent and artistic
rendering of a rather difficult part. Robert
Broderick, as the Indian doctor and MI
Ernest Lamson as the deserter, are accept
able in the divided here character. Mr.
Mart Z. Kelsey is good as the government
scout. Frank Alien as Hon. Hugo Dare of
Wall street New York and Arthur Buchan-
an asElliott harrington Higgs furnished the
fun for the play in a way which was highly
appreciated by the audience. E. D. Denison
as Colonel Gray, and j. Fl. Ferris as Gen
eral Crook. and w. S. Gill as Lieutenant
Sherwood. all gave good representations os
army officers. Miss Lillian Brainard az
Helen Dan. Ethlynn Palmer Florence
Sherwood and Miss Nellie Callahan as
Dorothy Dunbar were all good in their re-
spective parts, Miss Callahan being excep-
tionally good in her ingenue part.
THE GRAND OPERA HOUSE. The
largest audience at any theater in town
last night was at the Grand, because the
Grand is the largest theater in town, and
1T was full up from floor to ceiling. The
play was that well-known serious and
solemn drama, 'Hogan's Alley" with John
F. Leonard as Hogan and Barney Gilmore
as his ally-this is no joke. These two
famous Irish comedians are real warm
stuff, and in as adaptable a play as "Ho-
gan's Alley with a lot more of good peo-
pie in the cast they present a perform
ance that is bound to win. This is not
the first time the play has been seen here.
and that 1t should fill the Grand on a sec
ond appearance is the highest kind of a
tribute to its excellence The play has a
double drawing power, in that it has an
interesting plot and includes a lot of spe-
claltles to assist in the entertainment.
Among these are Thompson and BunnelI
IN musical act, the lie Page Sisters in
dancing and quick changes Maize King.
the sunshine of the alley, did some very
flexible dancing. Lillian Shirleys songs
were much enjoyed. Eddie O'Deu was
very funny in gymnastics, and the Bellies
OF Beauty Row, six pretty girls in a new
dance. were fine. Every part of the play
was thoroughly enjoyed by the big an
dlence, which had come there to eniov
the Snow rather than to criticise it.
COLUMBIA THEATER.-Gene Canfield
VINO won his way to the heart of the
American people by his exaggerated cont.
ca illies as Grmsey me boy" in a Bunch
OF Keys, was at the Columbia Theater
last night with his old side partner in "The
Midnight Bell George Richards who
played the part of Deacon Tidd. wbiIs
amusing 1t must be confessed that neither
would have acquired the reputation he
now enjoys had he relied upon my Boys''