Evening star., 1898-03-08
AMUsEMENTs,

the New National Theater last night that
atmosphere of hilarfty which always ex-
pands through the theater at which May
Irwin plays. The insidious potency OF rag
time music seemed to assert itself every
where. There is q weird suggestion of
Ethiopian abandon in the very word which
makes its way into the inner conscious
ness. and leaves the recollection Of the
entire evening; tinged with the influence
Of its grotesque rhythm. Treasurer Smith
seemed to be making change in rag -time;;''
Doorkeeper Roumaine appeared to be tear
ing on coupons with syncopated flourish,
ana the ushers seemed to trip down the
aisles with the festal tread of the cake
walk. Miss Irwin has exerted herself most
oblfgingly to give the public all the negro
music 1t desires. A comedy, entitled THE
Swtil Miss FitzW ell" is announced as
feature OF the entertainment, but after de-
veloping the characters to a point of ge-
NAL familiarity and involving them in some
exciting divorce complications. the comedy
Is abandoned to an unknown fate. And,
excellent and inviting as It's promise was
the show appears to get On very well with
out 1t. The difficulty is an embarrassment
OF riches. comedy by Mr.. Du Souchet
Miss 1rwin's humorous personality wields
a. fascination that need acknowledge no
obligations to literary art. Possibly the
stage was not big enough to hold all that
a portion of Mr.. Du Souchet's plot that
got crowded off. But the coon songs are
there. Sometimes it isn't SO much what
MISS irwin sings that attracts. as the way
are O. aintly and genuinely characteristic
OF negro melody.
The entertainment may be summarized
as type Of the Tenderloin drama, which
Prospers while Shakespeare is unceremon-
fously relsgated to a remote corner in Har-
lem THE Swell Miss FItzwell" is a pro-
nounced specimen of feminine soph!stica-
t,on, with vocabulary of slang, an appre-
cation OF innuendo and tibulous appe-
tite These qualities appear to have es-
tablfshed themselves as essentials In the
comedienne of the tenderloin drama. But
1t must be said that they strike the spec
Irwin than they do in efforts to initiate her
methods. Mr.. Ignacio Martinetti is
bright and shining light in the organiza-
tlon His vitality and nervous energy
MAKE an that ne does interesting. The
transformation of some sentimental stand
bys into "rag-time" selections on the piano
by Mr.: Ned Weyburn won repeated and
enthusiastic encores
LAFAYETTE SQUARE OPERA HOUSE.
The Moth and the Flame" which was
presented In Washington for the first time
at the Lafayette Square Theater last night,
is drama that will hold the attention of
the audience from the raising of the cur
possesses Inherent qualities of merit In
the hands of such a cast as presented it
last night 1t Is presented to the best advan-
tage. There is an undercurrent of tragedy
throughout the story, relieved all along
with bright lines on the part of the char
acters not engaged in the tragedy, present.
ing vivid contrasts. In fact, the spirit of
aht1thesis seems to have been the control
lng motive of the author in the construc-
ton OF his plot Two notable climaxes are
made IN this way. In one the suicide of
the head of the household occurs during a.
Lrllllant house party, and the guests dance
a rollicktng figure of the german around
the bereaved wife and daughter, uncon-
scious of what has happened In another
wedding Is interrupted by the appear
ance of discarded woman and her child.
aurning the scene Of happiness into one of
CONSERVATION, as might be expected The
story Is somewhat morbid, involving crime
and dishonor. and serves no good end un-
less to point the improbability of the re-
icrm OF man OF thorough degenerate ma
ture through the means of an innocent
g1rfs love. The company is one of the
most harmonious, in point of ability that
has PLAYED in Washington this season. Mr..
Heroert keicey and Miss Effie Shannon are
ostensibly the stars. but cannot claim more
man a proportiorate share in the success
or the performance. Mr.. VIM. ]. lie Moyne
ard Mrs. Sarah CowelI lie Moyne are con-
en er1bulors TO 1t In equal degree. Miss Ef.ic
Snannon Is called upon to take q difficult
part. She represents n young girl cast
down from q pinnacle of serenity ard han
py anticipation to DEPTHS of sorrow and
bitterness not dreamed Of in her class She
sustairs her difficult role with signal ahI-
1ty Mr.. Kelcey in the ungracious part of
a blackguard manifests in his work tho re-
suit of careful study and close applica tion
10 MS ART. Mr LIE Moyne's work through
out the play Is only that which comes from
ione experience and artistic instincts. He
Is the accomplished and finished actor in
every respect, and whatever he has to do
Is done with that perfect confidence in his
powers that leaves the impression ,lpon his
audience of abundant reserve which couij
ne drawn upon did the circumstances war
rant greater force. He is ore Of the ,nost
oehghtful and satisfying actors now upon
the stage. Mrs. LIE Moyue js made IN Gov
many bright things by the lines Of the
play. hut the way in which she saws them
gives the impression that she needs NOT tho
authors inspiration alone to be a clever
woman.
COLUMBIA THEATER.-A novelty in
The shape of a vaudeville performance was
i',t;a servea up up to large audience at the CO.
on the bill and the one which evidentiv
drew a majority of the audience. iudginS
ny the applause which was bestowed upon
., .he p participants a{ in it, was the one-act
Morris appeared. assisted by Mr.. r. g.
Harriott. The sketch is a strong one and
MISS Norris displayed much of the emo
tlonai Iorce tndt has made her famous In
the past. There were four strong Special
Ties on the bill and several that were hard
ly up to the mark. Fialkowski an imita
tor and violin virtuoso, is one Of the clever
est men in his line ever seen here and
his work merited the enthusiastic applause
that 1t received His imitation of a cello
solo was superb, while those of yarious
animals were delightful in their unioue-
ness and their fidelity to nature. Lew
Hawkins In an original monologue. In
which several songs were interspersed. was
funny, as he always is, while La Petite
Adelaide made one of the distinct hits of
the evening. This pretty and graceful lit
Tie oanseuse seems never to lose her charm
OF appearance or skill, and her work last
night was fully up to her former efforts
The sketch, ION Probation" in which
Richard Harlowe, the noted female i'm
personator, the erstwhile Daisy Queen of
Spain,' assisted by Goeffrey Stein, an
peared, was also one Of the enjoyable parts
of the program. Harlowe's specially is
well known. and it may be said that he
embraced every opportunity for fun. and
the chances were many, that was given
him, being ably seconded by Stein in the
makeup of sn old German professor. The
other numbers that went to make I'D the
bill We're the Gardiner Brothers in an act
that. while neither funny nor exceptional
ly clever, managed to show off some good
A