Evening star., 1898-12-17


extent to which we have departed from
the standards of the good old-fashoned
drama
That wasn't written about the modern
theater, said Mr.. Hanford. Those para
graphs Were published in the Spectator
about two centuries ago. The good old
drama is precisely what they had refer
ence to-
LAFAYETTE SQUARE OPERA HOUSE.
"A nearly welcome will greet Olga Meth
Grsole' who begins an engagement at the
Lafayette Square Theater Monday night
1t is two years since Washington has Seen
her. We cannot forget her womanly Ca
mile. This We are to consider again. and
WIN IL some things that are altogether new
TO the local stage. Carmen" whose kiss
ungles checks it does not touch: The Sec
oiid Mrs. Ianqueray,' which is new to her
powers, and The Termagant" From
frou and Camille are also to be present.
ed Miss NethersOle has the intensity and
the pliancy We are wont to associate with
the french school Her personality at once
appeals to the eye and stirs the heart and
her htelhgence instantly claims the at
ttnUon of the mind The gift of genius so
rarely credited to even the most eminent
histrlonnes, was freely accorded her when
She nrSt appeared in this country in THE
lranssressor' in 1894 and a subsequent
performance of Camille slammed her ir-
revocably as one of the dramatic artfstes
OF the generation. Annual tours of Amer
iCa followed, with her year divided between
this country and England. She comes here
virtually direct from a successful season
at Her Majesty's Theater London and
brings with her the same company engaged
In her support there, together with all the
elaborate scenic and other accessories ider-
titled with her performances there tt e
company is a large one and the outfit tr.-
mendous as may be gathered when 1t Is
understood that the stage plants of five e
productions were brought across the water
with the Veritable shipload of costume
various characters of all of the players in
all of the plays Mr.. T. B. Thalberg.
popular leading man at the Garrick and
st. James TheaterS, London, of recent sea-
sons, is foremost in Miss Nethersole's
English support. Other favOrite London
players are Luigi Lablache, Federic Thorne,
Leonard Outram, Hamilton Revelle, A. 5.
Homewood. W. Graham Brown, Harry
Dodd, Charles Wellesley, w. S. Mills Cice-
ley Richards, Madge Mcintosh, Lillian
Kingston. Rose Emmerson, Madge Field
and Violet Black.
NATIONAL THEATER.-"The French
Maid with Anna Held in the title role.
and the original organization, headed by
Charles A. Bigelow, that met with such
popular favor mere last season, will be-
gin a weeks engagement at the National
next Monday evening. The French Maid
in itself Is a brilliant and delightful enter
tainment. it being decidedly the best of the
frOthy and frOlicsome imported musical
comedies that has yet been presented here.
The bal masque at the Casino in the second
act affords ample opportunity for the in
PRODUCTION Of many advertisements and pie
tUreSque Partisan novelties as well as for
the piling up of humorous complications
for principals. One of the new features of
this act is an electric fountain, which
throws a shower of fragrant flowers upon
the players as the curtain falls. OF the
musical numbers the most notable is a new
coon" song, which Anna Held sings with
chic and piquancy in her new speciality in
the second act.
The comedy of '"The French Maid" is
pretty fully embodied in the person of
Charles A Bigelow. as the pink-faced wait
er. The humor of this inimitable caricature
IS n most effective and delightfully."- stmu-
lating bit of comedy. Other notable mem
bers of the cast are Hallen Mostyn, Will
liam Armstrong, FdOuard Jose George
Honey, +. J, Heron, Matt Woodward. Au-
gustus Sohlke. Eva Davenport, Yolande
Wallace and Mamie Forbes.
COLUMBIA THEATER.-When "a Bach
eiors Honeymoon was presented in this
city late last spring the local critics were
unanimous in pronouncing it to be one of
the most delightful comedies that the local
stage had seen for many day, and this
opinion has been shared by the newspaper
writer's Of all the larger cities of the east
and west since the piece was last seen here.
Originally the comedy had Its initial pro-
duction at Hoyt's Thester New York.
Where 1t made one of the grea test hits of
have remained with profit to its managers
for long time had it not been for the fact
that other companies held time at the the
ater. and they were not willing to be stood
aside for even such a big success as "a
Bachelors Honeymoon" There We're many
and good reasons for the popularity of "A
BachelOrs Honeymoon" 1t contained
plenty OF fun, and fun that was entirely
out of the ordinary, and as clean and
wholesome as it was spontaneous.
The story told by "A Bachelors Honey
moon deals with Benjamin Bachelor a
widower, who has two grown children who
are enjoying a vacation at the seashore
Bachelor. pere, takes advantage of the ab-
sence of his family from the city to fall in
love with an actress, who Is as beautiful and
charming as the popular idea of the ladies
OF the stage makes them appear. He sue
Cumbs to her charms and marries her with
out notifying his absent family Of the fact
Just as the newly welded couple returns to
Bachelors home the children return from
the seashore, and the father and husband
IN his anxiety to conceal his marriage from
his family. and the existence of his family
from his wife, causes any number of com
pHcationS which go on uninterruptedlv
through the three acts of the comedy, and
are not Strengthened out until the end of
the play, when the father Is cheerfully for
given by his children and every one lives
happily afterward, as the story books would
put II.
The company that will present "a Bach
elor,s Honeymoon at the Columbia next
week Is said to be one of unusual excel
lence. 1t is headed by such a well-known
character actor as Mr.. George f. Nash.
VINO has been seen here many times In
the role of benjamin Bachelor Mr. Nash
IS confident that he has the most congenial
part OF his career one in which he is in his
element. Another member of the company.
ana one whose appearance will be welcomed
by MS many local friends and admirers is
Air. Geofrey Stein, who is a resident of this
city, and who was last seen here as a mem
Der OF the Columbia Stock Companv. Miss
EdIth Athelstone, who will be recalled as
the leading lady of A. NJ Palmers com
pany in That Man" will also be seen in a
prominent part in "A Bachelors Honey
moon. Miss Jessie Burnett Miss Irna
La Pier and Mr.. James r. Pittman. ir. are
other members of the cast whose names
are familiar to local theater patrons.
ACADEMY OF MUSIC-A welcome At
traction to the theater-goers of this CITY
viii be Down in Dixie" which will be
seen at the Academy of Music next week,
the successful southern comedy drama pro-
duced with great regard for pictorial effect
by Managers Thomas II. Davis and William
1. keogh. 1t Is, as it purports to be, a
realistic picture of life in the south and
the opportunities of the scenic artist have
been many. Down in Dixie is famous
not only for the great interest of its ro-
mantle love story and for the excellence of