Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-10-11
ADJUSTMENTS,
COLUMBIA THEATER.-Burr McIntos

good actor, good soldier and good citizen,
has a personality SO agreeable that
hearty welcome was assured to him when
his new play, "a War Correspondent" was
produced at the Columbia Theater last
night. Mr.. Mcintosh has the priceless
equipment for a star-oersonality. His
complete naturaness exerts a charm which
appeals to a sense of refinement well
to a sense of humor. Hearty, bluff. I'M
affected, Vet always a gentleman, there
can be little doubt that Lottie Blair Parker,
the dramatist of the occasion, selected
very happy character as the medium for
surrounding Mr. Mcintosh with dramatic
complexities He is equally convincing in
a dress coat or in the rough garb of
trooper. The play shows a praiseworthy
desire to evolve a new line of war drama.
In fact, the recent struggle is utilized very
little further than to furnish d reason for
the presence of the characters in this partic
ular locality and to betray young gentle
men into the indiscreet practice of carry
ing discriminating documents in the inside
pockets of their evening clothes. The play
impresses the spectator who endeavors to
classify 1t as a melodrama which has
changed its mind. 1t has scenes which
suggest actual gore, but it's episodes of
cooling comedy are quite sufficient to
deem it from any accusations of blood and
thunder The correspondent falls in love,
rot with the daughter of a hated foeman,
but of the man who robbed his father years
ago. This is not a wholly new idea, but
it is novel as applied to war dramas, and
it serves as the basis of some very pretty
love scenes. And after all good love scenes
go far toward making q popular play.
Trials and separation, mutual misunder-
standings and q last act in which every
thing comes out happily form combna-
ton which may be relied on to elevate
number of people into an atmosphere of
ideality for few hours. And If the au-
Il; ;,,t1 tn,
trite aspects, and insists on CROPPING
through the mechanism for motives and
logical consequences, so much the worse
for him. "A War Correspondent does not
assume to be an iridesCent specimen of
dramatic art, but an appeal to sentiment.
And sentiment is to a large degree matter
of purely personal prejudice. Susceptible
ties in such case are bound to vary.
The piece is well equipped, scenically, the
setting of the third act. showing a Cuban
homestead being a pictorial gem. OF the
cast, Enrol Dunbar as the Spanish villain
with sardonic laugh: Grace Filkins, Gene
we've Ingersoll and Edith Barker, all at
forded excellent support. The element of
comedy is abundant, and there are some
exceedingly bright bits of dialogue The
audience was enthusiastic in its applause.
manned to call Mr.. Mcintosh before the
curtain for speech. 1t was genial. char
acteristic effort. and by its very lack of
artifice heightened the good impression he
stirring incidents in the play and recon-
structon may add potency to this effort
to hang the mantle of Theatre romance
upon the shoulders of the hitherto slight
ed newspaper man. Last nights ap-
prevail indicated a friendly disposition on
the part of the public which augurs favor
ably for the productions future.
NATIONAL -THEATER.-The friends of
John Philip Sousa. and nearly every one
in Washington is his friend and admirer
and those of De Wolf Hopper crowded the
National Theater last night to witness the
first presentation in this city of Sousas
latest opera, THE Charlatan." Perhaps
there was more interest felt in this than
in any other of Sousas works, for Eel
Captain and The Bride Elect came
here with the record of great success else
where. The Charlatan," on the contrary
was roasted" by the critics in New York,
and it comes here direct from that
city. That the performance last night
pleased the audience was evident from
the almost continuous laughter and APP
plause. Of course Hopper contributed
largely to the success of the piece, for q.
S0usa opera without Hopper is like Ham
let" with the Danish prince omitted, and
Hopper has a great part in that of Demi-
dorf, the astrologer, magician and general
fakir. Although Mr. HOpper's personality
is never disguised, matter what char
acter he may assume he is a versatile
comedian, who sing well. He domi-
mates the stage whenever he is on. and
the time. Little Alfred Klein has a part
that he makes a great deal Of and he
comes a very close second to Hopper in
favor with the audience.
The idea of making a decayed trapedian
masquerade a lady-n- waiting to a bogus
princess is n funny one. and Klein carries
it out to perfection. Edmund Stanley makes
a good,-looking prince and sings the num-
bers allotted him in good style. Mark
Price Gogol, George Barnum as Can
tain Peshofski and Arthur Cunningham as
the Grand Duke all sustain their parts adj
mirably. OF the ladies' Nella Bergen is q
beautiful. but rather over-ripe Anna, and
she sings with general artistic effect her
nigh notes ringing out above chorus and or
chestra. although they have not the round
ness which used to be attractive Alice
Judson'S katrinka was charming per
Torrance. Disguised a boy in the first
two acts, she was dainty in appearance and
costume, while in proper female attire in
the last act she made very pretty picture.
She has developed into bright and piquant
actress and dances gracefully. The chorus
Is unusually large and the voices well bal
anced. 1t Is given considerable work to
do and it does it we'll. 1t showed to ex-
cellent advantage in the Russian national
hymn and in the march with which the sec
ond act closed. There is no reason why
THE Charlatan" should not prove as big
a money-maker as "El Captain" Much of
the music is better than in the first of the
Sousa successes, and the interpreting COM
pany is fully as good, even better The
lyrics are pleasing, the topical songs really
funny and the ensemble work is great. 1t
is splendidly costumed and mounted. The
only weak spot last night was the orchestra
which is not large enough, and which evil
IDENTITY had not been sufficiently rehearsed
LAFAYETTE SQUARE OPERA HOUSE.
Mr.. Henry Guy Carleton did not add to
his fame as a playwright when he con-
structed THE Cuckoo" THIS fact will be
attested by the handful of people who were
lured into the Lafayette Square Opera
House last night by flattering advance no.
tees and the prospect of having an old
| fashioned laugh at funny Fred Bond. How
the author of Ambition THE Butter
flies and THE Gilded Fool' could be guilty
of foisting upon the public such a sorry
creation as THE Cuckoo is inexplicaDe
Mr. Carleton cannot complain of any lack
Of ability in the company producing his
play, for they make the best of the little
he has given them to work with. 1t seems
utterly impossible that this Cuckoo bird
could come from the pen that gave 20 the
theatrical world such successes those
above mentioned. and which were factors in
assisting Nat Goodwin and John Drew to
the ;oo notch of their profession. The
Cuckoo has not one redeeminC feature
and has no excuse whatever for existing
1t is a relief In ono little ras.,ect