Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-02

This week, theatrically, has been notable
for the production of a dramatization of
Ian MacLaren's stories, under the title of
BESIDE the Bonnie Brier Bush" The play
has been put on with a wealth of scenery
and effect that testiiies to the liberality
and artistic taste of the managers, and a
cast of superior merit. Many changes were
made in the piece after it's first perform
ance, Monday night, and 1t is now COM
pact and consistent. and it's action moves
smoothly and forcefully. Its career will
undoubtedly justify the judgment Of
Messrs. Perley and Ranken. Days COM
pany has given some excellent perform
ances at the Columbia, and William Gillette
has pleased many in '"Too Much Johnson
at the National. The children. and older
people, too, have enjoyed Uncle Toms
CabA," and the lovers of melodrama have
been satisfied with AT Piney Ridge
Next week. being Holy week. the strong
est attractions have been put forth. Easily
first is Richard Mansfield who will play
repertoire of his best-known characters at
the Columbia. Then comes Mr.. E. H.
Sothern, who will present a new play and
also some of his former successes, at the
Lafayette. Andrew Mack, at the National
also in a new play: Humanity at the
Academy; THE Brand of CAIN" at the
Grand, and the Rentz-Santley Company, at
the Lyceum, make up the rest of the list.
LAFAYETTE SQUARE THEATER.-The
play selected by Manager Daniel Frohman
in which Mr.. E. H. Sothern and his adj
mirable company will open their annual
engagement in this city Monday evening.
is the new original comedy by Anthony
Hope entitled THE Adventure of Lady
Ursula The scenes of the play are laid
in Edgeware a suburb of London, in the
fury. Wherever this play has been pre-
sented Mr.. Sothern has Increased the num-
Der of his admirers a thousand fold by his
artistic work. Mr. Sothern's impersonation
OF Sir George Sylvester is said to be thor
ouShly attractive and remarkable for the
delicate shading of the character. Almost
as great success has been achieved by
Miss Virginia Harmed Lady Ursula Bar
rllgton. The possibilities of romantic ad-
venture are very much enlarged as COM
pared with commonplace conventionalities
ruling society at the present period. The
young gentlemen and young ladies of that
day are far more picturesque figures than
their successors of the present The cos
tuning was superb in colors and gorgeous
In adornment, and all the necessary habiH-
ments were beautiful to look upon, and
decorative, both as to person and to the
groups of which they were members. The
story concerns q gentleman of the eight
zenith century. who having slain his best
friend in duel over a woman, foreswears
women and concerns a lady who hearing
that no woman may venture into the castle
OF this recluSe, Wager5 she will DO it, anu
wins by Disgusting herself in the clothes
of he- younger brother. She becomes en-
taEgled in a broil with some men and would
have to fight if the gentleman did not fol-
low her and intervene with his claim of
prior enga cement to duel with her. 1t will
be seen that the lady has rather a con-
spicuous part and Virginia Harmed is re-
ported to have amply improved the OPP
portunity. The following repertoire will be
pres ented Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,
Thursda!', Friday evening and Saturday
matinee: THE Adventure of Lady URSULA
Saturday evening. BelaSco and De Miles
humorous comedy. Lord Chumey' and
at the Wednesday matinee, by special re-
guest, Lyttons romantic drama, Tine
Lady of Lyons" In The Lady Of Lyons
Mr. Sothern will be seen as Claude Mel
iotte, Miss Virginia Harmed as the hand
some Pauline. This PRODUCTION will be pre-
senied with the same elaborate scenery
costumes and effects that were used in the
New York production.
COLUMBIA THEATER.-Richard Mans
fields appearance always marks the week
devoted to it as the most important, So
c'aliy and artistic, of the season. He is
next week to give seven performances of
bis greatest successes on the stage of the
Columbia Theater. The uarlor home of
comedy is admirably adapted to the deli
cate and detailed art of Richard Mansfield
and one may anticipate new revelations in
all the multiplied charms of his creations
In the proximity of audience to actor in
rious roles which the famous player will
present next week suggests a dramatic fes-
tiv2L He carries the furniture and the
other paTaphernalia for each play with as
much munificence as if it were the only
play IN his repertoire and he depended upon
1t for his reputation This is the key to
Marsfeld's phenomenal career. He is not
merely an actor OF great genius, but he has
the courage to surround himself with
company of trained and gifted players,
bringing this time nearly forty for speak
Ing and walking parts. He also stages
each play with an originality in taste and
a care for detail totally regardless of ex-
pense. Because of his great genius as an
actor, his artistic capacity for beautiful
stage pictures, his gifts for directing
company in such way as to adduce the
most harmonious result from his support
Ing players. Mansfield is today acknowledge
ed as a leader of the stage. The repertoire
Tor next week is one which will display
the famous artist to singular advantage
Monday evening and at the Saturday mat
inee he VIII appear in the most charming
OF modern comedy character roles, his in
imitable Beau Brummel. 1t is necessary to
feel near and to be near Richard Mans
Held to catch the myriad of delicate de-
Eotements which have made this part SO
famous, ard the coZness and actual prox-
unity Of all parts of the Columbia to the
stage Will give the audience a chance to
study at close range this elaborate crea-
tom The same Is true of the peculiarities
OF his senile oil rake Baron Cheyrial in "a
Partisan Romance" which he will give
Tuesday evening. Wedne sday evening Mr..
Ma sfield will appear as Shylock in THE
Merchant of Venice" THE Devils Dis
ciple' will be given only one performances
and that on Thursday evening II was i'm
this remarkable play that Mansfield made
the longest run of his career in New York
last fall No expletive is necessary in an
noLncing the performance of the dual role
DIT Jekyll and Mr.. Hyde" for FRIDAY
night This remarkable performance al
ways packs the theater. Mr. Mansfield new
er plays II but once a week. The bill for
Saturday night is yet to be announced. The
advance booking of seats and boxes has of
course been enormous.
NATIONAL THEATER-Andrew Mack
tine singing comedian" is one of the most
pcpular young actors on the stage. a host
OF local admirers will be able to welcome
RIM IN a new play at the New National
Tfeater next Monday evening The new
piece. which is called AN Irish Gentle
nan. was written by Ramsay Morris. ex-
Pressly for Mr.. Mack, and with view to
showing him to the best advantage TIE
result has been. it is said, not only a splen-
aid star part, but an all around play of
remarkable interest ard charm. in which
Mr. Mack has won genuine success wher-
ever he has given 1t. The new play will
be striking novelty to the extent that it
Gees away with the peasant boy in cor
duroy knee breeches. and in his place puts
an irlsn gentleman, young college gradu-