Evening star., 1898-10-15

who IS scheduled to appear at the Column
bia Theater in a new and highly successful
comedy, "The Meddler." Mr. Robson's WIS.,
its to the District of Columbia are always
accounted welcome events. fact that will
probably be emphasized upon the forth
coming occasion by reason of the notable
names he has gathered around him as his
support The Meddler'' is described as a
comic play of modern manners. In it Mr..
ROBSON 1mpersonateS a persistent blunder-
ing meddler in other peoples affairs. His
persistence in pursuing this peculiar fad
among his associates leads up to numerous
ludicrous situations and entanglements,
which are the cause Of uninterrupted mer-
riment, 1t Is said. Mr.. Thomas Is credited
with having constructed his play with nice
ingenuity. the characters being well drawn
and the dialogue given to them very much
above the average contributed by the COM
edy writer's of the day. The artistic pre-
cision which dignifed The Me1dlers'" met
ropolitan production will be adhered to
during it's several interpretations in Wash
ington. The cast is as follows: Francis
Eli, the medder. Mr.. Stuart Robson; Mr..
Chandler, Mr.. Theodore Babcock; Captain
Oliphant, Mr.. Theodore Hs smilton; Mr.. Ban
croft Mr.. Harold Russell; Mr.. Shirlaw, a
novelist, Mr.. George Pauncefort; Hender-
son, a colored servant. Mr.. J. Goodman
Braye jr.; Holland, Ba1crnftS servant,
Mr.. S. S. Whitbeck: James. Oliphans's se1v-
ant. Mr.. Walter Deming; Mrs. Porter. be-
Oliphant, Miss Maude Granger; Bessie,
Els sister, Miss Gertrude Perry, and Mrs
Bancroft, Miss Marie Burroughs. Accord
ing to adviceS from the box Office of the
Columbia Theater, the advance sale for
Stuart Robson's engagement is of such
goodly proportion that it is safe to predict
that this favorte player will face one Of
the most brilliant audiences recently en-
vironed by the four walls OF that popular
playhouse.
NATIONAL THEATER.-Next Monday
evening Charles Frohman's splendid or
Sanization of players, the Empire Theater
Stock Company, will appear at the Ma
uonal Theater in Paul NJ. Potters success
full drama, The Conquerors." This play
ran all through the season at the Empire
Iheater last year, and was not only tre
mendous success financially and artistical-
ly, but it caused more discussion than any
drama produced in New York in many
years. The magnificent manner in which
the play was acted by Mr.. Frohman's COM
pany. as well the vast Kaleidoscope
character of the production, recommended
1t strongly to the best play-going element
of the metropolis. The discussion which it
aroused was due perhaps to the different
view points from which the persons who
saw the play looked at the scene in the Sec
ond act, in which the hero attempts to re-
venge himself on the heroine. This is a
bold and rather risky scene. but it was
handled with such exquisite tact and cley-
erness by Mr.. Frohman's leading players
that it entirely escaped offensiveness, and
the point upon which the discussion was
nased was simply mental or physical one.
1t Will be necessary to see the scene to un-
derstand how the discussion arose and why
1t was prolonged all through the run Of the
piece at the Empire Theater. Mr.. Froh-
man still retains Mr.. William Faversham
for his leading man, and it is said that in
the role of The Babe" who is the hero of
The Conquerors," this actor has done
more to extend his reputation and estab-
lish himself as artist than in any other
part in which he has been seen. The lead
ing woman of the Empire Theater Com
pany is new. She is Miss Jessie Milward
who was leading lady at the Adelphi Thea
ter, London. for several seasons, and VINO
is quite a favorite with English theater-
goers. The other members of the Empire
Theater Company are ]. H. Benrimo JOS
Wheelock, jr., Guy Standing, w. H. Cromp-
ton, G. H. Howard, E. Y. Backus, George
Osborne, jr., William Sumner, John Arm
strong, George Pierce William Workman,
May Robson, Jessie Busley, Eleanor Mo-
retti, Lillian Thurgate, Clara Bloodgood,
Madeline Mann and Helen Comstock.
ACADEMY OF MUSIC.-One Of the most
financially successful of the imported melo-
dramas is when London Sleeps" which
is announced for the Academy of Music
next week. Mr.. Darrell. the author. has
gone this time to the circus ring for his
principal characters. Most people hold in
fun of the sawdust-streWn ring, and hence
a peep behind the curtains into one of the
tragedies of human life in which the heroes
of childhood play leading part appeals
alike to our curiosity and sympathy. The
sensational scene so necessary for modern
melodrama, and which is SO often dragged,
in, becomes in this case natural one.
Queenie, the heroine, in the first portions
of the play, Is introduced as slack wire
walker, and when she finds herself locked
in a burning building, which has been fired
by the villain. for the purpose Of destroy
ing her and little child under her protec-
ton, she ESCAPES by treadng telegraph
wire, reached from an attic window, carry
ing the child on her back.
GRAND OPERA HoUsE.-The Grand
Opera House will reopen next Monday
ever ing for d season Of melodrama. under
Messrs. Thomas H Davis and William T.
keogh. The attraction will be the new
Russian nelodrama, Lost in Siberia.n
which will be presented with a wealth of
scenic investiture and a competent cast
This new melodrama is said to be the most
startling revelation of the Russian govern
mental treatment of political prisoners ever
offered in this country. The characters in
troduced are living personages of today in
the service of ths Russian government
Prominent among the scenes represented in
the play is the annual fair which is one of
the events of the year at Novgorod. A
number of prominent vaudeville artists
have been especially engaged to appear in
TINS scene. which will also be made very
picturesque by the introduction of over 100
people In bizarre costumes. In addition to
this great scene, there are several others
faithfully reproduced among them being a
view OF the Jewish quarter in Odessa The
dramatic company engaged for this play Is
a notable one and includes NJ. j. Jordan,
William Mitchell, Scott Marble, I,Ioyd
Bingham, Duncan Preston, John Martin,
Robert McWade, Thomas Garrick, Helena
Collier, Francis Ring. Celia Alsberg and
Miss Weffing. The Grand Opera House has
been thoroughly cleaned and placed In pre-
sentable condition Ior the opening Of the
season. The new managers will inaugurate
decidedly popular scale of prices The
engagement of Lost in Siberia" will begin
with matinee Monday.
kERNAN'S LYCEUM THEATER-Com-
mencing next Monday, the Lyceum will pre-
sent Jermons famous Black Crook Ex-
travaganza. No expense has been spared
thls season to maintain it's good name A
bright and refreshing burlesque has been
written by Mr.. Joseph Mitchell, the we'll
known playwright and comedian, entitled
The Four O'clock Club, which will help
to introduce some very well known char
acters inpersonated by a select company CT
vaudeville and burlesuue artists.
The Leading character will be played by
Miss Grace Vaughn. who was for num-