Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-16

week although the business at all the
houses has suffered on account of the bad
weather. The Lyceum Company has met
with appreciation at the hands of some
distinguished people, and the midgets have
attracted not only large number Of chill
dren but many adults, and their work In
some respects has been really artistic.
Katie Emmett and Thomas ]. Shea have
pleased good audiences. and vaudeville has
been well patronized at the Lyceum and
Bijou.
Next week comic opera and a comedian
will divide attention. At the Lafayette
Square. DE Koven and Smiths latest pro-
duction, The Highwayman," will be CIV
en- by the Broadway Theater Opera Com
pany, and will undoubtedly repeat its New
York success. At the National Nat Good
win, who has a host of friends and admir-
ers III this city. Will play his annual en-
gagement, opening in AN American Citi-
zen" There will be no performances at
the Columbia next week The attraction
that had been booked could not be Sc
cured at this time, and rather than pre-
sent an inferior company. the manage
merit decided TO close the house. AT
the Academy that charming little woman,
Fanny Rice, will play a return engage
ment. and at the Grand Cora Tanner will
be seen in Alone in London The Ly-
ceum will present THE Big Sensation,
and the Bijou will offer fine array of
specialties.
Joseph O'Mara was not always a comic
opera tenor. Not SO many years ago lie
was a member of Sir Augustus Harris
Royal Italian Opera Company, and has in
Vulnerable good stories to tell of his ex-
periences while touring the provinces.
One night when Faust was being given
In Dublin, peculiar accident occurred.
o Mara was appearing as Faust, while the
role Of Mephistopheles was being sung by
Customary. the famous grand opera, singer
whose tragic death at the Metropolitan
to the musical world. In the last act Mar
Yuerite, having assembled to heaven. Me-
phistopheles and Faust were about to de-
scend TO the other place" For some rea-
sob the trap on which they stood refused
to work properly and stuck after going
short distance below the level of the stage.
The flames leaped up and the two singers
were in a most uncomfortable position.
Try as they would they could not make
the trap go down. Suddenly an 1rishman
in the gallery, approaching the humor OF
the situation called out: "Begob. OMara.
you're safe; the devils got full house;
there's no room for YOU"
The audience burst into roar OF laugh
ter and the curtain was rung down in con-
fusion.
Nat Goodwins great initiative faculty
came very nearly bringing to an untimely
end. at the outset of his career, all of his
ambition for the stage. Stuart Robson had
put play in Boston. 1t was the work
of Joseph Bradford. a lawyer of some
prominence, and, although it's success was
not complete at that time, it was afterward
played by Gus Williams, under the title of
Zone of the Finest for many prosperous
seasons.
Some sort of a benefit had been arranged
for Mr.. Robson, and certain of Goodwin's
Boston friends, being anxious to gain for
him hearing in the city of his birth, went
to Robson and told him there was a certain
talented boy of their acquaintance who
possessed wonderful powers as a mimic
and that, being a Bostonian. his presence
upon the stage at this forthcoming benefit
would add considerably to the size of the
audience. Robson was, of course thus cas-
fly persuaded. and in consequence arrange
ments were at once made for Mats appear
ance in one of the scenes of the play, made
up as newsbOy. The night for the per-
Torrance soon came around, and Mats
friends almost made the house top-heavy.
The scene in which he was to appear was
street near the pier and at a given cue
he was to step down to the footlights and
proceed with his limitations of famous act
ors- Robson. strange to say, had not re-
hearsal of this scene with the juvenile
comedian, and when the first imitation,
that of John T. Raymond as Colonel Null
berry Sellers, had been concluded he ap-
plauded as heartily as did the audience in
front and encouraged him to go on. The
next was an imitation OF Lawrence Barrett,
and then followed one of John MCCULLOUGH
The house fairly rose at the boy and
Goodwin, Strengthening himself up began
with peculiar clear staccato: lama
soldier" concluding. amidst the widest ap-
plause and shouts and cat calls from the
gallery. one of the most remarkable imita-
tons of Robson himself that up to that
precise moment, had ever been heard upon
the stage.
For the time being the great Dromio pre-
n ha hicbv
spectator, but with all his skill as an actor
he could not entirely conceal his embar-
rassment and shifted nervously from one
side OF the scene to the other. Then the
curtain went down amidst very tumult of
applause. and while the audience in .ront
was shouting with delight the mortified
star turned upon the exultant youth and
gave him scorching that Goodwin remem-
bers and laughs about to this day. he was
ordered from the theater instanter, and 1t
Is needless to add. that was his last an
pearance with Mr.. Robson upon that or any
other stage. The latter felt highly indig-
Hant at the idea of being burlesoued In his
own play by mere boy, and SO Informed
those weli-meaning friends who had Sc
cured Tor him the assistance of this pre-
cocfous youth.
NATIONAL THEATER.-The most i'm
portaat event of the year will be the an
ruai engagement of Mr. N. c. Goodwin.
assisted by Miss Maxine Elliott tn Ia in
augurGted Monday night at the Nati,n,I
Theater. Mr.. Goodwin's annual engage
ments at the National are always remark
ably successful, as his popularity both as
an actor and a man Is greater than that
OF any other artist who visits this civ
Those who saw him last year at the Ns-
tonal will recollect what an emphatic tri-
umph OF genius he made in IAN American
Citizen,' and Ii is a matter of coEgratuIa-
ton to all concerned that he has selected
Madeline Lucette Ryley's masterpiece as a
feature OF the engagement. 1t will be the
CHEERING for the first three nights. likewise
at the Saturday Tatinee. Next to AN
American Citizen" Mr.. Goodwin has never
presented work that has proved more
popular to the masses than "A Gilded
Fool" This piece will again be revived
THURSDAY and Friday evenings, while Sat-
urday evening THE Rivals" will be given
Its only presentation. The advance sale.
That sure thermometer of popularity has
steadily increased since 1t opened to such
an extent that series Of brilliant and
fashionable audiences are assured and IL "a
safe TO prophesy that standing room will
again prove feature of the engagement.
Next to Mr.. Goodwin Miss Maxine Elliott
Will undoubtedly be warmly welcomed
This brilliant ard beautiful artist Is Justly
recognized as one of the best leading ladies'
while the gowns that she will display In