Evening star., 1898-09-20
ANU SENENTS.

Three acts of rollicking 1nerTinlent were
enjoyed by a large audience at the Lafay-
cite Square Opera House last night The
first production of Hotel Topsy Turvy'
and the opening of the Lafayette Square
Opera House for the current season oc-
CURED simultaneously. The piece has one
conspicuous advantage over most musical
farces in that a legitimate foundation is
provided for the absurdities which occur.
The situations are logically developed and
are inherently comic. The cOStuming and
stage pictures are calculated to delight tpe
eye, and when allowances are made for the
difficulties which surround a first perform
ance. there is still reason to compliment
the smoothness and vivacity with which the
performance proceeded. The company is an
admirable one. Perhaps the best known of
the players in Washington is Miss Marie
Dressier. She impressed her personality On
the occasion rather less bountifully than is
her custom. but she was largely in evidence
Notwithstanding. Her bounding, break-neck
methods are tinged here and there with
tendencies to the legitimate emotional dra-
ma. But they fit well into the spirit of
burlesque which expands itself genialiy
over the stage when she appears. and her
magnetism is irresistible as it is unquench-
able The chief fUnmaker is Eddie Foy. He
IS genius in his way. Edwin Booth was
scarcely more a master of tragic art than
Edwin Foy is master of the Humpty-dump-
ty drama. He acknowledges few obligations
10 his author. if he cannot be funny by his
vocal utterances, he can excite merriment
by throwing leg or an arm slightly out of
plumb and strutting innocently across the
stage. And in this piece he has a part with
which his personality entirely harmonizes.
There is not the sense of disproportion
which methods of this character often Gre
ate Another prominent person is Mr.. Au-
orey Roucicault Ordinarily the musical
tarce young person who is in love is pain
fully ordinary. Mr.. Boucicault throws en-
thusiasm and individuality into his work
a n nd IaS
mentS of entire Inconsistencies of self
which are delightful A few years Of hard
work would make him an actor of too SUBJ
stantial quality to seem properly placed in
such frankly frivolous and gauzy surround
lngs. The idea of turning a company of
strollinS players into the home of an old
couple. whose sole ambition is tranquility
IN order to run a hotel and practice certain
decepttons upon expected guests, affords
numerous opportunities for comic charac-
terization. Mr. Henry Norman. as the
strong man, is excellent. Mr.. Frank Smith
son was good as the irascible old gentle
man, and Miss Elonar Falk made the most
of her rather limited musical opportunities
Miss Euna Aug played the part of a Ger
man servant conscientiously and humor-
ously. Briskness of action is one of the
salient features of the production, and to
help in what may be termed the ''whoop-
lng-up process several skllful acrobats
ana Jusglers are very happily introduced.
Inc programs s aliuSiOn to large and
efficient chorus is far from being the GUS
tomary managerial fiction. The lyrical
numbers not distinguished bv sustained
spontaneity and the music is largely mat
ter-of-fact. There several gems how
ever, both of mirth and sentiment and the
hhaies Were worked uD with a dash and
brilliancy which evoked enthusiastic de-
mand for repetition.
NATIONAL THEATER.--A really funny
compilation of nonsense is the three-act
farce, "A Reign of Error" presented at the
National Theater last night. The plot car
ried one from the deck of yacht in mid
ocean to New York thence to Brazil But
wherever the party of merrymakers was
led Gus and Max Rogers were foremost i'll
the fun-making and jollity. OF course they
represented two unsophisticated Germans
and some of those who asss ed in extend
ing errors reign We're Mile. George Gelee
having cool name with warm DISPOSE
ton, Georgia Caine; DR.. Dago Dasgeri
who would be a consistent stage villain if
Spec1alt1eS permitted. Geo. +. Marion:
Weina CaVaya, who wants to "eina Wurst
Maude Raymond: Clemen;ine Clapper, an
undeveloped clairvOyant, Ada Lewis: Jack
Ballister, who doesn't care Tor money ana
proves it by backing a show, John Parr
Irene OrSini dreamy and romantic because
her voice is soprano, Carrie Elherts; Marie
Manila. who wants to be Leetelwurzer
George Lawrence: Justin SOke, whom for
tune put in the show business and misfor-
tune keeps there. Budd Ross: Nuena
Glove, a fresh kid, Soke'S daughter, La
Petite Adelaide: Mile. Bon Seconde, Edith
men, detectives. a newsbOy and a drum
major and q bunch of b~n;Ites known as
sirens of oke 5 Superior Stellar artlers.'
The Rogers brothers were always amus.us,
and although their wit might not have been
of the highest order what they said was
fresh and full of surprises. Ada Lewis,
who won d reputation as a clever portrayer
of odd characters several years ago, when
she won praise for her tough girl ably
assisted in entertaining. Georgia Caine,
who will be remembered rs the Girl from
Paris" had another French part, which
she played in the same bright way as she
did before. Maudc Raymond, John Parr
and La Petite Adelaide. VINO gave an ex-
nibition Of toe dancing, were also prominent
in the SpecialtfeS. The ChOruSeS were sung
with spirit and precision and the dialogue
went with dash.
COLUMBIA THEATER.-'Diploma
one OF Sardou's great plays. was never pre-
sented to better advantage in Washing
ton than last night The audience at the
Columbia witnessed polished and artistic
performance of this drama by a competent
company and with adequate stage accesSO-
ries. The company includes actors who
give ipdisputable evidence of having de-
voted time and thought to study The play
was presented by them not only with pains
taking attention to details, but with no
little amount of artistic ability. "Diplo-
macy is too well known to theater-goers
TO need description. 1t has been favorite
for several years and there is no indication
that it has yet outworn it's usefulness as
attraction at play houses. The situa-
tiCns are intensely dramatic, possessing the
power to hold the attention of the audience
throughout without tagging. Mr.. Edgar
l.. Davenport, who took the part of Henry
Beauclerc, last night impressed the audi
ence with the fact that he has encompassed
the art of naturalness, if such an appar-
emily paradoXical statement may be per
mitted. Mr.. William G. Beach and MIR.
Frank Mordaunt, as Captain Beauclerc AMI
Baron Stein, made favorable impressions
by their excellent and wel-studied work
Miss Mary Shaw, in the difficult role of the
Countess Zcka attracted to herself large
share of the appreciation of the audience
for the efforts of the entire company. Miss
Alberta Gallatin. Mrs Wilson, Miss Violet
Rand, Mr. d Hnald G. Bowles and Mr.. Frank
Arisen carried their parts with credit. In
fact, it would be difficult to choose from
this well-selected company particular per-
sons for special praise. the work of each
individual was so happily calculated to
make up the harmonious whole of excel
lCnce which marked the performance.
THE ACADEMY OF MUSIC-The old
favorite, Natural Gas" dressed in new
clothes and aboundng in new business,
was DresenteC at the Academy of Music
last night by an excellent company at the