Evening star., 1898-04-05
AMUsEMENTs.

1.-THE Adventures Of Lady Ursula" by
Anthony Hope, which has lately been In a
state Of experimentation in two or three
other cities was tried" on Washington
last night The audience In size was al
that the most acquisitive management
could have desired. The opening Of the
annual engagement Of Mr. e, H. Sothern.
however, is enough to assure this, and
there was the added charm Of the acting
OF Miss Virginia Harmed, who is Mrs. Soth.
ern everywhere but on the stage. The
time Of the play is 172O. It is romantic
comedy. abounding in pretty speeches. SEN
timent, lovemaking, fighting talk. adven-
ture and the usual highly improbable char
acteristics as to story. The most strik-
Ing scene is O duel between Sir George
Sylvester (Mr. SOthern) and Lady Ursula
harrington (Miss Harnedl. who Is disguis-
ed as a man. The duelists stand on oppo-
site sides Of table. pointing pistols (only
one of which is 1oaded) at each other. A.
the call Of two Sir George lays his
weapon on the table and declares he vii.
not fight in such a barborous way, evi.
IDENTIFY suspecting that his opponent is O.
the gentler sex. He offers, though. to meet
on the same savage terms any other mar
in the room who may doubt his courage.
For what the play lacks in length and va
riety of argument there is ample comDsn-
sation in skillful treatment. The dialogues
are snappy and the business is abund-
ant and deftiy introduced. The audience
Is In constant manifestation Of delight.
AS matter of fact, there is much dressing
Of rather atteLuated story-a linguistic
establishment Of a theme that could be
brought to close at almost any stage O.
the performance by few judicious 6ashes
is attractive, and the whole presentation &c
pleasing that THE Adventure Of Lady
Ursula may be set down as q permanent
feature of the sothern repertoire. Mr..
sothern acted last night up to the higI
standard he has established for himself.
1t would no doubt be considered compli
mentary of him to say that he has reach
ed an envtable dramatic zenith, Tut the
fact is he seems to be improving every
season. He maintains all his powers ant
with experience. Miss Harmed, appearing
in parts Of the play in fetching gowns and
IN other parts "caparisoned like q man.
was pfquant. miochievous and sentimental,
and the warmth Of the audience toward
her was electric. She was eminently sue
cessful There was no role that was no,
creditably presented, and there was ex-
ceptional merit in several Of the imperson.
ations. Mr.; Royden Erlynne was strong
as the Earl Of Hassenden. Mr.. Owen Faw.
cett, who Is always welcomed by the 'old
timers as an actor of tried accomplish
ments, portrayed the worldly parson ad-
mirably. Mr.. Morton Selton made q gool
picture of the genteel and Quarrelsome
swaggerer. Favorable mention of Mis-:
Rebecca Warren's Dorothy Fenton must
not be omitted. In the matter Of curtain
calls there was q furore, and none othei
of the usual signs Of public satisfaction
was lacking last night.
COLUMBIA THEATER.-At no time this
81 ason has a more brilliant audience graced
any Washington theater than the one
which assembled at the Columbia Theater
last night to accord, for a second time
within the season, a welcome to Mr.. Rich
ard Mansfield. 1t must be taken as
tribute of appreciation when an actor. after
having played in a city for six nights, re-
turns few weeks later with the same
repertoire and finds the house packed with
aemirers and ladies and men standing dur
Ing an entire performance. This was the
experience of Mr.. Mansfield last night,
upon the occasion of the presentation of
Beau Brummell." Every seat in the thea
ter was occupied and several boxes were
filled. Mrs. Mckinley, with a number OF
friends occupied two boxes.
In Beau Brummell' Mr.. Mansfield has
q play which affords opportunity for the
display of his versatile genius, and he Is
fortunate in having company well adapt
ed to the characters which the author of
the play has drawn into its construction.
Mr.. Mansfield was seen to better advantage
last night from the fact that ne seemed,
and his company too, to be more in touch
and sympathy with the audience. This is
due largely to the construction of the
theater. whereby players and audience are
brought into closer physical juxtaposition
with each other, thereby establishing more
sympathetic relations. The play Of feature
and gesture, the magnetic attraction of a
strong personality. more appreciable at
short range. undoubtedly go far toward
producing that relation between the actors
and observers which Is SO desirable.
Mr.. Mansfield's characterization of Beau
Brummell is worthy of conscientious and
ubstinted praise. This was given last
night by the audience and needs not repeti-
ton with printers ink and paper. Mr.
Mansfield was called upon for a speech
The company includes several actors Of
high ability in their art. Mr.. Francis
who fmpersonates the Prince OF
Wales, is blessed by art and nature for
ing resemblance to the lines of the Georges
of England, and his make up is rendered
easy and striking thereby. In his acting he
represented the popular idea of the charac-
ter. Mr.. VIM. Griffith. as oliver Vincent,
a city merchant, gave capital represen-
tation of the opulent but unlettered man
of business. Mr.. Griffith's work approach
ed that Of Werner Charges, as Old Ingot, in
David Garrick." Miss Olive Oliver was
a dashing and fascinating Mrs. st. Aubyn,
and Miss Norah LaElison. as Mariana Vim
cent, performed her work creditably. The
other members of the cast evidenced in thes
performance Of their parts the result OF
careful selection on the part Of Mr.. Mans
field Of his support The piece was staged
with that careful attention to historical
accuracy and artistic detail that has before
been commented on, and which character
zes the mounting of all MIR. Manslield's
plays. Tonight Mr.. Mansfield will be seen
as Baron Chevrial. considered by many his
greatest imperso0ation, in "A Partisan
Romance
NATIONAL THEATER.-Andrew Mack
and his songs pleased a large gathering at
the National Theater last night in a play
With old familiar devices and characters
The play is IAN Irish Gentleman" and
presents Andrew Mack as Jack Shannon,
"a rolling stone," wandering Irish boy of
sterling honesty, who is cruelty accused of
stealing. There are also introduced in the
1nrolling Of the plot Stephen Tyrrell, a
treacherous companion (Adoph Jackson);
Clifford Sherlock, a country gentleman
Richard j. Dillon); Lacy Sherlock Clifford
5herlock's son edwin BrandD; Father
Lawler, everybody's friend George w.
Deyo); Hugh Dillon, Sherlock's neighbor
Thomas Jackson: O'Donoghue, servant at
Old Court (W. ]. Mason); Officer, a disap-
pointed man (B. Williams); Maura Sher-
eek. Clifford sheriock's daughter (Olive
White); Mrs. Fairleigh willy widow Flor-
sEce Ashbrcoke); Easter, housekeeper at
Did Court Marie Bates), and Peggy, Cliff
fcrd Sherlock's niece Georgia Florence
):p). Jacks adventures were followed with
oreathless interest, his unjust arraignment
FOR theft with boundless indignation and
ria rruaf Of iunOcapco with rprosfrotpad