Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-22
ADJUSTMENTS.

w AhtctSI JUN ulup GouSd QooS 10 VI
interest in Washington. This is his native
city. 1t was here he commenced his musi-
cal education, and here he served his APP
premiership in the United States Marine
Band, which he subsequently conducted
with such signal ability that his position
as leader Of that organization was the d.
rect line of promotion to his present stand
ing as the greatest band master in this
country, If not in the world. Washington
is proud of Sousa and is always ready to do
him honor. 1t was for this that Manager
Albaugh decorated the auditorium of the
Lafayette Square Opera House last even
tation here of Sousas latest successful
opera, THE Bride-Elect." This opera has
been warmly praised in critical Boston,
where 1t had its first production, and
where 1t had an extended run, and in Phil
adelphia, where it was equally successful.
Its most popular number. 1.-The Brfde-Elect
March," has been heard by band and Or
Chestra, SO that it has become familiar,
and after the great success OF ''El Captain"
Mr.. Sousas friends were greatly interested
in this later production. Consequently, last
night the Lafayette was filled with the
representative people Of the national cap
ital. Every seat was occupied, and most
Of the standing room was filled with those
who could get only general admission"
The producers Of The Bride FLEET" have
performed their full duty. The scenery Is
elaborate, the costumes are gorgeous, the
properties are appropriate and the large,
comedy and well-shaped chorus has been
thoroughly drilled In all the requirements
of stage business The opera IS more sump-
tpously mounted than any production that
has been here this season and many Of the
stage pictures were greeted with loud ap-
plause. In this opera Sousa has not only
written the music, but the book and the
lyrics Also in doing which he has displayed
the versatility of his accomplishments. In
the score he has given some OF his best
writing. His concerted and chorus music
has always been all right, but his ballads
have been his weakest work. In this OPP
era, however, Mr.. Sousa has written two
ballads. the tenor solo at the opening OF the
second act and the legend of the Snow
Baby that are worthy of high praise.
There is also a dramatic song for the So
prano, the card song, excellently sung by
Miss Nella Bergen, that is remarkably eff
fect1ve. In this act, which, by the way. is
the best, unsteady speaking there is also
a dainty waltz duet between tenor and So
prano. an invocation sung by Miss Bergen
and chorus well worked up seXtet and
the march chorus, "Unchain the Dogs Of
War;" with which the act closes. The first
act Is picturesque in its setting and serves
to introduce all the principals, the king
making his entrance on donkey in a very
effective way. In the last act the compli-
cations are satisfactorily worked out, and
a topical sorg is introduced that, If the
audience could have had it's way might
nave been running yet
The cast Is a competent one and includes
Miss Nella Bergen, Miss Christine MacDon-
ala, Mabella Baker, Albert Hart, Melville
Stewart, Frank Pollock, Chas H. Drew
and Harry Luckstone, all Of whom seem to
ehter into the spirit of their work and the
most OF whom sing well. Miss Bergen's
voice has broadened out and she sings in
more dramatic style then when she was
first heard in Eel CAPTAIN" while she has
developed into an effective actress Chris
tie Macdonald is dainty and pleasing in all
VynY dc y06 ono
for her singing of 1.-THE Snow Baby" Mel
Vile Stuart's rich baritone voice has not
as much play as one could desire, but he
sings all that is allotted to him in good
form and acts well. Frank Pollock has
tenor that has some sweet notes in the up
per register, but his medium tones are cold
and raspfng, and he can't act little bit,
but that is the usual fault with operate
tenors. On Albert Hart rests the burden
of the fun. and that elongated comedian re-
minds one very forcibly of De Wolf Hop
per. whom he has evidently taken as his
model. He certainly caught the house last
night, for his efforts were loudly applauded
and his work was fully good as he did
in wang" Charles Drew and Harry
Luckstone were interesting as second como
dams, although they did not have a great
deal to do. The work of the chorus, both
vocally and as to its stage business, can
not be too highly commended.
COLUMBIA THEATER.-Leon Herr
appeared for the first time before WASH
ington gathering last night, and, judging
from his reception he is destined to gain
the hold on the American people so long
maintained by his uncle. He is equally
deft in legerdemain, and has shown con-
siderable ingenuity in preparing and oper-
ating mechanical devices. Associated with
him was Nine. Hermann, whose graceful
figure was so long q welcome feature of
the late Prof. Herrmann's entertainments.
The entertainment of magic is divided into
two parts-that introducing elaborate ma
chinery and that depending on quickness
of manipulation. The latter were probably
the more popular, for while many might
have theories for the former, only super
lative skill could explain the other The
decapitation scene, in which a mans head
was cut off in view of the audience, was
SO cleverly given that notwithstanding the
knowledge that it was an illusion, an in
voluntary SILVER swept over the specta-
tors. Equally inexplicable, though more
pleasing, was the artists dream, when the
portrait of a pretty maiden was suddenly
transformed into winsome little Dot Robin
son. Nine. Herrmann's beautiful studies
of grace and light-it Is hardly correct to
call them dances-are an entertainment in
themselves. Although to Loie Fuller is due
the credit of their invention, Nine. Herr
mann has developed them to such ex-
tent as to deserve equal credit. Nothing
finer than her portrayal of a fame leap
ing up from the stage has ever been pre-
scented. Throughout the audience followed
the performance with deep interest and
frequent applause. The attendance was
very large. and the satisfaction manifested
was an indication of excellent business dur
ing the week.
NEW NATIONAL THEATER-'What
Happened to JONES'" George H. Broad
bursts farce, last evening entered upon it's
second engagement here this season, and
the enjoyment of the large audience was no
less than that with which the play was
witnessed last December. The charm of
the piece is the naturalness of the situa-
lions, there being no straining for elects,
and the fun running as steadily throughout
the three acts and as uninterruptedly as a
mountain stream. The result Is that the
complications in which Jones, delightfully."-
portrayed by George c. Boniface, jr., con-
stantly finds himself are seemingly never
ending, and as laughable as they are sur
prising. The feature of the cast, which is
a remarkably even and consistent one was
Miss Matte Ferguson's picture of Helma a
Swedish servant girl, her quiet humor be-
ing irresistible. George Ober, as Prof.
Goodly, and Reuben Fox, as his brother,
the Bishop of Ballarat, were very clever
Miss Anna Belmont, as Cissy, was as pref
ty as she was vivacious, while Mrs e. A.
Eberle, as the maiden aunt, added much to