Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-05

6Diy no star VINO pays III Washing toIl III
the course Of a season who is regarded as
high In the general favor jolly, bright
May Irwin. Her admirers are legion, for
from the gallery gods to the innermost
circle of social culture the advent of this
entertaining comedienne is regarded with
wholesome delight. AS each year has pass
ed by with a new production better than
that OF the previous year, and this origi-
nal has come and left her charm upon the
town, the interest in the announcement OF
her appearance has grown apace. Never
before has So great an interest been made
manifest as this year. She brings, Monday
night, after four months run on Broad
way, a new production to the New Ma
tional Theater with bright songs. pretty
faces and a laugh for almost every line.
The comedy is entitled THE Swell Miss
Fitzwell-" In a smaller way. Mr.. H. A.
Du Souchet. the author of the new play,
has been to Miss Irwin what Sardou is to
Bernhardt. He has understood her capa-
bilities and her limitations and with her as
sistance In suggestion has written play
which embodies or furnishes the basis for
that rolliching, almost hysterical, infec-
tious humor so characteristic of this act
ress both on and off the stage. Nobody on
the American stage sings negro songs like
May Irwin.
The new play deals with the trials, the
Fluctuations and final happiness of the
Count de Cagiac and his American wife,
who. having been disowned by the former 8
countess. desiring to help her husband as
much as possible. opens a dressmaktng
shop under the name of Miss FitZwell, but
says nothing about 1t to him, fearing his
pride will be hurt AT the same time the
count embarkS in the business of making
face powder. and carries 1t on with sim
liar degree of secrecy in partnership with
an Irishman named O'Donovan Dugan.
Now, Miss Fftzwell has customer in the
person Of u French vaudeville singer,
called Mile. Otello, and the count, who has
known her in Paris. follows her to the
dressmaker's shop and brides her with
locket and chain to sign face powder
testimonial. The coun tess sees MIN present
the locket, and believes IT to be gift OF
effee ton. and starts for Oklahoma TO OBJ
tain u divorce. OF course, the compllca-
lions are finally Strengthened out, and the
count and countess receive the blessing OF
the paternai marquis, and the play ends
happily. IncluGed in the play are OF
course, d budget of songs worth gong
miles TO hear. On Broadway they created
a vocal epidemic The most pronounced o.
these successes are The Frog Song, ON
the Dummy Line" ''Syncopated Sandy,
Honey on My Lips" THE Pickaninny
Lullaby" Keep Your Eye on Your reno:
Mr.. Johnson and "a Little Pinch OF
Salt"
LAFAYETTE SQUARE-A delightful
event is promised in the dramatic line 1or
the current week at the Lafayette Square
Opera House when Mr.. Herbert Kelley
and Miss Shannon will present most I'M
portant novelty in the first production mere
of their new and successful play, emitted
THE Moth and the Flame, by CIyde
Fitch ESQ 1t will be remembered that Mr..
Fitch has written number or successIui
and enjoyable plays Among the most I'M
portant are Beau Brummel, bohemia
and Nathan Hale" the latter but recently
produced by Mr. Nat Goodwin. The 10Th
and the Flame is a play of an entirely
different type than Mr.. Fitch's later pro-
auctions. dealing with a modern society
theme, in which the author has placed some
types and customs of our modern lie ana
society realistically and amusingly upon
the stage of many contrasting characters,
the honest and dishonest man of business,
the honorable and dishonorable man or the
world, the loving and the weak woman,
the loving strong woman, the nlppant
young girls of smart society, and the SIN
ceTe, the witty and amusingly fashionable
woman in society whom trouble carries out
of the pessimism which threatens our pres
ent age. The heroine is the strong, loving
woman, who works for the poor in the
Sums is interested in all sorts of charita-
BILE things, and who does not turn her back
upon the man who loves her because the
world is down upon him. She loves him
and will not believe him capable of doing
half the world accuses him of. Through
many amusing and picturesque comedy
scenes the strong plot of the play is carried
simply and surely to its natural climax,
fashionable world add color and contrast.
The scenes of the play are laid in New
York, and the story told in three acts. The
first act is given over to an amateur vaude-
willie performance, followed by a fancy
dress ball at the home OF one of the 400"
A charming love scene, a carnival of COM
edy and a strong dramatic climax by the
enacting of a tragedy bring out the story
and the dramatis personnae. Two things of
unusual interest are shown, in that both
Miss Shannon and Mr.. Kelley are seen in
roles entirely new to their admirers in this
city.
The wedding scene in the second act
shows the interior of fashionable (St.
Huber's) church, New York city, and, after
the guests are ushered to their seats the
wedding procession approaches, headed by
a supplied choir. followed by the ushers
and bridesmaids. Just as the marriage
ceremony is about to take place Mr. Fitch
introduces n strong dramatic situation in
most thrilling manner, and the curtain
falls upon a scene of intense and highly
wrought interest. The last act is of the
next day. and the playwright shows his
great skill in keeping the absorbing denoue-
Ment until the final scene. The chldrens
costumes, in which the cotillion is danced,
form yarie gated background to the ac-
ton OF the story. which is furnished in the
second and third acts by the encourage of a
fashionable wedding. Tho Moth and the
Flame" brings out the high talents of the
members OF this excellent company, afford
irg. as il does. a chance to see Mr.. KeIcey
In a character entirely different from the
ones he is best known in and showing in a
pert taken by Miss Shannon her qualities
as an emotional actress. In several of the
scores scope is given for dramatic treat
ment of the very highest order. and, in
fact, the play Is declared to have the true
dramatic fire IN unusual degree The
comedy features give an opportunity to see
that capital comedian, William J. LeMoyne,
and the gifted actress. Mrs. Sarah Cowell
LeMoyne. at their best. while the roles al
lCtted TO Mr.. Edmund Lyon, Mr.. Bruce Nc
Rae, Mr.. Daniel Terrence, Mr.. Edward See
Mr. Marcus Ford. Miss Eleanor Moretti,
Miss Nellette Reed, Miss Owen Ellis and
others of the company are worthy of the
high ability OF these excellent players.
COLUMBIA THEATER.-Thera will be
vaudeville bill at the Columbia Theater
next week which cannot fail to please all
classes Of theatergoers. The company Is
headed by the famous Clara Norris the
greatest emotional actress on the American
stage. She will be seen In a ons-act sketch
entitled blind Justice" in which she has
received instituted praise at tho principal
ccntirrous performance houses through
out the country. among than Keith's in
New York. where she made a pronounced
hit Her fame as an emotional actress is
second to no other on the American stage
The company is one Of the strongest and