Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-26


picks, supposed to be in daily use at coal
| pit. appropriate. One Of the best imperso-
nations was that by Ricca Scott who sue
ceeded in portraying a small boy in man
ner which was neither trite nor over
wrought. Her clever work would have
been more effective If the character had
| had a closer connection with the plot. In
| spite of minor defects, many of which will
naturally correct themselves, the perform
ance of gratifying promise. The
play has much which should invite popular
interest.
NEW NATIONAL THEATER.-Those
who went to the National Theater last
night expecting to enjoy a good laugh at
comedy were not disappointed. Willie
Collier is a droll fellow and THE sMan
from Mexico is an amusing play. 1t is
farce in three acts adapted from the
French of Goudinet and Bison by H. A.
Du Souchet. The public billing of the play
was unfortunate in the representation Of a
convict in stripes, giving to the uniformed
the impression that it might be a melo-
drama of the dime-novel character. Such
is not the case, although THE Man from
Mexico poses q jail-bird for brief
time, but under exceedingly humorous cir
cumstances. Willie Collier Benjamin
Fitzhugh visits a concert hall with some
of his friends, and while there the place Is
raided and the visitors given thirty
days in Jail. To hide his dilemma from his
wife Mr.. Fitzhugh notifies her that he has
been called to Mexico. One act deals with
the experience of Mr.. Fitzhugh and his
friends in Jail, their position being compli-
Gated by the visit Of Mrs. Fitzhugh and a
bevy Of girls performing the kindly duties
of a flower mission among the unfortunate
and misguided victims of the law. When
the sentence expires and the Man from
Mexico returns to his home his troubles
have only commenced. His wife has deco
rated the house with Mexican colors. she
and her friends are attired in Mexican cos
tunes. and, in order that her husband may
n a oh Y10 n
diet, she prepares him dish of hot to-
males, with which the alleged Man from
Mexico proves to be strangely unfamiliar.
The efforts Of the unfortunate Mr.. Fitz-
hugh to give lucid and coherent account
of his visit and of sights and scenes in
Mexico cause him great deal Of trouble.
concluding finally in the discovery of his
deception. Mr.. Collier as a comedian is q
success. He is quaint in manner and origi-
nal In expression. Louise Allen, who takes
the part of his wife, renders efficient SER
vice In carrying the play along with the
oash and spirit which is characteristic Of
1t. MIR. Maciyn Arbuckle is responsible in
a large measure for the success of the
comedy. He plays the part of a well-mean-
ing and of1cious friend, whose efforts to
put everybody right make everything
wrong. CharleS Mason as William Loveall.
the warden. lends touch of soberness to
the rollicking movement of the play. and
the company is well selected to support the
principal characters. During the fntermis-
A.
tional airs and kept the audience in an nm
roar Of enthusiasm
ACADEMY OF MUSIC. The popular;tv
or Uncle Toms Cabin" which has bean
presented to the public so MANY times In
recent years and is for the second time his
season In Washington, appears to be on the
wane This play opened for a waek's run
at Inc Academy of Music last night. The
audience was not a very large one. Web
DER S COMPANY iS. q W ho1, fl
average OF companies presenting this slave
time drama John F. Ryan makes about rs
good an Uncle Tom as one could we'll wish
for while Harry Weber makes a great hit
as Marks. the lawyer. Harry. by the way,
has played this part 1880 times. Waiiy
Webber, as Little Eva, gained many en-
cores cores me work OF r. Fulton Russell, as
simon Legree; Frank Melrose, as ST. Clair,
ana Alex. Vincent. as Phineas Fletcher,
was very coed. The waits between the
acts were filled in with several very good
speciaities; prominent among which were
MARITIME. The colored members of the COM
pany held up their END very well, and in
their cake walk elected many rounds of APP
plause.
GRAND OPERA HOUsE-A good in
stance CT the height to which the war
spirit is running in Washington was fur
nisfed at the Grand Opera House last
night. The play was "Cuba's Vow"
war drama Of decidedly realistic mold,
IN which the scenes are laid in Cuba and
Spain. Though 1t was rainy. dismal
night, the theater was crowded, and sell
dom. If ever in its history, were such out
bursts of enthusiasm on the part of an
audience manifested. The cruel treach-
erous system Of warfare which Spain has
portrayed in all Of its revolving hideous-
ness in the play, and the versatile actors
who had the thankless roles of agents Of
Spain had to be satisfied with Misses and
groans as evidences that their work was
well done. But those who represented the
patriots of Cuba or officers or bluejackets
from Uncle Sans navy will probably never
meet such ovations in future and peace
representative roles. The playing of a
patriotic air by the orchestra a clash be-
tween the contending forces in the field
or the occasional appearance of some repre-
sentative Of the United States was in
every instance the occasion for pro-
longed outburst Of applause In realistic
situations and fine scenic effects the play
is far above the average of war dramas
The work of those in the cast Is so uni
excellence Of any one would seem unfair
"Cuba's Vow" will be at the Grand the
balance of the week, and promises to be
a great revenue producer.
KERNAN'S LYCEUM THEATER.-We-
ber's Partisan Widows are at Kernan's
this week, and while there are some enter
tanning features. the show is not all it
should be. There Is entertainment enough
however. Raymond and Clark opened the
performance with a contribution of songs
and comedy, and then Lizzie Van, described
as 1.-The Little Sunbeam" sang and danced
The Cosmopolitan Trio was really the bright
particular feature Of the performance
Their songs were well selected, and given
with excellent effect. The Burman sisters
did a Bowery turn that was fair and ST.
monds Of Tenley and Simonds did his best
to entertain. his partner being Ill. Howard
and Emerson, the dramatic singers, were
well received. and the illustrated songs
were good Boyce and Black were only
fair black-face comedians A lengthy bur-
lesque, entitled "A Night on BroadwaY."