Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-05-04
AMUsEMENTs.

AMUsEMENTS.
LAFAYETTE SQUARE OPERA HOUSE.
Amy war play that does not have Span
iard Tor It's hero excites interest Just now,
ana possibly the mere announcement Of
| presentation Of q dramatization of
| Charles Levers novel, "Charles OMalley,"
served to draw many people to the La
| fayette Square Opera House last evening.
The real attraction, however to the large
audience that assembled there was Mr..
Wilton Lackaye. who interpreted the hero
| In this military drama. Mr.. Lackaye Is a
| native of this city, and Washingtonians
| are proud of the success he has achieved
| upon the stage. He u.s. perhaps. the most
conspicuous example of the training given
by the old Lawrence Barrett Dramatic
| Club. of which he and Mr.. Chas. Hanford
] were prominent members. In Mr.. Lack
ayes ,s. career he has displayed greater YER
satility than any actor who has gone out
| from this city. His first hit was stage
| viliain-not the villain Of melodrama, but
the gentlemanly sccundrel that is fire.
naturalness OF his villainy that made his
| work prominent and brought him to the
| notice OF stars and managers. 1t was said
by some that his forte was in this direc-
| tion and there were those who believed he
| was destined to continuously play this line
| OF characters. He showed, however, in
| Aristocracy." that he was equally good in
| leading parts, and his Jefferson Stockton
was creation that placed him higher in
| the ranks of the profession.
1t was as Svengali, however, that Mr..
| Lackaye made his greatest reputation. and
that remarkable creation will long live in
the annals of dramatic art as a perfect
portraiture Of one of the most fascinating
| characters in modern fiction. His great
success In this Fart induced Mr.. Lackaye
to enter the starring field, but the plays he
secured, while affording him good oppor-
trnfties. failed to present him at his best
and he has diligently sought vehicle :or
| the display CT his abilities which should
also be able to hold public attention be-
cause Of its intrinsic merits.
Ut. It is believed that he has found in
| representation last night, a play which
will prove popular and be a money maker.
| 1t is called by the author, Mr.. Theodore
Burt Sayre, a romantic comedy, and, while
Levers novel furnishes the plot. the
changes made in characters, incidents and
dialogue are sufficient to entitle it to be
called an original work The title role fits
bring to bear all his resources of high
comedy. while also giving him opportunity
| Tor some strong serious work. That he
| made a hit was evident from the first and
throughout the play there was every man
| Hesitation Of satisfaction on the part of the
audience. There were curtain calls after
every act, and at the climax with which
the third act closes the applause was so
prolonged that Mr.. La ckaye was compelled
to make a speech. This he did in a very
happy manner. saying some very bright
Things as we'll as expressing his thanks for
the way in which the piece had been re-
ceived.
Mr.. Lackaye has surrounded himself with
an excellent company, including such sterl-
Ing players as Joseph Wheelock whose
General Blake is an excellent piece of work;
Henry Jewett whose Capt. Hammersly is
a gentlemanly but effective villain; Edith
Crane, whose Lucy Eastwood is well con-
ce1Ve1 and whose beauty deserves ha
praise O'Malley bestows; Nannette Com
stock. who plays the unpleasant part of
faithless wife with good judgment, and
Alice Evans, who makes a charming Dora
Others In the cast are Joseph Wheelock
jr., ]. P. Sollins. Messrs. Neuitland, Brew
ster, Harris, Rich. Stepping and Lamb all
OF whom are competent for the tasks as
signed them. The piece is excellently cos
TUNED and mounted. 1t is not to be ex-
pected that the play when it gets into run
ming order will last as long as it did last
night. and it must be admitted that there
was some nervousness displayed in the first
performance, but for initial work all the
actors did remarkably well. and all that
Is needed is familiarity with each others
methods and perhaps some excisions that
VIII readily suggest themselves, and
Charles O'Malley'' will prove a big hit
with the public. =
CHARMION.-The world-famous Char
micn Is the star attraction at the New
National Theater next week. She comes
or Foreign Stars. direct from their music
hall in New York city, and the entire or
ganization returns there Immediately after
their engagement in this CITY, 1t is a
vaudeville performance composed entirely
OF h1gh-class European acts imported to
this country by Roster & Bal and all of
whom have appeared for extended engage
N ents al their New York music hall
Charmion created a sensation upon her
first appearance by her disrobing act upon
the trapeze: Her performance is said to
be risque, but that it does not offend is
eVloenced by the fact that her engagement
IN the metropolis was patronized by the
elite of the city. 1t will remain to be seen
now she will be accepted here.
FRANK DANIELs.-Frank Daniels re-
turns here next week, at the Columbia,
with his new opera, 1.-THE Idols Eye
Ihere are few attractions in a musical
way the announced coming of which may
be made with certainty of it's giving
rise to feeling of pleasurable enjoyment
to come. One Of these is Mr.. Frank Dam
iels and the admirable organization with
which he is always surrounded. With
such an attraction, it is not necessary to
say that the production is fine one, or the
company well selected, for it is known
that its manager would not allow 1t to an
pear without all these elements being in
corporated therein The manner in which
this was demonstrated last season with
1.-The Wizard of the Nile" gives earnest of
equally satisfactory treatment with it's
successor. The new opera, 1.-The Idols
Eye" is the work of the same author and
composer, Harry B. Smith and Victor
Herbert, and the stage settings and cos
tunes from the same cunning hands as its
predecessor. Harry Smith has written a
story filled with funny complications, re-
garding an American up-to-date balloonist
who is in India in search of adventure and
who gets mixed up with Hindoos and
English soldiers in that far-off country.
The company this season supporting Mr..
Daniels contains many well-known artists
Among them are ALT. c. Wheelan, VIII
Daforth Maurice Darcy, Norma Kopp,
Helen Redmond and Maude Courtney The
scenery and costumes are elaborate as is
suggested by the locale of the opera. The
score teens with pleasing melodies and
topical sorgs.
THE DAZZLER."-Long years ago some
wise man remarked, Laugh and grow
fat" If there is any truth in this SAYING
it is safe to prophesy that our theater
goers who visit the Grand Opera House
next week are more than likely to gain
pound apiece in avoirdupois. Cosgrove
and Grants comedians will present 1.-The
Dazzler." or it might be said the new