The times., 1898-01-27

the marriage, while d very good one
from a worldly point of view does not
appeal TO either of the parties most
nearly concerned as a prospect of un-
alloyed bliss. The count has formed an
attachment in another direction. and
the young countess, who is school
girl fresh from the convent, has a ro-
mantle fancy for a gay young cheV-
alier. whose image fills her mind to the
exclusion of everything else. AS time
goes on, however, the husband and
wife find themselves falling in love
with each other in the most idyllic and
delightful fashion, and all ends hap
PLY. Mr.. Drew. of course. plays the
part of the Conte de Candale, and
Miss Irving, his leading lady that of
the Countess. Miss Irving is a new ac-
ceSSion to the Drew company, and has
proved a valuable one. Miss Elsie De
Wolfe plays the part of Martin, CO.
quettish and intriguing French maid.
and plays it so successfully, with her
thorough knowledge of French and of
French manners and customs that she
is ''one of Moliere's maids to the life"
as Boston critic said. Arthur Byron
does some extremely good work as the
Chevalier de NaicloS. and MIR. d. H
HarkinS. whose sterling work is we'll
known to lovers of the dram, will
play the old General. AS to the cos
tunes and scenery of the production,
they are, of course, elegant and his
torically correct, and the wigs. the
lace, the powder and patches, the or
nate swords and three cornered hats,
have all been studied from models of
the costumes of the time From the
biggest piece of Louis Quinze furni-
ture down to the heels on the slippers
of the least important person in the
cast, all accessories are carried with
the company. and there is no risk of
such a contretempS as once occurred
at a Washington performance of THE
Rivals when the chairs on which the
eighteenth century actors sat had evil
IDENTIFY been borrowed from the near
est box. The piece is, in fact very
much like group in Dresden china in
its daintiness its elegance, and it's ar
tistic atmosphere. and the brilliantly
costumed characters move through the
action with the stateliness and grace
of minuet. Charles Frohman. under
whose direction it is produced. calls il
a comedy soufflee." and the phrase is
an apt one. In New York, Philadel-
phia and Boston, as in Washington.
Mr.. Drew's appearance calls out a
class not often seen in great numbers
at the theater. the wealthy, intellectual
and cultivated people who have seen
most things this world has to offer, and
have no enthusiasm left for anything
but the very best Matinees will be
given Wednesday and Saturday.
Prince Rudolph Otis SINNERS
new romantic comedy will be present
ed at the National next week. 1t is an
adaptation from Prince Otto one of
Robert Louis SteVenSon'S earlier works
and the adapter. who was Mr. Skinner
himself, was so thoroughly in sympathy
with the spirit of this charming story
that he has succeeded in preserving its
atmosphere intact, in spite of the
changes necessary to it's successful
decentralization. Mr. Skinner has the ad-
vantage of looking as we'll as acting
the part of the young German prince,
for fame has come to him while he is
yet young enough to play the part of
the romantic hero without disguise He
is rightly considered the best of our
actors in his especial line of parts, and
although he has made his greatest sue
cesses in such characters as Romeo.
Orlando, Duval and his present role of
Prince Rudolph, he has played, at one
time or another. Macbeth, Shylock and
other characters of deeper and
stronger nature. and this gives an ad-
ditional power and sureness to his
work. The story of his present play is
full of delightful romantic interest, and
deals with incidents al the court of one
OF the lesser German princes, in the
early years of this century. The time
and place are extremely favorable for
the growth of any sort of romance, par
stage r0nlahce, and the cos
tunes of that picturesque period add
much TO the pictorial effect of the va