Evening star., 1898-03-12


moniously blended. and the performance in
its entirety is declared to be the nattiest,
most fascinating combination of fun and
frivolity that has ever laughed away a
night, as if by magic.
LAFAYETTE SQUARE OPERA HOUSE
The attraction at the Lafayette next
S week VIII be Denman Thompson and The
Old Homestead" This season 1.-The Old
Homestead's' visit will be doubly pleasant
from the fact tnat Denman Thompson will
assume the role of Joshua Whitcomb.
When piece like THE Old Homestead"
which seems to defy all the canons of dra-
matte construction, gains not only the ia
vor of the big public, but compels the ad-
mfration of the people who like to think
themselves critical in artistic matters, there
is apt to be sort of puzzled feeling re-
garding it. The plot is not complex but it
Is sufficient, and the interest is maintain
ed Dy the revelation of human character
and not, as some people think, by the in
terpolated music, which is, in fact, one of
the strongest features of the performance
The central figure Is true type of Ameri-
can character idealized. Cyrus Prime
Aunt Matilda and the other New Hamp-
shire folks are real personages. The last
act is marvelously life-like picture of
home in New England, farmers home
IN Its most cheerful aspect The poetry
of the hills and fields is in the piece In
writing the play Denman Thompson clear
ly demonstrated the possession of a poetic
brain and n trained hand. 1t is a good
thing to be able to prove that sympa-
thetic chord can be struck in the public
heart by stage picture of homely good
ness and piety and faith in human kind.
There will be but one matinee, Saturday.
COLUMBIA THEATER-The annual en-
gagement of Madame Janauscheck, the
greatest living character actress, will come
off at the Columbia Theater next week
To make the engagements mere interesting
Madame Janauschek will be seen in a new
play by Paul Kester, entitled What
Dreams May Come" The part of Russian
nobleWoinan was especially written for her,
ana IN II Madame JanausChek is said to
nave achieved the greatest success of her
career. What Dreams May Come is a
four-act drama The scene is laid in Lon
don, and those persons who appreciate
strong acting and situations will not be dis
appointed. Janauschek stands today as the
greatest character actress and after the
lrst performance she said that her work
in the part was the best she ever did
While the plot is strong, there is much scope
Tor comedy work and sentiment which in
the hanos of capable people tends to make
the new play great success. Critics who
have witnessed the new play and carefully
STUDIED the role assigned to Madame ia
nauSchek unite in saying that 1t is better
suiteI to her abilities than Madame Rosen-
baum, part In which she was recently
seen in THE Great Diamond Robbery
Paul kester. the author of the new play. is
a successful playwright. His first play was
written in collaboration with Minnie Mad
dern Fiskes famous Tess. The company
Supporting Madame Janauschek is one of
known people as Edmund Collier, Miss
Maud Banks, John Blair, Joseph Whiting,
Miss de Wolf, Mr.. Holland, Mr. Layman,
Mr. Hepworth and Miss Washburn.
ACADEMY OF MUSIC-''Fun abroad the
Pacific Mail" the brilliant laugh-p provoking
comedy which appears at the Academy
rext week, has proved to be one of the
most successful comedies on the road this
season, sea m 1t was written by Paul NJ. Pot
OF The Conquerors.' Duncan B. Har-
rison's big comedy company which will
present 1t contains the names of many
well-known artists among whom are the
Irish queen, Maggie Cline; the Charming
comedienne, Marion Abbott; the brilliant
Helene Lowell, the sparkling Celie Ellis
and the Misses Gerry Ames, Caroline Cook
Adelaide Burton, Efie Dinsmore and the
celebrated prima donna soprano, Nine
Ivan Alexa. The gentlemen composing
the company are justly celebrated in this
city for their capacity as entertainers. The
list Is headed by the eminent comedian
r. E. Graham; the celebrated baritone
William Riley Hatch; the famous basso
Edward S. Metcalfe; the tenors Charles
Powell and Charles Craige, and the Messrs
Sidney Price. Charles Patterson, Gus De
We're, Theodore .DeVere Osborne Scarf,
Sam Lewis, l.. NJ. Hartwell and many
others. Maggie Cline will sing several
new songs, among them being My Name
is Brady, I'm an Irish Lady" I'D Like
the Country Better If the Foreigners Didn't
Run It." Felix O'Grady," Mary Ann Ke-
hoe and Throw Him Down McCluskey"
large number of additional specialti IS
will be introduced, including the famous
singing of Nine. Alexa, who was the cele-
hrated pupil of the great Nine Marchesi
Nine Alexa is reputed as having a voice
OF the same range and quality as Nordica's
Sclcs, duets, glees, madrigals, quartet
sirging and dancing as well as other sne
c1alties are literally interspersed through
out the comedy. The company has been
playing to the largest business achieved
this season in the city of Boston, and there
is no question but that that success will
be repeated during the engagement here
The scenic production is on an elaborate
scale and exclusive of the magnificent
costumes is said to have cost $4,000
There will positively be no advance in
prices for this engagement
GRAND OFERA HOUSE-Lovers of mu
SIC. pantonine and scenic effects will have
a treat in the production of Eight Bells"
which will open at the Grand Opera House
beginning next Monday. This species of
entertainment, especially the trick property
part OF 1t, has an abiding hold upon the
ater-Soers of high and low degree, and
helps to prove the assertion that we are all
children when the appropriate moment
comes round. Eight Bells in its rsju-
oennsed, We ,a state Is one of the funniest works
10 give the susceptible spectator an attack
OF seasickness, is thoroughly ENJOYABLE.
Ine play Is certainly inclusive enough In
the variety of amusement 1t offers in the
course or an evening. 1t contains a bur-
iesque, farce comedy, a musical comedy.
a pantomime and a spectacular production,
The great revolving ship SC ane, the trick
wagon, the -hustliDg octopus, the funny
Franks Of the student statues, the weird
trunks and doors and chairs are among the
novelties. The Byrne Brothers are won
oerfully asils and clever pantomimists
John F. Byrne is the inventor of the me-
chanical effects, which are truly marvel
Gus, and he is also the author of the lines.
All OF the brothers are agile acrobats, that
would do credit to any circus 1t is not
hard to conceive that such people, asso-
ciated together. could keep things quite
lively, and that is just what they do.
KERNAN'S LYCEUM THEATER.-John
L. SuilivaD's Comedy and Big Vaudeville
Company is a winner, judging from the
reception which the star and his splendid
organization are receiving everywhere. OF
course Sullivan spars three rounds, and
the way the old champion ducks and par
rles and seLds in blow after blow on his
clever antagonist calls forth tremendous
applause. Prof. White Is q boxer Of no
mean ability and he gives the greatest Of
all lighters plenty of work In getting at
him. Sullivan surprises and delights all
spectators by his splendid form. The show