The times., 1898-09-01
THINGS THEATRICAL.

Audiences are not generally very par
ticular on points of construction AMI
other technical details of play. and
thus it comes that while the critics and
theatrical wiseacres generally are still
arguing about the merits and dement's
of the Palmer farce, THAT Man" CON-
fortably- filled houses are laughing heart
ilys over it every night at the Columbia
Few first productions are as smooth as
this, while the wonderful work 1f Reu-
ben Fax and clever bits contributed by
the remainder OF the company all prove
stimulus for the smiles and applause
OF on-lookers. Probably never has u
new comedy taken better with the pub
lie. Manager Palmer has also made u
popular move in his proposition TO do
nate the entire net receipts of t0-mog-
rows performance to the fund tor the
reception of the District volunteers. f
the theater is well filed this sum should
reach near TO the thousand mark, and
will serve TO initiate the amount at pres
ent in the treasury by a great deal.
"The Chimes of Normandy" the latest
production of the Jaxon Opera Company.
is said to be making an emphatic hit at
Glen Echo this week. and present proba-
bilities are that it will be continued
through the early part Of next. The pre-
sentation is spoken of as being an inter-
esting and capable one, the cast being one
of exceptional merit. while every detail
has been rehearsed under the competent
direction of Manager Jaxon. Despite heat
that is somewhat inconvenient, though
greatly tempered at the Glen houses have
been excepiinally large and the PROPOSE
ton to postpone the performance of Fra
Diavolo' would seem to be wise one.
The Columbia offers to its patrons for
the coming week Kate CIaxton, one of
the best known stars now before the pub
lie. She presents that stirring meIo-
drama 1.-The Two Orphans" appearing
in her original part of Louise, the blind
girl. role played by her over five thou
sand times. The Boston Globe. speaking
of her recent engagement in that city
says: THE revival of The Two Or
phans' at the Boston Theater last night
by Kate CiaXton served TO emphasize
one point and that is that the meiodrama
of some decades back, and especially of
the d Emery type. absolutely gains new
luster every time an example of that
school is presented in comparison with the
tawdry, vulgar and absurd stuff that is
too often prescribed for the public in this
fin de steele time of ours. Undoubtedly
the mere mention of The Two Orphans
would evolve a smile from most modern
melodramatists, yet one and all could
learn from it the art of brilliant eli
makes. conference of plot swift strokes
never made superfiuously, and wealth
of action that would enrich the store
house of any playwright. The romantic
melodrama may be plated article, but the
plating is of gold. and not a cheap gilt
wash. The play has long proved popular
and it's success is based upon real merit.
1t is thoroughly consistent throughout,
the story being steadily and evenly devel-
oped and the interest of the spectator not
allowed to diminish for an instant 1t
stirs ones sympathies to the very depths
and the climaXeS are extremely effective.
Some of the crueh incidents are painfully
realistic in their representation, but while
the piece is full of sadness from begin
ming to end, it teaches some noble les
sons. Miss C!axton's impersonation needs
scarce word.
Ed F. Rush. who not so many years
ago was performer. and still fewer sea-
sons back a struggling manager, rides
safely today on the wave of success and
directs from his New York headquarters
number of travelling organizations. AL
most all of these burlesque shows have
been successful and ne has had the
shrewdness when the public has seen
enough of one to conceive something new