The times., 1898-05-29
OPENING AT GLEN ECHO.
Annual Affair Draws a Big Crowd
to the River Resort.

to the River Resort.
An immense throng comprising the elite and
fashion of the Capital City of the nation, gather
ed at Glen Echo last night 10 witness the open
ing OF the second Summer season OF that popular
resort.
Fully five thousand persons visited the grounds
during the evening and enjoyed the picturesque
improvements that have recently been added 10
almost every former feature OF the place.
The grounds were visited by many persons at
DUSK and every that glided along the
picturesque palisades OF the Potomac thereafter
weighted down with loads OF human freight.
The audience was 4 fashionable one. and il thor
oughly enjoyed the picturesqueness of the syl-
scenery Of the Glen. aglow as it was at
every turn with the viyed brlliancy Of myriad
incandescent lights.
The resort has undergone many radical changes
in the way of improvement since last year, and in
a way that promises 10 make it the most pOPu-
lar amusement center tie city during he
coming Summer. Many Of the gravel walks. es-
pecially the slopes, leading from one build
ing another, have been replaced by asphalt
pavements, and the gravel paths in other p0r-
tions Of the grounds have been relaid and in
many places regarded
The feature Of the resort during the evenings
are the electric effects, hundreds OF tiny, glow
ing bulbs having been placed along the cornices
and balustrades Of the cafe, the immense amphi-
theater and the various curious rustic buildings
that are to be met with on every hand.
The cafe has been remodeled and rearranged.
The main dining hall is easy to access, being
situated on the first floor overlooking the lake.
It is open on the south, east and west sides, and
is in the path of every zephyr blowing from the
Potomac. During the day the view from the
IL stretch
of the wooded country Of Maryland and Yir-
ginia for many miles round Al night the din
ing hall IS aglow with the refugence Of clusters Of
electric globes and bulbs. Above the main din
ing hail IS another equally large and with
everp appointment but iBclosed s. As 10 be On
tirely within doors The normal temperature IS
maintained by swift moving fans. Above the
cafe are cupaloS parapets and towers OF every
conceivable architectural design. where refresh
nents may be served. \ balcony extends around
the structure from which an excellent bird 's-eye
view of the entire place may be had.
From these verandas and curiously conceived
parapets the grounds at night appear as would a
Neapolitan carnival during the vintage season.
Great crowds gathered last night about the
many minor amusements that have been afforded
| by the management. While many Of these are
still unfinished the novelty Of those ready com
| pensates for the delinquency An elaborately
built and well operated electric theater drew
| big audiences. while the adventurous climbed
TO the top Of teh crag and viewed the old Ger
| man castle which win shortly be utilized by
gypsy fortune tellers and iIlusionizts. The chill
dren's village the gfOtt0es, the summer houses.
and dozen other fine features OF the place viii
/ be opened to the public shortly. and VIII be Of
i nature to surprise even the most eNpectant-
| But the real feature Of the entertainment Of
fcred last night was in the performance given
by the Parry Opera Company. This occurred in
the big anphithcater, and the place not only
well filled but, in portions of the building. even
! crowded. While not, Of course, to be compared
with productions given al the downtown theaters
the organization acquitted itself most creditably,
its rendering of 'sThe Mikado'' being by all odds
the best seen here since tbat OF the Castle Square
| Opera Company something over q year ago Many
of the PLAYERS were possessed OF fine voices. which
we're heard 10 excellent advantage in the great
auditorium The comedians proved thoroughly
| capable too while large chorus Of fine look
ing girls showed constant and expert training
| in their work.
The scenic effects could hardly have been bet
| ter in a place for Summer amusement On the
| stage back Of the newly-constructed proscenium
arch, were two fine sets, painted especially for
the presentation Of Gilbert and Suiliyan's master
piece. while the accessories and properties We're
| correspondingly good. Tie people in the cast
were exceptionally well costmned, even the minor
players being dressed in neatly fitting and decid
edly tasty japanese attire The work Of the
combination was nothing short Of remarkable
when it is considered how little time was devoted
to rehearsal in the confusion attendant upon pre-
pairing for the opening. As a first night pro
duction the piece was sung with rare smo0thness
individual effort being well blended into perfect
ensemble.
Undoubtedly the cleverest bit Of work the per
fcrmanee afforded was the Mikado OF Oscar Cir
ard This talented comedian invested the rathe
brief title role with viyacity and dry humor tina
kept the audience in roars OF laughter. Hi
accent and business were both good, while hi
impersonation had the rare merit of consiSteDc.
with its acrobatic comedy Frank Deshcn brough
much that was into the part OF the LOr,
High Executioner, and contributed not littl
to the manner in which the performance was re
ceived. His rendering OF tire familiar old topica
songs, I've Got Them on the List ''The Flow
ers That Bloom in the Spring" and Method o
Punishment had the merit of novelty, his dane
ing at the end of the last two songs mentione,
being highly appreciated by a crowd never in
clined TO be really critical. The love scene Will
Katisha was well done, tco, and evoked a heart,
round of applause
Jay c. Taylor is neither prepossessing singe
nor i specially efficient one. No tenor is realIl
expected TO know anything about acting, an,
Mr.. Taylor proved no exception to the rule. H.
has rather sweet voice, however, and succeeded
in pleasing tolerably well. George Broderici
was dignifedly comic Bali-'Lord HisI
everything else''-and Tom DAILY a good Pish
Tush.
OF the ladies of the cast Alleen Crater VOL
honors for her neat and spirited work in III
small part of Pitti-Sing Miss Crater never ap
peared to better advantage, her acting in ''Tk
Ballet Girl which she had rehearsed careiull,
for weeks, being far inferior to that done las
night at short notice. The few vocal bits tina
fell TO her were beautifully rendered. Mari
CoIeridge looked the role of Yum Yum and Play
ed it reasonably well. Selma Rough was charm
ing as Peep-Bo and Viola D'Armon worked har,
to bring her impersonation OF Katisha up 4
the standard set by OF the best operati
condolences of the day.
The entire performance was Unexpectedly er
| oyable and with the improvement that littl
| time will bring may be expected TO find read
appreciation in loca amusement-lovers. 1t
so rarely that the old works well sung tha
one can afford to go out of his way to Witnes
such phenomena, especially when the goal
his Journey is so thoroughly beautiful a plac
as Glen Echo. The resort will soon be eatirel
completed, and when this has become di estal
lished fact the country at large will have Il
more delightful refuge for the hot nights tlIa
are sure to come.
Despite the disadvantages OF threatenir
weatl:sar the affair last evening can only be mel
-, floned as being tremendous success, and Il
power of the place to attract IS beyoT
question ''The AIikado will be continued a