Evening star., 1898-12-31

the title role, which has increased in pub
lie favor with ach performance. The play
is strong one. fully as powerful as
Camille upon which it appears to have
been modelled: and the work of Mrs. Carter
merits only the highest praise. Roland
Reed has met with good success at the
Columbia, as has James ONcil at the
Academy. Next week there viii be a pie
thora Of amusements. Grand Opera viii
be heard at the Lafayette, Mr.. VIM. Crane
in his new play, The Head of the Fam
iIy," at the National. the Rogers Brothers
in their latest farcical success, "A Reign
of Error" at the Columbia, "Hogan's AL
ley at the Academy, vaudeville at the
Lyceum. and the Grand Opera House will
be opened to present Francis Wilson in mis-
new comic opera, The Little Corporal"
IT'S the hardest work / have ever done"
said David Belasco the other day, Ito cut
Tara and bring it down into a three-hour
production. In most plays you can take
out big chunks of dialogue and it won't in
terfeTe with the story, but in building this
play l made every speech lead up to some
thing that seemed to be Important, 10 nave
a bearing upon something that had gone
before or which was 10 come, that l and
il hard to eliminate.
How closely have l followed the original
French play? Well l don't think there are
d hundred sentences of the original left
/ have completely changed the motive and
the atmosphere Of the play. l have
changed the wager and drawn the charac
ter of Zazl upon higher lines, tried to puri-
fy her by her genuine affection for Dufrane
and her suffering resulting from that great
incident in her life.
When 1 saw the original play 1 realized
its strength and the power Of the leading
character, but also saw that without radi-
cal change it would never be made pre-
60
iabored on the work, and | think l have
made d play that is acceptable l have
tried to give it in its mounting French
atmosphere in the decorations and bric-a-
brac. and l hope / have succeeded.
of course l had Mrs. Carter in mind in
drawing the title role. and she has ful-
filed all my anticipations- l was told by
many dramatists that l could never bring
this play into proper shape, and that the
character Of ZaZa was beyond Mrs. Car
ters capabilities, but l think the result has
refuted both those assertions. And in re
gard TO Mrs. Carter L want TO say that the
conception of the part is entirely her own,
as well is the Interpretation. 1 have
only made certain suggestions, but have re-
Trained from any that would in any way
affect her individuality. She has proved
herself a great actress and fully deserves
all the praise that has been given her
Wilton Iackaye has habit of lapsing
into poetry at this time of year for the
benefit of his friends. No one minds Will
tons poetry. for ne is a good fellow and
every one likes him to the utmost. And
then he only w.ites it once a year and it
comes at 4 time of good cheer. But Mr.
LaCkayes effusiOns. a Ia pOetiCal, are real
ly very clever and attractive, and his little
remembrances in this line are greatly ap-
PreCiated by his friends. Wilton writes
each year Of the mUmmer'S Christmas. ION
tour, telling of the cheerless fashion in
which he Is often compelled to spend the
glorious tide Of glad days. This year the
poem is entitled A Merry Christmas, and
Is enbelilShed III red and green on IL hand
some card. the types being wreathed in
holly while in the center a tiny cupid is
ringing a gladstone marriage bell. In his
poem Wilton sings praises of joy that he is
10 dine in good old New York on Christmas
day. From the way he lauds Gotham VIII
ton must be put down as a traitor to Wash
inEtpu, and that would never do. He will
explain that away all right under the great
shawl Of poetic license.
LAFAYETTE SQUARE OPERA HOUSE.
The grand opera season that will COM
mence at the Lafayette Square Opera
H"lse next Tuesday evening promises TO
be IN every way a success. The advance
sale has been large. that financially Mr.
Ellis viii be rewarded for his venture, while
the operas selected are those which should
apTeal strongly to the lovers Of music The
list of singers embraces those in the fore
most rank Of lyric and dramatic work, and
they viii hardly fail to II eet the expecta-
lions Of their audiences. Some are estab-
Ashed fayOrites. and will he warmly wei
coined back to Washington. Others are
new. but these come with established rep
Ctations, and will no doubt fully justify
what has been said Of them elsewhere
The operas to be given are Romeo and
juliet, 'Taunhauser," "CavalCria Rusti-
cana I PaGliacci' and the Barber of
seville T1e casts Of these operas will be
as follows:
Gourod's Romeo ct Juliette Gin French
Juliette, Melba; Ste?hano hatfield; Ger
sfa4 I'm
Mercutio. De Nrics; FriaT Laurence Bou--
d"uTes qTe; CapUlet. Stelmann: Due de
Verona. Rains; Tybalt, Van Hcose. Ben
Cassi- Conductor. Seppri
- ! hurS'ay evening, January ;. Wagner's
y nhauseT' Gin Gcrman - Elizabeth
Gadsk; Vents, Olitzka: shepherd. Matt
feld; TanrnaUse Chy arrangement with
Nauri1a Gran Opera Comrany). Dippel:
I.andSraye. Stchma1n: Walter. Van Hoose:
wolfram sturdy: BIterolf Rains: Reinmar.
oarSi' Heinrich, Lehman. Conductor, Dam
Friday evening. January 6. double bill,
,N-StstSai 'CdFateriI RuStcana Gin Ital-
laH)-Santuzza. ChaIi1: Lola. Oitzka: Lu-
cia Van Cautere1; Turiddu PaUdoldni: AL
TO. RenSaufe- Conductor. Fried Ieonca-
Eail"'S Il PaSliaCci' lin Italian)-Nedda. De
I.llsSani Cant". Pa 1d0lfiri; Tonic Bcnsaude:
ductor. Serpim.
Saturday afternoon, January :, Rossini's
h,rhSr OF Seville Gn Italian)-Rosina.
NtlHi- Bertha Van Fautcren. Alrnaviva
S"nnard, Figaro Reusaude: Rartolo Rosa.
EaSlIo- Bour1CuresqUc: FioIello. Viviani
Conductor Seppilli.
FRANCIS WILSON-That iolIv comedian
and good fellow. Francis Wilson. will omen
his arrangement at the Grand Opera House
Monday afternoon with matinee. present
Ing The Little Corporal" 5 new comic
opera- So much has found its way into
print anent this latest success Of Mr. VIII
sons that the public is pretty well posted
on the story. the scenic effects and the
beauties OF The music If reports be true
ana they have been so unanimous-Mr. vii
son has what can be termed "A t0p-natch-
er this time in The Little Corporal'' In
spite Of existing circumstances. the come
c.a0 has 10 trouble in playing the leading
cities, and the time offered 30 far far ex
ceels the limitations Of the season. and
such a winner has the new opera proved
that II Will carry the star through auotbar
season, If he elects 10 play in cities that II
j. impossible 10 route before the close of
me present season Mr.. Wilson's abiIity
as "a mirth prOvoker, his careful manner in
staging his operas. and the general exceI-
renee Of his supporting company are mat
tsrS Of record. and his annual visit is look
eu forward 10 by a large clientele This
i9ilo"lhg, according 10 reports is resnond
lnS 10 the aUuring announcements herald
iFac- Of