Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-26

tate against them II the TACT should be dis
closed.
LAFAYETTE SQUARE OPERA HOUSE.
Monday evening the ever-popular "Adon-
is" Mr.. Henry E. Dixey, will open a week 8
engagement at the Lafaytte Square Thea
ter in his new and novel scenic production
of magic and comedy. From the hind legs
Of the famous "Evangelne'' heifer to the
throne In the kingdom of magic is a far
cry, but Dixey's well-known versatility has
covered the distance, and with great sue
cess. In his present entertainment Dixey
runs the whole gamut Of stage amuse-
ments, from tragedy to the broadcast of bur-
lesques and from humorous feats of leger-
domain to the most mysterious of illusions.
prominent among the latter are two beauti-
ful and mysterious oriental receptions the
Mystery of Mesrour' and the Miracles
of Chunder Hula" These are both founded
on legends of India and are startling ex-
positions of Hindo practices. Another won
derful mystery is the illusion Leonii." in
which beautiful young girl is transformed
into an African lion in full view of the au-
dience. In another part of the performance
Dixey appears as a mischievous Pierrot in
an exhibition of black art. This is entirely
pantomime work and the mysterious OBJ
jects that appear and disappear at the will
of the awestruck Pierrot afford the most
amusing OF entertainment. Other scenes
present the Palace of Enchantment, in
which Dixey performs numerous feats of
icSCA tHem by a rum
ming fire of witty patter and Frightening
the whole performance with shafts from
his inexhaustible fund of repartee. In ad-
dition to the magical and illustive portions
of his performance, he presents a sketch in
which he portrayS several of the characters
that made his "Adonis'' so popular. These
include the stage-struck country girl, the
Old Man of the Seven Ages and his WON
derful caricature of England's eccentric
tragedian, Henry Irving. Dixey has a host
ri hn xryin 4 hit 1Ir,
greet his appearance here with crowded
houses. Matinees will be given Wednesday
and Saturday.
NATIONAL THEATER.-"The French
Maid. a musical comedy. by Capt. Basil
Hood and Walter Slaughter. comes to the
National Theater Monday for one week
only. 1t Is in it's Second year in London
and has just concluded a run of 175 per-
formances at the Herald Square Theater
New York city. The piece is staged with
all the attention to detail for which Ed
ward E. Rice is famous. There will, of
course, be picturesque scenery and rare
beauty show. The entire New York cast
is retained. including Olive Redpath, Eva
Davenport, Yolande Wallace, Lucille Fla
ven; Hailen Mostyn, Henry Norman. Ed
Roadway. George Honey. William ARM
strong. E. s. Wentworth. Henry Leoni and
Charles A. Blgelow. one of the drollest
and most inventive of American comedians,
who will impersonate the nervous little
characters in love with the little French
maid. There are several beautiful ballots
and some sensational solo dancing by
Saharat. the Australian wonder, who is
an acrobat and contortionist as well as
a dancer. The action Of the piece occurs
in BoulOgne and covers some comic COM
plications at the Hotel Anglais and at the
masquerade given at the Casino Gardens.
Suzette, a maid at the hotel, is the cause
of all the trouble. She is beloved by
head waiter and a gendarme. These and
many more characters attend the ball, and
their mistakes of identity cause them to
become involved in comic-but to them
tragic-series of events. An army of pref
ty girls, phaIanx of the cleverest come
dams he has ever engaged and score
Of graceful dancers are given very beau
tiful scenic background. 1.-The French
Maid Is brisk, sparkling and fascinating
and its lyrics are uncommonly bright and
humorous. The engagement Is limited to
one week. with the usual Wednesday and
Saturday matineeS.
COLUMBIA THEATER.--"For Fair vir-
g1nia.' by Mr. Rust Whytal. will be the at
traction next week at the Columbia with
the author and his charming wife in the
principal characters. Our theater-goers
who can recall the first presentation Of the
play in this city. more than two years ago,
do not need to be told of it's potent attrac-
tiveness: but for those who were not so for
tunate 1T can be truly said that 1T is one Of
the best and most pleasing Of modern
American plays. Its long enduring success
now continuing into fourth season, is the
best possible proof of It's wholesome merit.
Mr.. Whytal has not been led into the too
common error Of trying to reproduce act
ual scenes of battle and strife. These are
always unsatisfactory and not infrequently
ridiculous. He has only used the events of
the war as background to a domestic
story comprising two strong love incidents.
In his heroine, Virginia, he shows a proud,
high-spirited southern woman, enthusiastic
cally devoted to her cause. She compels
sympathy even from those most opposed
to her. Contrasted with Virginia is bright,
piquant, resourceful and courageous north
ern girl, Nell Esmond, whom no southerner
could help loving. Mr.. Whytals play is by
nc means gloomy. 1t abounds In comedy of
a strikingly original and spontaneous kind.
He himself appears in light comedy char
acter. Mrs. Whytal is an actress of mark
ed refinement and intelligence, possessing
a graceful and pleasing personality, and
with thorough command of her art. Miss
Viola FOrtescue plays the Yankee girl, and
that remarkable child-actress, Mabel Talia-
ferro, so long the smallest child with Jas.
A Herne, has very important part, which
helps to make the performances particular
ly attractive to ladies and children. The
bargain matinee on Thursday, when adj
mission to all parts of the house will be
only 80 cents, should prove to be the larg-
est the new management has had.
GRAND OPERA HOUsE.-Hi Henry's
Big Modern Minstrels, who have met with
such phenomenal success in New York city
the past week, will be seen for the first
time in this city at the Grand Opera House,
beginning next Monday. Hi Henry is cred
tied with presenting one of the strongest
minstrel attractions of the present time.
The company numbers fifty performers,
embracing eight comedians, two distinct
quartets. a grand, carefully drilled chorus
Of twenty-five. an orchestra of fifteen and
a superb military band of twenty-five, who
discourse Wagner's music and the classic
overtures. The vocal and instrumental fea-
lures of the attraction are said to be un-
equaled in -leir line. The list Of talent en-
braces the best performers of the day. The
bright comedian, Arthur Deming, heads the
list Of eight funmakers, which include Dan
Allmon, Pete Griffin. James Cowper, Tim
Mcmahon, John King. James Carroll.
Ed. Locke and others; their eight
accomplished vocalists are headed by the
popular Harry Leighton; among the spe-
cialties are the celebrated patrol quartet,
the Mirellas; the musical comedians, Locke
and Allmon; the worlds greatest buck
dancers. Griffin and Cowper; Deming and
Allmon In amusing specialties. solo or
chestra of fifteen and Hi Henry In cornet
solos, supported by his military band of
twenty-five Observation-Disclosures.
KERNAN'S LYCEuM THEATER.-"Ro-
bie's knickerbockers," who are to begin a
weeks engagement at Kernan's nyceum