Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-12-24

ly ben heard in this city with De Wolf
Hopper's company, but never to such adj
while his personality is strong reminder
of the late Harry Montague. Budd Ross,
Frank Stanley and Willie Torpey are other
ambitious workers. and with such excel
lent material 1t is not surprising that the
evenings entertainment should prove such a
splendid one. The scenic environments are
novel and attractive. In fact. more in
teresting series of stage pictures has rarely
been seen in this city. The costumes are
extremely attractive. That the week will
severely test the capacity of the Columbia
Theater is already evinced by the applica-
tons for seats.
VIM. H. CRANE.-The New Year week
attraction at the New National Theater
Will be William H. Crane, now bringing to
a close one of his most successful engage
ments in New York. The play to be pre-
sented by the comedian, of course, it is a
new one, is called THE Head of the Fam
lly,' and it is the work of Clyde Fitch and
Leo Dtrichstein, who admit that it is
free adaptation from the German of
L AR nn;. kindly genial H., old professor
himself amid his books, his flowers and
;he smoke fror-l -
been away from home in his life and is
ambitious to travel. In the expectation of
his taking a trip some day he studies time
tables and railroad maps until he knows
the guide books by heart any may be liksn-
ed to ready pathfinder. His wife is of an
exactly opposite temperament. she IS
strong willed woman, who insists upon hav
ing her own way and who keeps her meek
little husband under her thumb There
are three daughters, and they have been
left entirely to their mothers care. One
of the girls marries. but rather unhappiy;
another, through no fault of her own, be-
comes involved in a scandal, and the third
is being brought up a very pert and slangy
miss with a desire to go on the stage and
become emotional actress. 1t Is only
when one of the girls is accused Of a grave
offense is the fathers eyes opened to the
fact that in allowing his wife to run things
he has done a wrong to his children. He
thereupon Gusts his wife from her seat of
authority and becomes the head of the
family proving his daughters innocence
and taking his youngest child from her
dramatic school and sending her into the
kitchen, there to become an emotional cook
in the baking Of potatoes and the making
Of oatmeal porridge. Some of the scenes
are very amusing, and it may readily be
imagined that as the professor Mr.. Crane
would be really very delightful. The play
will be handsomely staged and will serve
to introduce several new members OF the
comedians company.
THE BURTON HOLMES LECTURES
The mana cement of the Burton Holmes Lee
lures have just sent out a most attractive
and unique brochure, announcing the COM
ing of Mr. Burton Holmes to Washington,
as successor to Mr.. John L. StOddard, who
for many years has occupied such an exalt-
ed position in the amusement and educa-
tional world Accompanying this brochure
is an invitation to attend lecture on the
Yellowstone National Park, to be given at
the Columbia Theater, Wednesday after
noon, December 80 as an Introduction of
Mr. Holmes to the Washington public. Ad-
mission to this Introductory lecture will be
by invitation only, a card exchangeable for
reserved seats being inclosed. Those who
remember Mr. stoddard's lecture, on the
Yellowstone National Park cannot but look
forward with interest to this lecture on the
same subject announced by Mr.. Holmes,
who, in addition to prOfusion of still pic
lures, beautifully colored by Miss Kath-
crime Gordon Breed, will further illustrate
the beauties of this wonderland of Amer
ica' by a series of motion pictures, show
ing the various geysers and waterfalls in
actual motion. Judging from the reputa-
ton which Mr.. Holmes has acquired in
New York, where, since Mr.. Stoddard's re-
tirement, he has been giving the Lenten
matinee lectures at Days Theater, and in
where he has also followed in Mr.. Stod-
dards footsteps. there seems to be no doubt
whatsoever Of his fitness to don the mantle
of his iliustrious predecessor.
FRANCIS WILsON.-The story of the
Little Corporal which opera Mr.. Francis
Wilson ard his excellent company will pre-
sent at the Grand Opera House during the
week of January 2, is as follows: Pierre
Petipas is the valet of Henri de st. Andre,
a prescribed royalist leader in Brittany in
1897. He buys his masters confscated
estates, and in order to protect them pre-
tends to be a rabid republican, much to the
disgust Of the deceived villagers During
a visit to his chateau Henri is surprised by
republican troops and makes the best of
a serious difficulty by joining the army of
Egypt. 1t is Petipas' plan to go in the
guise of a scientist, and Henri is intro
duced as his assistant. Adele, the Partisan
sweetheart of the young royalist, changes
he ire n thnir aotiI CT
tons with Jacqueline a rustic foster-sister,
and the two girls accompany the new re-
cruits as cantineers. In the second act the
two bogus men Of science with the in
VadinS army in Alexandria. Henri is SEN
fenced to be shot for writing an anti-Bona-
parte song. During Napoleon's absence on
the desert Petipas adopts the desperate
measure of impersonating the great gen
eral, and the likeness is perfect enough to
secure Henri's release in the nick of time.
Petipas' astonishingly successful ruse re-
suits in many complications, which are in
terrupted by the capture Of himself st.
Andre, Jacqueline and Adele by the Mama
lukes. In the last act the prisoners are in
a Bedouin camp In an oasis, and the captors
have made demand for an enormous ran
som in the belief that they hold the great
Napoleon as a prisoner. An answer comes
from the real Bonaparte, and first-class
funeral arrangements for the exclusive
benefit of Petipas are abandoned only when
that resourceful parsonage takes shrewd
statue of Nennon on the premises. The
rescue of all is effected and Petipas finds
himself in high favor with Jacqueline, who
now changes places again with Adele. He
has been secretly in love with her from the
beginning, but the aristocratic hauteur
which she has assumed for purpose has
all along made his cause look hopeless
Mr.. Wilson comes to Washington this year
with number of new and important people
in his cast, chief among whom are Dennis
O'Sullivan, the well-known English bari
tone, who created furore in this country
four years ago. singing the title role of the
opera "Shamus O'Brien." Mr.. O'Sullivan is
handsome and talented, and adds materially
tosthe strength Of Mr.. Wilson's cast An
other prominent acquisition to the list of
principals Is that of Miss Maud Lillian
Berri, prima donna of more than ordinary
note. A majority Of the chorus is new, and
1t will be found strong and effective.
Mr.. Richard Baker of London staged
1.-The Little Corporal for Mr.. Wilson, Mr..
Percy Anderson Of London designed the
costumes. Mr.. Richard Marston painted
the scenery, and Dazien Of New York made
the costumes.
ALBAUGH'S STOCK That
the coming engagement of Albaugh's Ly-
ceum Stock Company of Baltimore at the
Grand Opera House for five nights and two