The times., 1898-12-26
THINGS THEATRICAL.

| to celebrate the birth of our Lord, and
| nearly everyone, from the tired mother
| whose time yesterday was spent in eX-
planning that Santa Claus had been de-
| layed twenty-four hours by heavy snow
| in the Pole to the gentleman who occa-
! sionaily imbibes,' and TO whom the gates
| of heaven were closed for the period. will
hail with delight the possibility OF enjoy
| ing another pleasurable space.
| Despite the fact that the afternoon will
bring extra work to theatrical folk. this
will be the time for the enjoyment of the
| average actor Most of that unfortunate
| class of people which furnishes entertain
ment to It's patrons spent the greater part
| of the Sabbath in travel. For the players
n horizontal pipe was the substitute of n
| Yule log and plush-covered car seat the
offering given in exchange for an easy
chair by some great fire. Final arrival at
| their destinations meant, in many cases,
| the formality of carrying valises ana
| claiming trunks, of tiresome@ rides 10 con-
ventional hotels and of dinners with the
walters for companions. In the case of
| the organization which is to produce
| ''Zaza" tonight for the first time on any
| stage there were, in addition 10 these dis
| comforts. the pleasure of constant worry
/ over the morrow's trials, of straining the
| eyes at typewriter manuscripts, and, at
| last, of dress rehearsal conducted un-
I
With the exception of this combination,
| all of the troupes to be seen here during
the week came yesterday. Mrs Leslie
s, Carter and those who are to support her
| reached the city on Saturday and have
been very busy ever since preparing tor
| what will be to many of the cast the
| event of life time. Tonight the critics
and the public will pass on 'Zaza" and.
TO some extent, decide the fortunes and
| the regulations alike of manager, play
ers and playwright Consequently. there
| has been no end of mental disturbance
| with all concerned and to them, at least
! the going of Christmas will bring relief
| The double holiday brings no such
| hardship to outsiders. In some countries
of Europe the natal day OF Christ is cele-
| brated for n fortnight and the entire
| populace seems never to weary of the
! pomp and splendor attendant upon these
| ceremonies. Here. too, the renewal of
| yesterdays festivities will bring only
Measure. The early morning will be spent
| In rest and comfort. while in the after
| noon the little ones are to be taken to
| the special matinees advertised to take
place. There will be no lack of amuse-
| ment for the crowds, managers having
! determined to make Christmas shows
| make up what Christmas shopping lost
them, and having accordingly arranged
| for afternoon entertainments almost
|
| that exception still 'Zaza every play to
he seen during the coming six days will be
shown at special performance which
| can be enjoyed either before or after the
second Yuletide turkey has been reduced
| to a fit subject for the study of anatomy
Manager Frohman, who has seven i'm
! portant presentations this evening, has
| decided that II would be unwise to risk
any of them while sunlight lasts and has,
fa TfaD AYR. Of ~
| financial returns in order that he might
| do away with the extra renderings. New
offerings are best shown before dispas-
! sicnate audiences, and no one can be any
| thing but excited until the last sign Of
the holiday has vanished. So "Zaza"
| Will not be given IL matinee until the
I usual time.
This rule docs not apply at the Column
bia, wAere Roland Reed and his support
! ing organization are TO be seen in their
| last years success THE Wrong Mr..
| Wright" Now should be the time for
| laughter. and there is every probability
| that Managers Luckett & Dwyer will cele-
brate today by looking upon two OF the
! largest crowds that ever gathered in their
| cozy little place of amusement inere Is
| to be supper after the presentation. in
| which the attaches of the house and many
members of Mr.. Reeds company will take
part and, altogether. no one need be any
| thing but happy in the proximity of the
Columbia. THE Telephone Girl. has also
! a matinee at the National, and James
O'Neill will add one to the long list of
performances he has scored with Monte
CristoP by showing that old classic TO
readers Of Dumas and people who have
, never even heard OF the Frenchman by
| giving two renderings of the drama, in
| stead of the usual number shown on Mon
day at the Academy. Mr.. o'Neill is well
supported and will undoubtedly be hand
somely paid for his trouble
kernan's and the Bijou are both unfor-
tunate In so far as afternoon per form
ances are concerned. Each house has a
daily matinee whether or no, and cannot.
| therefore, depart from its usual custom
without trying a midnight performance
| But both have strong attractions today.
and Will probably hold audiences not al
all inferior to those contained in the up
| town theaters. Al Reeves's big Show
| is the card at the former place of amuse-
ment, and iirst-rate vaudeville bill will
hold the stage at the second. Besides
these entertainments, Ashley cooper's
, famous .Trilby'' will be on exhibit OH
from early morn to dewy eve at 1913
Pennsylvania Avenue, and only next door
the wonderful Mutoscope Will be shown
TO the accompaniment of a Pianophone
| concert. Both enterprises are sure 10
draw their accustomed crowds.
Many Of the local theaters have been
| laVishly decorated for Christmas and
will present splendid spectacles when
| they are lighted up tonight Manager
| Criah Painter has been especially gener-
Gus with the Lafayette, and the result is
that this evening will probably prove a
memorable one with his patrons. In TIE
first place, the big elevator that has besn
so long building there is at last finished
and will make its first trip when the
doors are opened. The car is an unusual
ly large one, and will hold forty people
without crowding. Its average speed is
800 feet per minute, which 1t makes with
| perfect safety. This ARRANGEMENT will
| greatly facilitate the seating of the gal
leries and dress circle at the LAFAYETTE
and should prove boon to those for
whom the long flight of stairs has baen
uncomfortable and difficult.
In addition to this, Manager Painter
has spent quite tidy sum on temporary
decorations He has hung two big Ameri-
can flags in his lobby and hidden a num-
ber of electric lights in their folds Fur
ther, he has hung holly in every conceiva-
| bic place and would have provided mistle-
toe had he not been afraid that by so
| doing he would have regulated members of
the Zaza" company to Paying before
empty benches. The corridor Is altogether
a thing of beauty, if the dryness of holly
does prevent its being a JOY forever, and
Will not soon be forgotten by those who
see it. There will be distinguished audi
ence present tonight, among those who
have promised to attend being David Be-
lasco. Charles Frofman and other theatri-