Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-28

But that is all in the future. The curtain
has rung down on a pretty play, some of
whose characters are splendidly presented,
and Mr.. Digby Bell has safely established
himself an able delineator of characters
such the public heartily welcomes to the
footlights The plain, una ffected man is
always amusing in his Oddities and i'm
pressive in his distress. and Mr.. Bell has
succeeded beyond the expec ations of casual
observers in field whose development is
most desirable.
LAFAYETTE SQUARE THEATER.-
Everybody that saw "a Runaway Girl
at the Lafayette last night whistled or
hummed, "Oh, Don't You See the Band"
as the curtain fell finally. Before the week
is over every whistler in the city will find
it on his lips in whistling moments and it
will be as popular as in '"The Belle of New
York.
Half past eleven was closely at hand
when the Runaway Girls" adventures
were all told, but the audience was reluc-
tant to go. 1t was an evening of unalloyed
pleasure. and with "tothert dear charmer,"
the Belle" away, nothing binders COM
plete devotion to the Girl" The large and
fashionable audience which filled orchestra
boxes and mezzanines, but not the bal
cony, was completely charmed by the at
mosphere of gayety, the merry quips Of
the comedians, the dashing songs of the
girls and the Kaleidoscope gorgeousness of
tnc costumes. OF course from AuguStin
Daily nothing less than perfection is ex-
pected simply because he has set that
standard for himself. but the absence of
virginia Earl, Adele Richie and Paul Ed
WARDS from the cast last night made first
nlghters fearful that the substitutes
would please-after fashion only. There
Is no denying that the three ladies who
made the Girl so notable a success in
new York were missed by those who know
now unapproachable they are-particularly
MISS Earl, but the majority of the audience
TOOK the gifts the gods provided and found
10 reason to complain Told in type the
Nirp
ana splritless that it We're wiser, instead.
to abandon the effort to inform in this re-
gard and earnestly advise everybody to go
to the Lafayette.
The conventonalities of the plot and the
dialogue disappear when graced by at
tractlVe women and when seen in the
coiored light of the calcium. The dash and
plquancy of the whole put out of sight tho
crudeness and antiquity of some of the
parts.
Miss Clara Palmer as Dorothy was de-
lShtful as pretty figure full of grace and
animation, and though possessing a voice
that only pleases she made the hit of the
evening with her songs. The first Il Love
YOU MY Love, Do" was melodious and
VIII be long remembered The other "Oh
Don't You Hear the Band SET all the
house beating time and humming Its sim
pic!ty. diroctness and martial swing are
irresistible James Powers as the Jockey
fhpper' was bubbling over and as effer-
Vescent as ever. Elsa Ryan was a
p.Gnant lady's maid and her coon
song with Powers was a distinctive hit.
Ethel jackson, as Winnifred Gray, the or
s,nani was Wlnsome and her songs were
dalntlly rendered. Miss Irene Perry, the
Carmencta, was beWitching She sang II
Loves Society with IL touch of cocknev
dialect in fetching way. Mr.. Cyril Scott
NOR more lnan pleased in the difficult role of
Guy Stanley. Harold Wizard was funny
but palpable iElitator of Charlie" Bige-
low OF THANK You Very Kindly, Sir"
lalne. frank Cell was humorous as Pro-
There was stage full of graceful women
and their singing and dancing. in variety
OF gay costumes was an important part of
| the ensemble work. Matinees will occur
W ednesday and Saturday.
NEW NATIONAL THEATER-It makes
no difference how May Irwin strikes town,
she always gets here and upon arrival is
given reception betting her ability as
a fun maker. Her visits ARE looked for
eagerly each year by all who want to hear
the latest coon songs and the phraslng of
the most exclusive slang. AS an attractive
purVeyor of these two important and al
most necessary clements III theatrical life
OF the time the festive May. she of the i'm
inehSe emboEDolnt, has no equal Others
may sing coon songs and others may hurl
a torrent of tough talk from the stage but
May IS Incompatible Her toughness is
polte ana her songs are given with an ex-
preston at once suggestive without the
sAShteSt snow OF, coarseuess. May hit
Washington last night and is MAKING her
usual stop at the New Nauonal playhouse,
the opening evening finding a plg house
waiting her appearance. She was not long
III reaching the stage after the curtain was
runS up and much TO the delight and en-
teftalhment OF her audience sne lett that
stage but little during the remainder Of
the three acts. There is no doubt Inat coon
songs nave the can just row. The TAD has
been III vogue Ter some years and instead
u showing signs Of nlinlsnment is grad
u ut gaming ground and affecting every
class OF society from the gamins of the
street to the drawing rooms OF the most
swell. May IRWIN, il might be said, is the
Responsible party tor all this and il is but
fisht that she should reap the harvest of
prosperity resulting from the craze. This
year May is traveling under the nom de
Suerre OF Kate Zip, Buyer But the
farce winch surrounds her is a small fea-
lure OF the show. May would make the
same nit as monooguist. She needs rest
occasionally, however and for this reason
carries aiohg Il lot of clever folks to as
slSt IN holding the stage during her tenn
porais leaves. There are lots of funny COM
plcatlons, but nothing startling Just an
opportunity for the Irwin to "trun" a
punch of ''sianguage' that is revela-
lioh Her inlniitable manner and infec-
tious smile have not lost one whit of their
Iiecl' ana shc stiH tops them all in the
Inc OF work she mas adopted and has had
the sense 10 stick with. OF the songs Miss
! ii,s sings the one reserved for the last,
When lou Amt Got, No Money, You
Needn't Come 'Roun,"- was the catchiast
me auaiehce seemed never to tire of it and
compelled the singer to give encore after
encore en-, When the show. was over the
tune hiied the air, being hummed and
Whlstied by nearly every person who had
peen IN the theater. Seine of the others
We're: 'Dere's Sumdn' About You Dat
Like I've Got Him Dead and IF /
only had Job, all sung in great shape.
ignaclo Martineti shared the honors of the
evening IN the merriment line. He has a
song telling of a sweetheart who worked in
a dye-house that is surely pathetic OF
the others Joseph Sparks is the best but
Honert Lowe, a Washington boy. does what
IS allotted him in an excellent manner.
ACADEMi OF MUsICs-"rhe Man-o'-
wars Man,, with it's robust heroics and
sensational climaxes, entertained a crowded
nc, house at the Academy of Music last night.
i ,s Il. shea, in the leading role, is en-
old stage acquaintance of Washington peo-
pie, but he seems TO lose nothing in favor
because he comes often in the same dra-
matte cast MIR. Shea has lost none of his
original VerVe and dash because OF long
service in the character of Capt. Jack Con-
irYrIa ,:e,Sa4 t;<