The times., 1899-04-13
THINGS THEATRICAL.

THINGS THEATRICAL.
| An audience of large proportions-an
audience which required no greater in
| centive to mirth and admiration than does
a cannonball to be rolled down a steep
/ incline, witnessed Joseph Jefferson's pro-
| duction of THE Rivals last night at the
National Theatre As a result CT its ami
aoie disposition there were curtain calls
after every act. applause for each of the
actors. and speech from the star as a
Tree portion OF the entertainment In
some cases this enthusiasm was merited
and in others it was not Richard Brins-
ley Sheridan did his best to make the per-
formance enjoyable a great number of
/ years ago. Mr.. Jefferson has been doing
his best along the same line for two or
three generations. Werner Charges did his
pest yester-evening. and Ffolliott Paget
seconded his efforts ii the best possible
way. Of the play which Mr.. Sheridan wrote
! and OF the portrayal Of Bob Acres furnished
| by The Dean of the American Stage" 1t is
necessary to say nothing. Each is thor
oughiy familiar to its public by reason OF
It's brightness. its technical perfections
and its exceeding art. Mr. Charges Sir
Anthony. and Miss Paget's Mrs. MaIaprop
are alike full of merit
But 1t is regretably true that with this
quartette praise of the presentation must
cease. George F. Nash, the original Small
Bottles" of "Chimmie Fadden." is chiefly
/ inadequate TO the role of Captain Abso-
lutte because he is neither familiar with
! his lines nor with his business and be-
cause Otis Skinner was his immediate pre-
deceSsor. His work promises much. how
lf hat bo frI
filled in the future. Joseph jefferson, jr.
is net so fit TO follow Wilton Lackaye in
the role of Sir Lucius. his dialect being
that CT a variety comedian and his con-
ception at loggerheads with those of ey-
erycne else ever seen in the character.
William Winter Jeffersons Fag is imma-
ture. Blanche Benders Lucy hardly nota-
bic. and Walter B. Woodalls Falkland
gross. Two redeeming features OF the sup
port are Elsie Leslie. whose Lydia is fair.
and George w. Denham, whose David
would be excellent with slight consist
ency OF accent. The Rivals" will be done
again tomorrow night. with rip Van
Winkle'' underlined for the rest of the
week.
The last two performances OF the Har-
ris symposium were given yesterday az
the Grand. with slight changes in the pro-
grammes presented. Only small audiences
were in attendance. but all present sp-
peared to enjoy the entertainment. and en-
cores were not infrequent. Most of the
numbers sung on Tuesday and Weines-
day were retained in the bill to which
were added'a solo. duet and ensemble Sc
lection from The Marketenderin,s rem
dered by W. II. Harris, Ivy Hsrriott. and
the chorus; an air, New York Girls"
taken from The Hula Girl" and executed
by Mrs. Thomas C. Noyes: a melody, us
IL Love" from The Marketenderin." Of
fered by Miss Herriott; and gayo II
from The Baronet," played by the cr-
chestra, under the direction CT Arthur p
Harris. Several changes were also made
in the casts OF the skits which had been
acted on the two preceding evenings.
Yesterday proved a banner time fer the
managers of the Grau Company. which be-
gins its season of classic opera tonight t
the Grand. with a production OF "Loh n
grim" The sale of seats. which had teen
progressing slowly but satisfactorily dur
ing the last fortnight, suddenly assumed
huge proportions. and before evening a
great portion OF what few seats had with
stood the onslaught of two weeks were
sold. 1t is now announced that the en-
gagement here will undoubtedly prove to
be as enormous a financial success as It is
With the coming OF light this morning
an increased force of stage hands began
moving the mass of scenery brought here
by the Grau Company into the docks CT the
Grand. The two hundred and odd Warl-
robe trunks of the combination are aso
being stored away with the properties and
other accessories necessary to such pre-
sentations. All these are likely TO fill
every inch Of space in Washingt0n's most
commodicus theatre, and glance at them
is ample assurance that the wo-ks o. tne
masters will be done locally in a most fit
ting manner.
AS is generally known, this evenings
rendering of ''Lohengrin" will be in Gar
man. and it is to employ the services of
Mines. Nordica and Schumann- Heink VITA
these of NM. Jean and Edouard de Reszka,
Muhlman and Bspham. The conductor
sill be Director Schalk. On tonorrow
night Verdi's La Traviata" will be given.
with a cast in which are included Mines
Sembrich and Bauermeister. With NM. Sa-
lignac. Pringle. and Campanari, while the
orchestra is to be directed by Conductor
Mancinelii. Mines. Emma Eames Bauer
meister. and Mantelli. with NM Sa'eza.
Albers, Meux. and Plancon viii sing
Faust in French at the Saturday mat
nee and on that evening Mines. Lii Leh-
mann. Schumann- Heink, Mantel!i Meiss-
linger. BauermeiEter. and Marie Brema
with MN. Van Dyek. Bispham. and Van
Rccy will render Die Walkure" in Ger
man.
These casts. with the preparations being
made for scenic display, choral, and or
chestral accompaniment and the ether de
tails that add to the perfect rendering CT
grand opera, incline one TO the belief that
the coming season will prove a revelation
tic Washingtonians. in which case Wash
ington will probably prove a revelation to
Maurice Grau.
The most modern of all the past dra-
matte successes that have survived being
done by road companies TO come into stock
service is Alabama,' the beautiful war
time story which made the fame of Au-
gustus Thomas as author and which will
be presented next week at the Columbia !
b. Tim Frawleys organization In fact /
the piece belongs essentially to that con-
temporary school of writing from which |
have come Clyde Fitch's Nathan Hale
James A. Herne's Shore Acres and Mr. |
Thomas own In Mizzoura." II aboundS in |
bright flashes of quaint comedy in charm |
ing bits OF pathos and in all the daintiness |
and charm that make stage productions |
Alabama" will be done at |
the Columbia by an admirable cast. Burr |
Mcintosh appearing again in the role OF
Col. Moberley. Harry Corson Clark por-
traying the Squire. Selene johnson essay
Stein being seen as young Page. while /
Myron Calce. Georgia Welles and Ada
-eyck will al assume characters important
10 the general ensemble. 1t is promised
hat the offering will be well mounted and
eostumed.