The times., 1899-04-02

After two weeks spent in a sort of coma
the theatrical season shakes OFF its lethargy
temporarily tomorrow evening and will
probably show its usual exhilaration for
about a fortnight At the end of this time
the patient will fall back exhausted and
sink into an eternal slumber The
amusement year 1859 will have died.
Even now a symptom of weakness is about
to he manifested in the opening of Tim
Frawley's company at the Columbia Thea
tire, an event which brings TO an end the
exercise of the regular functions in one
organ of the local body. A second organ
the Lafayette Square Opera House-will
not remain active long. and a third-the
Grand-will soon become irregular in its
workings and even uncertain. Both the
National and the Academy are well pro-
vided with nourishment in the form of
entertainment and are to continue opera
,ions until late in May, while the Biiou
joins with Kernans in not suspending its
Offices for an extended period. But no
portion Of the invalid may be relied upon
for two months. a couple of the most i'm
portant are ready to cease their ordinary
employment. and only a single one will
do anything really important before the
demise Of the whole
An indication of this weeks temporary
revival is found in the fact that on last
Thursday the cocoa and tailoring adver-
tisements which for seventeen days have
been usurping the bill-boards of the town
we're covered with the familiar paper
OF regular theatrical attractions. The an
nouncements made are more promising
than have been any since Richard Mans
field was here and the coming engage
ments will be brilliant ones. A number
OF these stands tell OF the expected ar
rival at the Lafayette Square of George
Lederer's opera company in Louis Har-
rison's adaptation of offenbach's La
Belle Helene" The bold, black type of
these posters informs the interested that
the cast numbers the same people seen
in the piece at the Casino-among them
Lillian Russell. Edna Wallace Hopper.
William Philip. Thomas Q. Seabrcoke and
Ferris Hartman. Other dead wall adorn-
ments prophesy the appearance Of Nat. c.
Goodwin and his beautiful wife in Clyde
Fitchs revolutionary drama Nathan
Hale. at the National, while still third
set gives one reason TO anticipate that the
indefinite season Of the Frawley Company
at the Columbia will open in a blaze of
glory tomorrow evening. when John Kel-
lard, Burr Mcintosh Alfred Hickman T.
Daniel Frawley. Godfrey Stein. and Mary
Van Buren are to present "Trilby." Two
or three well-known people are given
places on the Grand's "three-sheets" and
on the vaudeville programmes OF the Biiou,
while pictures of John Philip Sousa lead
one 10 prepare for the coming of Ell
Captain" to the Academy. Miss New
York, jr.." is the Offering at Kernan,s.
The vocal exercise OF Washington's vari-
Gus reform leagues and suppression brig
AIDES has resulted in the temporary suspen-
sion of Sunday concerts in local houses. !
Consequently the Grand, the Bijou, and
the Lyceum will De closed tonight. though |
testimonial concert Will be rendered TO /
Prof. Crossley at the Columbia 4 benefit |
will also be given Manager Grieves on |
Thursday at his popular place OF amuse-
ment.
Last week was a profitable one for most |
of the theatres open. Perhaps the banner 1
business in point of numbers was done at /
the Grand, where Pauline Hall and THE |
Dresden Trio drew series of very large |
audiences. The National came next with |
Sousa's The Bride-Elect," and the Acad- :
envy was not far behind with The White 1
Heather" In both houses vacant seats 1
we're few and many persons were forced to |
stand nightly. The Lafayette Square re- /
Inained dark and the Burton Holmes lee
lures were given to empty benches at the
Columbia. Finally vaudeville bill at the /
Bijou and the Rentz-Santley Burlesque |
Company at Kernan's were very properly |