The times., 1899-03-19
FRIENDS OF LAST WEEK.

FRIENDS OF LAST WEEK.
No entertainer on the stage seems to
vary more with his or her parts than does
the low comedian of comic opera. In any
other form OF work the auditor is gener-
ally able to select clever people and mer-
itless ones from the cast. regardless OF
their roles. and to say that such one
would be strong were he in better char
acter. or that another might be weak were
not his lines so full of opportunities. But
this does not seem to be true in the field
of musical humor, and so many a capable
fellow is unfairly judged. Richard Carroll.
who was seen here last week with "The
Three Dragons has not visited Washing
ton frequently of late and on those oeca-
sions upon which he has honored the Cap
ital his efforts have seemed anything bu,
praiseworthy. This being true. even the
best of Mr.. Carrolrs friends were probably
a trfle surprised when, in the role of Lar
ry O'Brien, a sort of prototype OF Levers
Mickey Free, he fairly shared honors with
Jerome Sykes in Harry b. Smith and Regi-
nald de Koven's newest Offering The
comedian has not yet learned how to sing
and some of his attempts at vocalism were
provoker have never shown to better ad-
vantage. There were no dull moments
while he was on the stage.
The role OF Larry is what is technically
known as fiat" one, but 1t is still true
that very few people could have made as
much out of the characterization as did
Mr.. Carroll. With brogue as delicious
as is that of Joseph O'Mara-whose accent
did not require cultivation-and a smile
Irs- rrrxl ole
member OF the Broadway Theatre Opera
Company delivered his speeches with such
true appreciation of their wit as more than
doubled their value. Then his Song OF
Nations with its attendant requirement
in the makeup line, brought out not only
three or four very neat sketches but show
ed beyond doubt that MIR. Carroll is as YER
satle in his dancing as in everything else.
The scene with Mr.. Sykes in the second
act-wherein Larry tried to convince the
embryo king that the vacant space In front
of them held a dog-was made funny as
| much by one as by the other. Altogether
the role gave its assumer the opportunity
he needed to show his ability to those
Washingtonians who had seen him only in
recent years. BY his work in the part Mr..
Carroll has added many to his local list
OF admirers.
| ~
| ly favorte is Emma Carus. who has ap
| peared at that popular little place of
| amusement five times this year and who
was greeted even more heartily last week
| than ever before. Miss Carus has con-
| tralto voice of great depth and eonsidera-
| BILE range and, while she shows lack OF
| training in her work, she uses her posses
! sion to good advantage. Alternately she
renders songs in which half the charm is
/ Of as
| ing and the coon" melodies that never
| grow old and that are best given with VI
| vacity and life. These airs seem to be es-
pecially adapted to Miss Carus. who makes
| great deal out of them. Certainly moth
| ing she does pleases Bijou audiences as
| well and nothing in her repertoire brings
cut as much talent. Miss Carus is quite a
remarkable little woman.
When a man wishes TO buy house and
| goes in search of a suitable one he does not
| care whether the structure has been built
| with the feet or hands of the workmen so
| long as it has been well built So it would
| occur to the casual observer that when a
| pleasure seeker develops a desire to hear
| something musical it would not matter 10
| him whether the tones were secured by the
fingers or toes of the player il they were
only correct tones and feelingly delivered.
| Nevertheless there are many people in
vaudeville just now-Gertrude Haynes
| among them-who seem to feel that they
are justified in torturing the ears OF their
auditors if they can extract the semblance
| of tune in one insane way or another.
| Miss Haynes, who was at the Grand last
| week. makes use OF her nose, her elbows,
her forehead. and other portions OF her
| anatomy to draw from different instru-
ments what she evidently considers mel
ody. The gatherings which visited Burke
| & Chase's place OF entertainment did not
seem to be either particularly edited with
the exhibition or much charmed by the
aforesaid melody. Perhaps the greater
portion of those present were foolish
enough to prefer the good old way OF
drawing harmony from the keys of piano
or organ. Certainly few of them appeared
greatly interested in Miss Haynes heart
breaking attempts after they discovered
that at best the airs she rendered were
much alike and might have been Tara
ra-ra- Boom de-Aye'' quite as well a:
Home Sweet Home" or THE Star Span
gled Banner" Music is music, however il
is obtained and discord is discord no mat
ter how it is secured. The one is alway!
enjoyable and the other could be nothing
but displeasing if it were the result of tht
performer standing on her head and strik.
ing her piano with bomb shells. The plae,
for freaks is in a museum, and it cannot
be doubted that the woman who plays or
the organ with her nose is merely n freak
Miss Haynes would do well to remember
this.