The times., 1899-01-19


An exceptional attraction is promised
for next week at the Academy OF Music in
"A Grip of Steel powerful romantic
drama in four acts, written BY Arthur
Shirley and Benjamin Landeck. PhenOm-
enal success is said TO have been achieved
abroad by this play, five years OF unbroken
prosperity being the record it has made
Manager W. J. Fielding secured the Amer
lean rights and the work is now duplicat-
ing if not actually surprising its Euro
pean success.
The chief character in the piece is Rom
jarre, marvel CT physical strength, who
is the leader Of band OF desperadoes in
Paris. He appears i'll the early scenes as
CASTOR Lemaire. and in the village of
RCugival, in France. he is known only as
a simple farmer and devoted husband.
His blind wife, Henriette, whom in real
ity he adores, knows nothing of his double
life. For her sake the criminal tries to
turn from evil, but the influence of his
companions and the bounding Of the police
prevent his doing so. Being an adept
in the art of Disgusting himself, he eludes
the vigilance of legal officers for years.
Finally Simon Gandelu. a tTaitoTous mem
ber of the band of thieves, betrays Rom
jarre and then discloses TO Henriette the
fact that her husband is a thief and
murderer, who might even then be or his
way to execution. The shock kills her.
Ronjarre wild with rage. swears TO be
avenged. With the assistance of a con-
federate, disguised as a monk he escapes
from prison, discovers Gandelu at mask
ed ball in Paris, and fulflls his VOW
While attempting a second escape he is
shot by Sendarme, receiving at last THE
wages of sin
The company presenting "A Grin of
Steel is said To be far above the average
Fresh from its New York successes the
"Tammany Tigers come TO the Lyceum
Theatre next week. and there present
what is described as one OF the best enter
talnments now to be seen on the road
The programme given opens with the
burletta, introducing the whole company
in what is termed The Bellies of the
Tenderloin.' This skit serves to introduce
some catchy music pretty dances and
dazzling costumes. The following number
is supposedly an Olio of unprec cedented
merit. The closing feature of the bill is
to be a clever and amusing satire on
hotel life. in which the Hotel Girley
Girley'' will set forth some beautiful stage
architecture, iaughable situations, and
clever delineations.
The line of good people usually booked
At the BijOu is to be outdoue next week
when Manager Grieves puts ON his stage
bill that is promised to be as fun Of stars
as the proyerbial egg is of meat Several
entertainers have been engaged
from the bigger New York vaude-
vile theatres and most enjoy
able performance should he the re
suit. The Bijou Burlesque Company.
which has been argumented both in point
OF numbers and OF attractiveness by the
addition of half a score of pretty girls
has now in rehearsal new melange which
is promised TO be particularly pleasing
and altogether the outlook for the next
week at the popular variety house seems
never TO have been eXcelled there.
There are three treats for the eve at
present being exhibited on Pennsylvania
Avenue according 10 report. All have
been here some time and are still doing
so well that their very prosperity argues
in favor of their merit. First among these
is 'Trilby," the beautiful work OF Astley
Cooper. which is now on exhibition at 1903
Pennsylvania Avenue This painting from
the nude possesses more real charm than
anything OF the kind ever shown here
The contour of the form is admirable, the
flesh tints perfect and the whole canvas
the work of a genius. Both of the two
other spectacularities are more remark
able for their ingenuity than for anything
else. The Mutoscope. now being shown
at l2l1 Pennsylvania Avenue displays
moving views with marvellous accuracy
while an Edison machine occupyin
rooms at 3il Pennsylvania Avenue gives
many war scenes and is attracting crowds
Professor Carpenter is still interesting
throngs with his hypnotic experiments
and Willard Hall is packed nightly. The
temporary amusement enterprises In this
city seem TO have got a good start and
without exception are doing well.