Evening star., 1899-01-03
!AMUSEMENTS.

NEW NATIONAL THEATER. - MT.
| Crane and his admirable company present.
| ed The Head of the Family for the first
| time in this city yesterday. He opened TO
| an overflowing matinee house and ended
the day with a splendid and cultured as
| semblage. The high character and laudable
purpose of all his presentations receive
| their true measure of credit here. There Is
| no leading actor on the American stage
who has done more than he to maintain
| the most elevated standard of his art. Call
| to mind every play he has given since the
| days Of ''Sharps and Flats and the asser-
! tion will be evidenced by the facts. Not
| one but has had wholesome and enduring
| influence. not alone On dramatic literature,
| but well upon popular taste
His latest work THE Head of the Fam
ily,' is stated to be freely adapted from from
! the German of LArronge" by Clyde Fitch
and Leo Ditrichstein. 1t very evidently
does not belong to the school of modern
| comedies. In fact, that it comes from a
| period somewhat distant in stage annals
seems plain from the simplicity and direct
ness of its construction. Nowadays play
| intended solely to anfuse that does not in
| some way employ mistaken identity as its
| chief element of humor is rarity. There
| fore, we thankful for this free adap-
| tation," because we are enabled to obtain
| comedy that is convincing and entertaining.
| There are no mprohabilities to be swallow
| ed, and ones ears and nerves are not
| strained by crashes or ''dinS'' back of the
stage. 1t may be said that there is not
! new situation or an original idea in the
| play. This is perhaps true enough; but
| others that are similar and have preceded
| it along these lines Were counterfeits and
imita tons, evidently, of this original.
Again, it is true that it is ''talky and not
| active, but, as a set off. the dialogue has a
brilliant quality that stimulates the mind
| and tones up appreciation of wit that is
polished and pointed. 1t may not have the
| spice that the metropolis demands, but it
won almost continuous laughter and APP
pause yesterday from audiences before
which it is an honor to appear. From the
| hands of its adaptors it has come almost
as if it were a new American comedy. A
few incongruites that remain. but viii
| probably be eliminated in due course of
| time, now indicate its foreign origin. Long
haired professors who do not know better
| than to change cars at Buffalo for Kansas
| City are uncommon here. These men of
| learning-at least those in this city-are
| admirable types of the modern in every
| particular. But this hardly perceptib!e
| fault does not mar in any way the humor
| and strength of Mr.. Cranes creation.
The pot tells of Prof. Thos. Holden, his
| wife and three daughters, one called joe
because he intended she should be a boy.
| One of these Graces is married, and her
| little "spats" with her gay young husband
| furnish several pressing scenes. Another
WedS IN plque a man she later learns to
love and her endeavor to rid herself of the
| graceless scamp who sought previously to
win, but not to wed her, supplies the dra-
Ilidtlc motive OF the play. Inc Inlr1, VINO
| desires to become an emotional actress,
but who perforce goes in training as an
| emotional cook is a direct and amusing
| satire upon the drawing room girls of
| every period. All these characters have
| become pretty thoroughly on edge through
| the mistaken kindness of a domineering
| mother, until the amiable husband bestirs
| himself. seizes the reins of government and,
clad in his own trousers once more brings
| peace and orde" out of chaos. Simple
| enough is the theme, but the author and
| the adaptors have produced a comedy pure
and simple, that is really a feast of rea-
| son."
| Mr.. Cranes ready command of the comic
and pathetic is most plain in this
| ception. He goes from one to the other
| with grace and ease, and his audience fol-
| lows willingly. 1t is part full of mirth
| and sympathy, and he wholly incorporates
ms own engaging personality in it. 1t is
| worthy of place in his gallery of creations
| that have won him an enduring place
| actor. He reads the crisp, vigorous lines
! with rare intelligence.
Supporting him Frederick Truesdell.
William Boag and William J. Dupont of
this city AS the unprncpled wooer, Mr..
| Truesdell was given a thankless part, which
| he played easily and skilifuly. Mr.. Boas
was not required to show his talent as a
| character actor, but was pleasing as Ned
Borden. Mr.. Duronts lackey was an eff
| fective characterization. Walter Hale and
| Boyd Putnam were agreeable.
Miss Kate Lester made a matrOn'y and
| handsome wife. Handsome Miss Ysabel
| Haskins was gCwned superby and acted
| gracefully as the eldest married daughter.
| Miss Percy Haswell was sweet and SYM
! pathetic in the role of the piqued girl.
| Little Gladys Wallis was romantic looking
and very pleasing as Joe" Parts of minor
! Importance, but calling for most elaborate
| toilets, We're played by Olive Oliver and
| Frances Stevens. Miss Leila Bronson was
| a pretty maid.
| Scrupulous care has been given to scenery
| and costumes. The result is a series of
/ CT
| GRAND OPERA TONIGHT.-The grand
| opera season opens in Washington this
| evening, when Melba, Bonnard and a great
cast made up of the members of the Ellis
| Opera Company will sing Gounods Romeo
! and Juliet in French at the Lafayette
| Square Opera House. The management an
| nCunces a change in Friday nights bill. 1t
| has been determined to accede to the gen.
| eral demand for more German opera, and
| the second act of Wagner's Flying Dutch
! man., with its melodiOus spinning chorus
| and SentaS dramatic narration appeals to
| lovers of tuneful music quite as much as
| it interests the Wagner student. The role
| OF Senta is a favorite with Madam
! Gadski and admirably suited to her IN
| stead of Il Paglacci" Friday night there
| fore, the second act of the Flying Dutch
| man and the second act of Carmen"
| which includes the torreador's song and IS
flowing with life and action, will be pre-
! sented. Mile. de Iussan has won much
| praise for her work as Carmen during the
season at the Metropolitan Opera House in
| New York. The complete bill Friday night
! will be: Mascagnis 'Cavalleria Rusticana'
| fn Italian). Santuzza. Chalia Lola. Olitz-
| ka; Lucia, Van Cauteren; Turridu Pan
! dolfni; Alfio, Bensaude; conductor, Fried
| Wagner's Flying Dutchman' Gn German)
| Senta, Gadski; Mary, Mattfeld; Flying
! Dutchman. Stury; Daland. Stehmann; Erik
! Van Hoose; conductor, Fried. Bizet's Car
| men lin French) act two. Carmen De
! Lussan; Frasquita, hatfield; Mercedes
| Van Cauttren. Don lose PapdolfOi.
| camil1o, Bensaude; Zuniga Viviani; Dam
cairo, stehmann; Remendo, Del Sol; con-
| ductor, Fried.
| THE COLUMBIA THEATER.-'sA Reign
! OF Error scored a distinct triumph over a
big and representative Washington audi