Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-12

does Is always well done. Brandon Hurst
had excellent opportunities as the mistaken
son, silent New York friend Of old Pennie
Young man as as the SON Miss Rush exclaims
fater' rejoins Reed. fbis BIT Of dialogue
haps solved the mystery of Mr.. Hurst's
presence in the otherwise strong cast.
LAFAYETTE SQUARE OPERA HOUSE.
Revolutionary times were not halcyon
days for royalty. but Miss Dempsey, Queen
of the Holland Danes. nothing daunted,
has attacked Gen Washington and his
compatriots with her dramatic forces, foot
and horse. She presents them captives of
her art in the play view at the Lsfay
cite this week. The Open Door is
founded on Cooper's familiar novel, The
Spy" Last nights performance was prac-
ucally a first production, nearly all the
principals were new TO their parts, and the
elaborate stage effects showed a lack of IA
miliarity in their handling. Many rough
nesses were apparent that may prob
ably be smoothed away as perform
ances of the piece succeed on another.
Yet there are graver faults to be laid at the
door of the queen" that play-seers will not
fan to notice. No possible relevancy could
be found for the remark regarding smoke
less powder in the first act, nor could it be
understood how the quartet of revolution
airy soldiers later on in the action, should
be aware that there was such ditty as
Nah Hannah Lady" The story of the
play is an interesting one, but so
constantly is the heart interest alter
mated from sister to sister in the au-
thor's evident endeavor to tone down the
part OF the spy, or of any one else who may
possibly bid for popular honors as hero"
that one frequently found himself wonder
ing why the budding heroines stepped so
suddenly into the background. Aside from
this very low comedy, much may be found
worthy of applause in the real holding power
of the tale BY far the best comedy of the
evening was offered by Miss May Donohue
as the Irish ''lassie," and even her lines led
her into devious ways. Sergeant HOLSTER,
Harry J. Sullivan, should polish up his dia-
lect and let the Majors meat alone while
he is dining. 1t is not according to military
etiquette for a sergeant to criticise an Off
GERS food to his face. Mr. VIM. Hawley, as
Col WellmeTe played most vilainous viii
lain and easily carried off the acting hon
sors. Miss Dorothy Love as Sarah Wharton
was the victim of what might have been a
serious accident. In the first act, while
waiting for her entrance, the gauZy over
skirt she wore came in contact with a can
delabrum that had been placed on the floor.
In an instant she was ablaze. but with rare
presence of mind assisted i'll extinguishing
the flames, made her appearance in an I'M
derskirt, and went through her part with
admirable self-possessiOn The immortal
Washington made his only appearance
in the last act, in time to vindi-
cate Harvey Birch, the spy, and then, sur
rounded by the entire company he is per-
mitted to gaze with folded arms upon the
with electric lights that descended a little to
the right of an electric waterfall, and on the
azure field the stars of the union expand
ed from thirteen to forty-five. To the dis
appointment of many Miss Dempsey did
appear during the evening. 1t was rather
expected that she would appear at the
proper time to the strains of one of her
own compositions, arrayed in coronation
robes and royal diadem. Possibly she re-
sented intima tons that, as in the case of
DR.. Samuel Johnson, her personality was
t,.1 tla,, boz IL
sitions.
GRAND OPERA HoUsE.-The New
Grand this week has not fallen below the
standard it has established for itself a
purveyor of high-class vaudeville There is
not an act, or, in show parlance, a turn"
that Is embarrassing, while there are many
in the bill that merit much attention. The
show. as a whole, is satisfactory to 4 de-
gree. without any of the drawbacks that
usually are to be found in productions of
this class. Behman and Spaulding in
teresting in their jumping and general ath-
letic exhibition and are followed by Lillian
Western. a musical mOnologuist of unusual
ability Miss Western is probably the finest
xylophone soloist that has been heard here,
attempting class of music this gener-
ally tiresome instrument that would at first
seem entirely beyond its capabilities. Edna
Bassett Marshall and her street quartet
made one of the special features. 1t is but
fair to note a strong possibility that most
Of the applause was ON account of the quar-
tet Its members names are not given in
the program. Gordon H. Eldrid merIted the
hearty applause that was given him for his
diversified efforts to please. Lillian Burk-
mart and True S. James. in q One-act skit
A Deal on Change were another event
Of the evening. Their work was smooth
and the sketch has much to commend it.
The important feature Of the bill. however
was Adelaide Hermann in an old-time con-
1uring turn" entitled "A Night in Japan'
Mrs. Hermann attempted a number of set
trIcks, with more or less Success-generalIy
more. AS palmist Mrs. Hermann is
equal to the best seen in Washington. The
snow closed with an exhibition of biograph
pictures. some of which were extremely
interesting. In connection with the show
at the Grand this week a word should he
sald about the orchestra 1t is an admir-
aDle aggregation Of musicians and adds
much to the enjoyment of the show.
ACADEMY OF MUsIC.-"Through the
breakers last night surprised an audience
that came prepared for commentaries into
Eocferous enthusiasm. 1t is seldom a melo-
drama Is presented at popular price houses
with so good an all around cast The Dlay
possesses many points heretofore exploited
in melodrama, and one novel climax for
good measure. One of the telegraph opera
tors employed In guarding the coast has
been stabbed by the chief smuggler which
rendered him speechlsss and delirious He
Is lying In bed, near to deaths door and
the villain, unknown to the friends of the
SICK man. has been placed on guard to at
tend his wants. When left alone the VIII
lain maltreats the injured man, and when
ne is about to complete his dastardly work
the telegraph operators friend unexpected-
ly returns to the sick room. AS he is heard
approaching the villain gags the sick man
and throws a newspaper over his face, as
he tells the friend to keep the light out of
his eyes. While in this condition the in
Jured man reaches up to the headboard of
the bed and with his knuckels tele-
graphs the fact that the man who
has stabbed him Is in the room.
With this sensational denouement both
friend and foe made a break for the re-
volver that has been placed on the table
by the villain. The weapon Is kept from
the hands of both by the struggle that fol-
lows and in its midst the sick man wrig-
giles over to the cloth, slowly pulls the
frearm toward himself and as the villain
fs about to overcome the friend fires and
wounds the miscreant. Here the curtain
fell. but 1t had TO be hoisted nearly a dozen
times In response to the wild enthusiasm
]. Hay Cossar, the leader of the snup
glers, and Fannie Mcintyre, as the heroine
deserve praise.
KERNANS LYCEUM THEATER
James j. Jeffres, heavyweight champion
pugilist of the world, and Nelson's original
flying ballet are the special features of a
varied bill presented by Rice & Rarton
in conjunction with their eytro,,,,,o.sa