Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-18

tiers this week. Two of the houses did not
open until Wednesday. the principal per-
formers in each case did not reach the city
before. After all the places of amusement
got into operation there was generally
fair amount of business done. Miss Julia
Arthur and John Drew attracted the larg-
est audiences. although neither OF these
popular players did the business that they
would have done had the weather been
good. Ward and Vokes followed closely be-
hind the two mentioned. and the Academy
and Grand did well under the circum
stances. The vaudeville for men at the
I.yceum and Bijou was well patronized.
Next week there will be two strong at
fractions in the persons of Mr., Z. II.
Sothern and Miss Annie Russell. The
former will present at the Lafayette his
version of Dumas. Three GuardSmen, and
the latter will offer her latest success,
"Catharine at the National For the low
ers of light opera Duff company will pre-
sent The Geisha'' and THE Circus Girl
ut the Columbia, and at the Academy
HOyt's "A Texas Steer will be the attrac-
ton The Grand will be occupied by the
Daughters of the Revolution next week.
The Lyceum ard Bijou will offer the usual
program of vaudeville for men.
One of the charms of the Drew perform
ances is TIE excellence of the support of the
star The smallest parts are always in
trusted to actors and actresses of more
than average ability, even if not of expert
ence. Few people who witnessed the we'll
Tounder production Of The Liars this week
suspected that the excellent comedy work
of Dolly Coke was that of a theatrical
debutante. The character. while not par
tlCuidrly prominent in itself. was made so
by the admirable description of the i'm
aStnary dinner party at the Star and
Garter. The genuine and hearty applause
which followed is a compliment that should
BE- highly appreciated by Miss Gertrude
Gheen. She is a Philadelphia and the
niece of Commander F. H. Gheen of the
navy, who is on duty in Washington.
Miss Minnie Ashley, who has the role of
MOllie SeamOre in The Geisha - SAYS. when
asked the date of her debut, that she first
appeared on the stage in ''14g2" 1t was
not long ago, however, when she made her
first essay behind the footlights in Rfce's
production of Barnet's extravaganza From
the chorus of ''1492' she soon emerged into
small characters and acquitted herself SO
Well that her next step was an engagement
IN DE W off Hopper's opera company as un-
derstudy for Edna Wallace Hopper. Then
she went out in Wang" PLAYING the mart
previously taken by Mrs Wallace Hopper
Her experience last summer in THE Chorus
GlrI at the Boston Museum was not hanpy
from a financial point of view. but IL adj
yanced her materially in her profession for
critics and public alike declared her the
most attractive creature of the whole pro-
ductlon, and she was engaged by Augustin
DAILY to appear in his theater in New York
IN Three Little Lambs" the new version
OF Bafnets cadets piece. The Queen of
TIE Ballet This production having been
postponed. Miss Ashley was given her pres
ent role in The Geisha" that of MoIIie
Seamore, and in The Circus Girl Dora
Nenyss. In the principal METROPOLITAN
cities where she has appeared this season
such as New York city. Brooklyn and Bos-
ton. Miss Ashley has added new laurels to
zoe plrt
NATIONAL THEATER-At the National
Iheater for one week, beginning next Mon
DAY night, Nh. Charles FrOhman will pre-
sent mis- talented new star Miss Annie
Russell. in Catherine the play in which
SIZE made her stellar debut in New York
appearing in it at the Garrick Theater ex-
actly 100 times. This will be Miss Rus
sells first appearance in Washington since
her notable successes in New York and
London Her triumph in the latter me-
tfopolis was great and remarkable one
the London Mail, for instance, calling her
THE Duse of the English stage" Physiog-
nGmists have enthusiastically declared that
the gentle soulful face of this charming
actress Is indicative at once Of her genius
and modeSty. She has departed from the
usual methods of star PLAYERS by appear-
ing In a cast that comprises the very best
acting talent or the American stage and
mat gives every man and woman in it
equal chance of cOnSpiCuOuSIy good work
Annie Russell is so clever and capable and
possesses so many shining individual quail
tiles that she is perhaps one of only two or
three actresses in this country who can af-
lord to be generous in this respect, and to
be not jealous of anybody in her profession.
Ever since her first great success in "Es-
Inrrdlda some years ago she has been re-
Stirued as the sweetest and most perfect of
the lnSenues. and has practically stood
without a rival as an exponent of naive
and interesting young woma nhood She
seems l" have sounded all the depths of her
sex 5 heart. and to have been specially gift
ell with a sympathetic and artistic tenn
permanent that gives a soft graceful and
poetic NnSe t. her dramatic or comedy
work Miss Russells triumph in Gather
me IN this country shows her to be en-
ureiy worthy of the laureIs won abroad
last summer. She makes an ideal heroine
Tor N Lavedan's beautiful love story pre-
SentlnS not only the realistic traits of 4
young maiden whose trembling heart has
Won Z triumph, and Of young wife whose
cream of happiness has been dashed 10
pieces by jealousy and deceit but also
tou' hing the poetic phases Of the role with
4 refining tdeaiizatiOn that only real genius
Is capable Of conceiving or calling into ex-
istencc. In Catherine Miss Russell is the
tntral shining figure in cast that MANY
declare 10 be stronger and better than the
original Coincide Franchise cast OF the
same play, that has given to the American
stage the first genuine Coincide Franchise
production ever seen outside of the house
or ACHere- Here are the names of those
Wh" al. supporting Miss Russell: Elsie
D Wolfe. Mrs. Sarah CowelI-I.e Moyne,
Frank NOFthins, Vincent Serrano. w J.
l. Mpyne. J. c. SavilIe Clara Bloodgood,
Mile James and Robert Hickman
LAFAYETTE SQUARE OPERA HOUSE.
Mr.. l.. H. SOLhern viii have an eventfuI
opening at the Lafayette Square Opera
House Monday night. AS a scenic display
his latest production takes precedence over
everything he has ever done here The
Kings Muskcjeer' is in five acts with thir-
teen elaborate scenes. and has q display of
costumes Ot the court OF Louis XIII Of
France Unequaled save in the most gor-
EcOuS spectacle. The famous romance of
Alexander Dumas, the elder. has been laid
Gnder tribute for the material that has
been used by that skilled dramatist Mr.
Henry Hamilton Hamilton hit upon a
noNeity-a chaste sweetheart for the Gascon
gallant instead OF the plant Madame Bon
aceux- He retains the famous bedroom
scene, in which D'Artagnan is introduced
10 the chamber of miIadi disguised as the
Count de Nardes. Raoul D'Artagnau the
character Mr. SOthern will play, is admit
tedly one Of the strongest romantic heroic
parts that has ever been created Ii was
the elder Dumas pet hero. Who better
Than Sotheru for such a role. remembering,
MS many successes in similar PARASITIC
caShng. dueling soldier Of fortune The
knight whose eyes speak love. whose flashes
mean a challenge in defense Of honor of
the .,lrl of his heart. The I.ondou ~ofa