Evening star., 1899-04-01

Holy Week is always bad for theatricals
In this city. The religious element Is strong
here and this week is devoted to medita-
ton and prayer rather than to theater-
going. The offerings at the theaters have
not been strong, although The Bride
Elect at the National and THE White
Heather at the Academy have both been
we'll patrOnized. So. too has been Pauline
Hall and the excellent vaudeville bill at the
Grand. AT the Columbia Mr. Burton
Holmes has increased the favorable i'm
preston he made during his course of lee
lures few weeks ago. The Lafayette has
been dark. and the vaudeville programs
at the Lyceum and Bijou have proved at
tractive.
! Next week the offerings are unusually
good. Each theater seems to be putting
forth its best efforts to provide amusement
for the people after the long period of Lent.
At the Columbia the Frawley company will
make its first appearance here, and as the
opening play is '-Trilby'' it should do big
weeks business AT the National Nat
Goodwin will appear in his latest success,
Nathan Hale" at the Lafayette Lillian
Russell will be seen in the up-to-date YER
sion of Offenbachs La Belle Helene at
the Academy John Sousa's Ell Captain"
will be presented, and at the Grand the
vaudeville program will be in keeping with
Easter week. The Lyeeum and Bijou Will
present good vaudeville attractions.
LAFAYETTE SQUARE OPERA HOUSE.
The Old Guard has thrown off its leth-
argy and will be in evidence in the stalls
and boxes. Some of them claim to know
the score backward, albeit none of them
ever heard ii played that way. Many of
them are ready to give points to Lillian
Russell who is to appear here in La
Belle Helene Monday evening at the La
fayette Square Opera House, from their
ineffacable recollections of Tosu and
Aimee in the royal part. The revival Of
Ofenbach opera is to a degree educational
led Tpr . ir1i-
tatOrs, a few of whom have had the good
fortune to arrive at the temple of fame
Ofenbach's music will survive so long as
there are women to be loved and wine to
exhilarate. His are the lyrics of life-of
the sunshine Of existence. The coming rep
reSentatiOn of La Belle Helene is said to
be pictorially impressive. The classically
inclined find much to interest them in the
study of the raiment of the ancient and
honorable learners of Greek society. Miss
Lillian Russells opportunities in the line
of queenly apparel have been duly i'm
proved Her beauty was never more pro-
nOunced than in the role of Helene, and
the mistakes of Paris are. at least, COM
prehensible, even if objectionable. If
Helene was really as beautiful as Miss Rus
sell. without effort. represents her, Paris
simply could not help himself.
The summer girl is familiar figure at
our seashore and mountain resorts, but
the summer boy of Fashionable proclivities
when Greece was in its prime is reVe-
Hopper as Orestes in La Belle Helene
The versatility of Messrs. Thomas Q.
SeabroOke and Ferris Hartman is not to be
questioned. since they have essayed the
roles of couple of Greeks of the good old
school. In La Belle Helene" Good "tOga
actors are scarce upon the Rialto these
days. Mr.. Hartman as Menelaus is every
inch a king-of Old Sparta-but the circum-
stances in which he is discovered prove
that he is not a confidence man. Mr. Sea-
brOoke's old-time grand augur, forecaster,
weather prophet and general promoter OF
nervousness is a portrait to be framed
alongside of his late King POmery II in
The Isle of Champagne
NEW NATIONAL THEATER-Mr. N.
c. Goodwin and Miss Maxine Elliott return
to Washington this season, opening at the
New National Theater Monday night IN
Clyde Fitchs new play of the revolution,
entitled Nathan Hale" In conining him
self to Nathan Hale this season it was
the resolve of Mr.. Goodwin to make it
notable as a production, and every care
and research has been given TO the produc-
tiOn of the costumes and scenes. This ar
tistic side of il was essential to the nature
of the play, for ii is a romantic comedy
drama, filled with love and youth. and ex-
alted endeavor, touched by tragedy at the
one point only, when the bOyish hero meets
his fate. 10 be loved by a nation forever
after with the words that are in every
school book. My only regret is that 1
have but one life to give for my country
1t is interesting in its Americanism. 1t
Is absolutely refreshing to witness the
play. free from the slightest trace of the
foreign, and with every scene on our own
soil, and every sentiment as susceptible of
appreciation as in 11T6. The character is
youthful. the costumes picturesque the
scenery full Of color, the life animated and
cheerful. its nature idyllic. the action dra-
matte and forceful-this is the promise
made for Nathan Hale" The story is
simple. Nathan Hale. village schoolmas-
ter loves his fairest pupil. not without ri
Valry, of course; enlists under Gen. WASH
tngton and volunteers TO go as a spy to the
British camp to gain absolutely essential
Information. He is suspected and discov-
cred. scenes being involved in which the
girl he loves exercises her presence of mind
and ingenuity to save him, the growth of
love between them being thus provided for:
but finally he must bare his throat to the
rope that is to part them and earn for him
the enduring love of his country. Miss
Maxine Elliott is the school girl that is
loved, capable of making a charming COM
paniOn in the story, for she has gained a
position Of the first rank on the stage and
justified her beauty by her intelligence and
advancement toward perfection in her art.
Mr.. Goodwin and Miss Elliott bring to this
city fine supporting company and will
play only one matinee, Saturday.
COLUMBIA THEATER.-Unless Man
ager T. Daniel Frawley sadly misses his
calculations. Washington, his native city.
Will soon have a permanent dramatic COM
pany such as any community in the coun-
tIy would be proud to claim its own. Mr..
Frawley's experience in the west fully quail
ifies him for this undertaking for he has
been known for four years as a successful
aCtOr-manager. Mr.. Frawley's system diff
fers materially from the stock companies
with which Washington has been familiar
for the past few seasons, much so that
he objects to being classified with them.
His plan is to give complete productions of
the best royalty plays with specially en-
gagged casts. new scenery and stage set
tings. and a degree of attention to detail
that even travelling companies do not al
ways show. Instead Of forcing the same
players into the casts week after week,
often in unsuitable or uncongeniaI parts
FTawley goes ON the principle of suiting
the player to the part, and. If possible en-
gaging for the principal roles actors who
have made notable successes in them. As
result. the work of his company never
becomes stale or stereOtyped Constant
playing at nights and rehearsals all day
wears out the strongest actors and makes
them weary OF their work. but with an or
ganization large enough to permit nearly
half the members to rest and rehearse " bile
the others are playing, renewed life and
energy Is impaired to every performance
At least. this IS Mr.. Frawleys record as sn
actOr-menager on the Pacific coast and the
manner of his beginning here promises the
Saue for " a ShiuSfon