Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-11
AMusHMrNTs.


instinct that saw the making Of an opera
in n. Rostand's play. "Cyrano Dc Berse-
rae" with which Francis Wilson Is essay
ing to interest and amuse the public. Mr..
Wilson is plainly believer in novelty. and
whenever he comes to visit us he brings
us something new. The sensational success
of Cyrano in it's dramatic form will greatly
benefit Mr.. Wilson's latest enterprise. al
though it was a foregone conclusion that
the play would be changed for the pur-
poses Of this musical work. The chief
changes are made in the third act The
balcony scene is in this act, and so is the
battle scene with Roxane acting as COM
missary general The fight is made comic.
and at the end CyranO comes out in his
true colors as hero, and the audience IS
left with the impression that he and Roxane
will be married and that Christian will
drop out Of sight The first act Is much
the same in its general movement as that
of the play, while the second is more COM
prehensIve than the original. The ltbretto
bined labors Of Harry 3. Smith and Stuart
Reed, and the music is by Victor Herbert.
The scenes and costume pictures are said
to be gorgeous, and the incidental access
sories quite up to Mr.. Wilson's commend
able rule of recognizing the eternal fitness
of things. Mr.. Wilson brings his entire or
ganization intact to the Columbia Theater
next week. and the already large advance
sale denotes one of the most successful
weeks he has ever had in this city.
NEW NATIONAL NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
evening the attraction at the National
Theater will be a new musical comedy by
Harry B. Smith and Reginald De Koven,
entitled "Papa's Wife" with Anna Held
ed upon the comedy which first gave the
great Judic her fame as a coincidence.
OF course, it has been largely elaborated
and brought up to date, with opportunities
for an imposing display of scenery and
costumes. The story of the play deals
with the marriage of a demure little con-
vent-bred demoiselle to dissipated old
French nobleman, who is the despair of his
good-looking but somewhat pedantic son.
Many extremely amusing complications are
developed at the wedding breakfast in the
second act, while the entire piece abounds
in humorous situations. Miss Held's pc
culiar personality is well adapted to the
star character, which she is said to render
with great pfquancy and naturalness. while
her chief support, Chas. A. Blgeiow, who
was the hit in THE French Maid last
season, is inimitable as a convent music
teacher, who composes a comic opera and
falls a victim to the wiles Of fascinating
queen of burle5que. There are many other
picturesque characters, including a very
susceptible old French major, who proves
to be a greater devotee to Venus than to
Mars. Miss Held will introduce an entire
new budget of French and English songs.
Other members of the cast are NJ. A. Ken
needy, one of the most unctuous characters
on the American stage; Harry Woodruff,
for the pastItwo seasons the light come
dian with the Daniel Frohman Lyceum
Stock Company; Henry Bergman, George
Marion Isabel Evisson and Alice FinGlay.
ACADEMY OF MUSIC.-For the attrac-
ton at the Academy of Music next week
the management claims only originality of
conception and superiority Of presentment.
when London Sleeps is first of all a
nelodrama, with succession of thrilling
situations and scenic effects. This is the
third time the play has been seen in the
national capital, and the evidence of its
attractiveness to the theater-goer and its
merit to the management is best judged by
the record-breaking business upon both
previous visits. There is one scene in the
drama which is famous notorious.
This Is condemned roundly by many, al
though 1t has found some apologists among
the people who demand rigid realism re-
CARELESS of morals To the onlOoker 1t is
what the English term thriller and it
is typical Of the play. Incidental to the
plot are the realistic fire scenes the circus
ring. the palace of the Hindoo idol and
others of less notoriety, but equal In merit.
The management claims that the present
ing company is superior to all which have
proceeded it. The sale of seats and the
inquiry regarding the duration of the en-
gagement signifies a third mountaineering
week at the Academy for the same attrac-
ton in as many seasons. The company in
cludes among others Ida Glenn. Helen Cor
lett, JOSepnd CFOWell, y. n. HUTCHINSON,
Tony West, Harry Bewley and others, in
Guiding a large and wel-trained corps Of
Comedians and Helene Mora are the po-
tent attractions engaged for the New
Grand next week. The last time they were
here they played at the Columbia Theater.
where high prices prevailed. The engage
ment then was an artistic and financial
success. Helene Nora by virtue of her
immense popularity, her wonderful bari
tone voice and her strangely dramatic and
fervid style, heads the bill. She will sing
new collection of songs and wear a new
wardrobe of appropriate costumes. New
here, but full Of promise Of fun, is the
diminutive comedy team composed of little
Arthur Dunn and Clara Bell Jerome. These
remarkably clever artists will appear in a
one-act farce. Willard Sims and Jennie
Graham will be seen in their society COM
edy sketch, characters l Have Seen on
the Stage" A Leech and the three Bios
som Sisters appear in a melange of music.
dancing and mirth The Soeurs Rondy
are described as beautiful and talented
trio. and present an act that has all the
interest of European novelty. The gotesque
three Fortuni Brothers, also imported from
Europe will endeavor to evoke unlimited
laughter. Galett and his wonderfully in
telligent monkeys, in their very funny bar
bershop scene and bicycle races, will be
something especially charming to the jul
venile theatergoers; they are also from
across the Atlantic. Jordan and WEIGH,
the clever portrayers of wel-known char
acters, are the last Of the "all-headliner'
bill.
KERNAN'S LYCEUM THEATER-The
Burlesque Company, the old
est organization Of the class, will be the
attraction at Kernan's Lyceum next week.
1t will present a new first part entitled.
THE Sporty Duchess" which is replete
with new songs and dances, and introduces
Lottie Elliott supported by strong chorus
of pretty girls. The olio includes Bryant
and Saville, the musical artists; Dumont
Sisters. female tenor and baritone artists;
Charlie Robinson. eccentric character
comedian; Geo. B. Scanlon and Pearl
Stevens, in a refined sketch; Engstrom Sis
tiers, the dashing serio-comics, and Ford
and Dot West, in their skit, 1.-The Waiter
and the Maid" The burlesque is said to be
an ambitious production, being satire on
Romeo and Juliet" entitled. "a Hot Time
With Shakespeare" and will be presented
with that careful attention to detail which
characterizes all of Abe Leavitt's produce
tons. Miss Elliott is the central figure,
and she will be assisted by artists of high
rank, as well as a corps of bewitching
vocalists and dancers.
ELEGANT THINGS FOR WOMEN.