The times., 1899-12-28
THINGS THEATRICAL.

In days OF old" when jefferson de An
CELLS and De Wolf Hopper were simple
cast members of the McCaul Comic Opera
Stock Company, it is related that the mau-
ayers of that organization frequently were
in receipt of letters wherein the writer's
suggested that both men were possessed OF
such abilities as should render them draw
ing stars. Then, as now. Mr. De Angels
was cavorting about on lively legs. singing
topical songs in manner that was ire
sistibly droll, and doing other things cal
culated to perpetuate him in the favor of
audiences. Mr.. Hopper. too, was much as
he is at present, and he was the first of
the two comedians to act on the advice
mentioned. His success is known. MI De
Angels remained in the ranks-fOr a time
with the McCaull company, next with Della
Fox, again with the Fox -RusselI-De An
gels trtumvirate, and, having thus served
as the saving grace OF such irrational and
unredeemable works as "Fleur- de-L.is'
and The Wedding Day" finally decided 10
let his light so shine" and did become q
star. The Jolly Musketeer' was the ini-
tai vehicle used-nO one will care to re-
member "The Caliph and the primal
nights of the piece convinced all that Mr..
De Angels venture had been made none
too soon. The audience OF that evening
was responsible for curtain call after cur
tain call and its enthusiasm was reflected
in following assemblages. OF course, there
was pruning to be done and much of this
was accomplished while the organization
vas filling its first engagement in Wash
ington. But the ultimate fate of THE
Jolly Musketeer" was not in serious doubt
even before its luminary had scored hits in
New York at the Broadway and the Casino
Now Mr.. De Angels returns to this city
with the reputation engendered in his two
years Of stellar effort, with an improved
and-if the report may be credited-wholly
superior offering and with the best cast. he
has ever employed. This cast includes
Grace Van Studdiford, Harry Macdonough.
Hubert Wiiee, Maud Hoilins, LenOre
Soulier, Hilda Hollins, and others. The
booking is for next week at the Columbia
and there is 4 strong probability that the
business done will be even more above the
average than is the attraction.
Another big oDeratic production is to
open here on Monday evening-in this case
at the Lafayette. The occasion noted prac-
tieally amounts to a premiere, for, while
the presentation will be shown first on the
preceding Saturday, Washington will be the
primal city to which it is to be brought
The opera in question is entitled The
Princess Chic" It's book is fresh from
the pen OF Kirl1e lie Shele, who wrote The
Ameer'' for Frank Daniels. while its music
comes from Julian Edwardes. the composer
of The Magic Kiss" which, for two
seasons. served Camille D'Arvlle as a We
hicle. The plot Of the work reads well
enough to be most promising This tale
has its locale in two neighboring duchies
Normandy and Burgundy which are heartily
coveted by the King OF France. Louis XII
This crafty monarch determines upon pos
sessing both and, with no smaller END
in view, dispatches emissaries to rouse
the populations against their rulers the
Princess Chic and Charles the Bold
Charles is so fond OF the chase that he
has devoted little attention to this dan
gerous move, but his fair contemporary
discovers what is happening and sees the
advisabiIity of securing the cooperation OF
the duke. Accordingly she journeys to his
palace and, plqued at hearing the report
that Charles advisers have tried unsuc-
cessfully to arrange a marriage betweeen
them, dons the disguise of d peasant. The
ruler of Burgundy Immediately is fasci-
mated, and the result is a love story that
is described as being charmingly quaint
while frequently provocative Of mirth. The
press agent OF the combination guarantees
an elaborate and beautiful scenic iuYes-
ture. together with tasty but gorgeous COS
tunes. The cast engaged for the interpre-
tation OF The Princess Chic" is more
than efficient. Among its members are
such people as Winfield Blake Walter A.
Lawrence, Edgar Temple, Richard Golden,
J. c. Miron, VIII Vaudeville Harry
Brown. E S Beverly. f. s. Dearduf, Law
renee Frye, Harold Lynn, F. Hammond
James DAILY, J. Hendricks. Flora Enright.
Emile Knapp, Margaret Sayre, Toni Sa-
velH Kate FrankIyn, Mathilde Preville,
Louise Hepner, and Minnie Method. Seats
go on sale this morning