Evening star., 1899-01-03

course, the chief attraction of the cast; but
it must be said that many. members of the
same crowd them very closely for honors.
Although they were down for but one spe-
cialty, they We're encored 50 many times at
every appearance they made on the stage
that by the end of the performance they
had contributed half a dozen special turns,
with the audience still clamorng for more.
The Rogers Brothers are among the best in
the country in their hne-that of Dutch
comedianS-and deserved the hearty APP
piause that was bestowed upon them An
other faVorite who occupied a large share
or popular attention and who also deserved
all the praise that she received was Miss
Maud Raymond who sang a number of
coon songs in a style that could hardly be
improved upon. Her work with the Rogers
brothers was also funny to degree, and
she scored one of the distinctive hits of the
evening. Probably the most attractive fea
ture of the performance from an artistic
Standpoint, however, is the exhibition of
dancing given by La Petite Adelaide, a di
minutive danseuse, who was obliged to
answer a third encore. Her work was
dainty beyond mea sure. She gave the regu-
lation ballet and then introduced some new
rag-time steps that caught the favor of her
audience at once. Georgia Caine appeared
to advantage in several character songs,
Whl.e Ada Lewis did some clever work as
an undeveloped Clairvoyant. Carrie Ell
berts, Georgia Laurence and Edith st.
Clare had small parts and filled them with
perfect SATISFACTION. Geo. r. Marion did
some very clever character work and John
Parr not only made a very handsome hero
Ii one could be found in the plot-but also
sang in good style and received hearty
applause for his efforts. Budd Ross made
very. funny manager for the theatrical
troupe which is supposed to embrace near
ly the entire cast. "A Reign of Error will
continue at the Columbia all this week
with the usual matinees.
Grand Opera House was opened last night
10 accommodate Mr.. Francis Wilson's ad-
mirers in this city 1t was a pleasant rem
inlscence of old times to see the big theater
aglow with the atmosphere of success. The
audience made itself perfectly at home. 1t
laughed applauded and demanded encores
with as much serene assurance if the
frosts of many months had not interviewed
since an attraction of much Importance
had appeared there. Just before the rise
of the curtain a line of people reached
from the box office to the pavement, and
the house was none too large to accommo-
date the patronage.
The fact that it was his first appearance
IN connection with the theatrical trust cast
no gloom over Mr.. Wilson'S spirits The
audience, which had followed him into COM
paratively unfamiliar haunts, a guar
antee that Washington would not have al
lowed him to suffer had he decided to ap-
pear independently. 1t was an occasion
slightly akin to the return of the prOdigal
son. and the box Office receipts stood for a
very appetiZing fatted calf. 1t is not to be
assumed that the business conditions in
any way affected the stars performance
last night. Mr.. Wilson's sense of obligation
10 the public a popular comedian rises
infinitely superior to circumstances He
has trified with books to q degree which
might tempt less discerning and intellige
players into disastrous attemptS at ped-
antry. But in the merry melange of seem
cry, costumes, music and humorous quips
Which he varies from year to year to meet
the demand for novelty, he is always Fran
CTS wilson, comedian at your service If
the unitlcS of the occasion demand that he
shall fall uDstairs with grace and facility
be does so like courteous gentleman who
rea,lzes that a servant of the public has
no right to allow personal preferences to
interfere with his usefulness. If the pub
lie desire to hear Mr.. Wilson sing he smoth-
ers his own critical feelings and MARBLES
with heroic amiability.
His vivacity of temperment is unfailing
and his methods of fun making of the sort
which PROMPT no auprehensions that the
stage IS rushing irretrievably into degen-
eracy. Emuhatic as he sometimes makes
his fun. it is always clean and it is often
embeilished by subtle and scholarly touches
Miss Lulu >Glaser is q jewel in her way
She has a figure about which draperies
moved themselves into graceful folds and
whether skittish or demure is always at
tractive. Mr.. Louis CaSsavant is note
worthy both for his singing and for his
caricature of an old French sergeant. The
piece cannot ne cOllpfSllnpd OF Tor a lack of
plot. Eevery scene is a plot. 1t has plots
scattered so thickly from Europe to the
desert of Sahara that Mr. Wilson is COM
PEELED TO change his clothes at least half
dozen times in order to keep up with them.
Il appears quite inevitable that all comic
operas shall seem more or. less alike: as in
the case Of a bucolc hotel, where the diner
is snitten continually with the suspicion
that the soup, fish and meats We're all
cooked in the same utersil. There is an
iEterfavoring which cannot be overlooked; ;
but nevertheless it is all good provender
for an amusement hungry world, in which
chefs are scarce. A clever stroke in this
particular Offering Is the Introduction of
Mr. Wilson the double of NapoeOn-the
incident which gives the production its III
tie, The Little Corporal" Mr.. Wilson's
pranks with history were heartily enjoyed.
The piece is perhaps the most entertaining
he has had since THE Merry Monarch"
He responded to a demand for a speech
very happily and humOrousy. He began
by assuring the audience that it had be-
haved beautifully. and ended by announc-
ing that his carriage would be at the stage
door at II 30, where his more enthusiastic
admirers would have the opportunity to
draw him to the Tuilleries. AS is invaria bly,
the case, Mr.. Wilson's engagement stands
out In the seasons record an event of
especial magnitude.
ACADEMY OF MUSIC.-Soon after r. +
Outcault, through the medium of the col
ored supplement to d New York newspa-
per, made his Yellow Kid, and the scene of
the latter's pranks, Hogan's alley, On the
east side of the metropolis, so popular sew
eral years ago, the kid and the alley were
suggested as the groundwork of th,atri-
cal production. With Gilmore and Leonard
as the shining lights, ''Hogan's Alley was
sent out on the road. The Yellow Kid his
sweetheart Liz, Mrs. Flynn and all the
other characters introduced to the public
by Outcaut's brush were included in the
cast Big audiences attended the perform
ahces and "Hogan's Alley" was a success
second edition took the road last season
and played to good business. Gilmore and
Leonard came to the Academy last even
ing with their third edition of the show
To BE- mild, it is disappointing, except per-
haps to the element that patronizes the
upper gallery. The attendance on the low
er floor was of such a character that the
few there must have felt lonesome. From
the current presentation it is rather diff
cult to understand just why "Hogans AL
ley met with any success in the past
With one or two exceptions those en-
ployad to fill the several parts possess any
thing but talent or merit; in fact, several
individuals who are positively tiresome
have the stage all to themselves for as
much as five minutes at a time. A good
deal of horse-play was forced on the
1Il1ipnra he of n-