The times., 1899-02-07

other girl of somnambulism. Then the Sec
ond spouse comes into the room in her
robe de mutt. drinks of the liquor and goes
to sleep. The hero of the complication en-
ters, imbibes. begins to undress and drops
into slumber. Then the curtain falls.
All this leads up to the center of the
work and is so devoid of other or fol ow-
ing issues that it really forms the story
a story productive of nothing but sugges
tion. To repeat. the episode mentioned is
mainly different from those that have pre-
ceded it in the way that small circusses are
different from their larger rivals; the
stunt is repeated. so to speak, in three
rings. The disrobing itself is accom-
plished with due modesty behind low
screen One sees as much of the female
form divine at the seashore and gets a
more extensive exhibit of lingerie in the
shop windows. Some of the lines that oc-
cur in this and the next act. however. are
simply and plainly dirty. even lacking the
delicacy that marks the affair under con-
sideration.
The presentation is beautifully staged
and acted almost to perfection. A better
combination of farceurs has perhaps never
been seen in this city. w. j. Ferguson is
the tickle husband Of the tale. and he as
sumes the role with skill and perception
The bit of pantomime which he introduces
into the second scene is worthy of a Pillar
NORM. The first of the wives is charm
ingly and carefully played by Sadie Marti-
not. whose personal beauty gives the re-
firing occurrence the only seductiyeness 1t
possesses. Mrs. Mckee Rankin. is ad-
mirable as the mother. Sallie Berg seems
very stick-like as the second spouse. and
Mrs. Findlay portrays the next maternal
parent with all the low comedy ability for
which she is noted. Four clever men are
NJ. A. Kennedy. E. w. Morrison, Henry
Bergman and Harry Allen. whose merit
grows less as the line of names nearS its
end. Then Merri Osborne gives her lines
more suggestion than any other woman
could expect, and Charles Sinclair con-
tributes neat bit. The pity of it is that
all concerned have not better material
with which to work.
NatiOnal-"The Little Minister"
1t was far from the typical Monday night
audience that greeted Maude Adams when
she made her entrance last night at the
National Not that the house was lacking
in enthusiasm-not that its unconventional
ity was due to paucity of numerical strength
nor to dearth of intelligence-but rather
that it was made up of people representing
the several professional pursuits in pos
session of which the National Capital is
pre- eminently supreme. The statesman,
the diplomat, the literateur. the corre-
spondent the journalist. and the social
lion, like the atoms of chemical COM
pound were united into one consummate
whole. the affinity being a love of art and
worship of histrionic genius. 1t was an as
sembly to make one proud Of the city and
to permit of managers chuckling with
well justified pride.
The Little Minister received its bap-
tism of fire in Washington more than
-rsts l..
appeared to be little Of merit in the initial
performance, yet SO carefully was the
necessary pruning done that the presenta-
tion now is well-ngh perfect. An early
surfeit of Scottish dialect has fallen before
the knife, and while at the former local
rendering few present understood much
that was spoken, yester-evening there was
no word unintelligible. Various incongrui-
ties have been avoided and improbabilities
eschewed AS a result real triumph has
come out of apparent defeat, and THE Lit
tie Minister appears as one Of the notable
dramatic successes of the decade.
There has been but meager alteration
in the organization since its last appear
ance here. Interest centres only in the
dainty star Maude Adams. There is little
new to be said Of her Interpretation oil
the trying role of Babbie Delicious IN her
comedy, effervescing in humor, earnest in
Miss Adams takes rank with the highest
in her profession At no moment does she
oyerstep the limitations of naturalness, at
no time fail to make the most OF each op-
portunity; nor does she ever sl1ght the
weight OF one syllable. Miss Adams is al
ways Babbie and Babbe Is invariaoiy nat
i.ural No more significant stamp OF ap-
proyal can be impressed upon the WORK
of this most brilliant product OF the great
| West.
There is opportunity of improvement IN
! the support accorded Miss Adams. although
| her personality impels one to overlook
| this fact. The Captain Halliwell of George
| Irving is too melodramatic. too tragedy
| queenish to ever assume high rank. sew
| eral times Mr.. Irving yields to impulse or
to instruction and becomes unnecessarily
vigorous. His effort jars on ones nerves
all through the play. Eugene Jepson does
| his trihe with rare tact and good effect,
| while, with a few possible exceptions. the
work of Robert Edeson, in the title role, is
| admirably conceived. Margaret Gordon is
notable for a capable investure OF part
| too like many others to be acceptable Dut
| for her clever Interpretation, and Jessie
| Mackaye is most capable in a tiny bit
nightly well done. The rather overdrawn
characters of the elders are well assumed
by Wallace Jackson, Peyton Carter, w. ii.
| Thompson. and Norman Campbell. while
Thomas Valentine proves himself capable
! of better things. But, after all have been
| considered, the Bow Dow OF George Faw-
cett. freed from its Scottish incongruities
and burdened accent, assumes prominence
only second to that of the star herself.
Avoiding bombast and ranting, Mr.. Faw-
cett shows behind his characterization an
intense reserve power, all the more pleas
ing because so seldom seen. The other
parts are indifferently taken.
Suitable scenery of massive proportions
adds to the attractiveness of THE Little
| Minister" the various changes being
noiselessly and speedily conducted. Two
| matinees.
| Grnnd-VaudeviIIc.
According to the philosophy of the aver
age vaudeville manager a three-hour bill.