The times., 1899-11-02
THINGS THEATRICAL.

While the temptation to remain indoors
and to fully reap the benefits of ones own
register-side undoubtedly have been great
during the past few days. amusement lovers
will show wisdom in not idIing away the
remainder of the week. It is only rarely
that Washington is supplied with so many
excellent attractions as are making bids
for patronage at present There is not a
combination in town that is wholly without
merit while seVeral-and these principally
al the popular priced hOuses-are literally
the best of the year. Thus, with the pos
sible exception of AT Piney Ridge" the
Academy has never had to offer a stronger
dramatic company than that now being
seen in James A Hernes Shore Acres"
Cressy and Dayne, Harry Edison and his
dog, Gus Williams, and others are contrib
uting a really entertaining bill at the
Grand. this fact being proven by the steady
increase in business noted at that resort.
Hurtig q Seamons' 'Bowery' Burlesquers
at Kernan's present an admirable olio. The
higher rated performances, while not so ex-
ceptional, are also notably good Kellar is
always interesting and should draw even
more extensively than he is doing at the
Columbia. Chris and the Wonderful
Lamp" at the National at least is a treat
to the eye. and. with all its faults. The
Battle Scared Hero" is making audiences
laugh at the Lafayette. Altogether this is
an extraordinary time for theatre going
especially, as has been said, for those who
do not care for the most expensive
shows
After Kellar has finished projecting and
materializing at the Columbia. by the way,
the patrons of the Luckett & Dwyer house
are promised a most enjoyable series Of
performances in The Founders" This
piece, which Harry b. Smith and Ludwig
Englander took from the French of Les
Fetards,' has just finished a run Of several
months at the Casino, from which it is
said to have been removed only that room
might be made for Alice Nielsen's produc-
ton Of The Singing Girl" Leaving New
York the musical comedy Immediately was
put on in Philadelphia, whence it comes
directly to Washington.
The plot of the work is a thin enc. but
should prove fertile in the hands-or
mouths-of the people by whom it is in
terpreted. This story tells Of the manner
in which the Marquis de Baccarac, wearying
Of the prudishness OF his Quaker wife, sue
cumbs to the charms of Mile Thea. a
dancer, and of the fashion in which the
aforementioned wife teaches him lesson.
Into the tale are brought such characters
as Magnnis Pasha, an Irishman who has
been OrientaliZed in Turkey: a nobleman
who has wearied of everything the world
has to offer. and other interesting individ-
uals Realized by Dan DAILY Thomas @.
SeabrOoke. Harry Davenport. Phyllis Ran
kin. Marie George, Mabel Gilman, Edward
d. Tyler, D. L. Dom, and Catherine Lin
yard. these roles should be most Iaughable
The entire presentation promises to be a
offf of "a or,I strEIl -r,II
Few authors have constructed novels
that yield to the treatment Of the drama
list so gracefully as do those of Anthony
Hope. THE Prisoner of Zenda" and "Ru-
pert of Hentzau' were better plays than
they were stories though the work last
mentioned cannot be said to have create
! a sensation in either form. "Phroso, "
which was originally adapted with Maude
Adams in the eye OF the arrangar, and
which, afterward. was done for a lone
time by the Empire Theatre Stock Com
pany, is averred to be one OF the most alb
sorbing presentations imaginab' e. The
New York papers were unanimous in taking
this view of the production which was sc
praised that it continued to be profitable
up to the last day OF its run. In Gotham
town the title role was assumed by Jessie
Millward who came here first with The
COnqueTOTs.' Miss Millward's succe5S wa:
great, but still the part is described as be
ing much better fitted to the personally
Of its present reader. Odette Tyler. The
( Phroso Of the book was a wlful. pstuIaut
fun-lovIng, capricious little witch, who
+ possessed a great deal Of heart and OF
womanly tenderness withaL Even Mis-:
Tyler's friends do not deny that this is he1
own temperament, and, therefore that hel
nnturainess in the portrayal is r.r arkab e
The actress viii be supported here by al
organization which includes her talented
husband r. d. MacLean, and is TO play ar
1 engagement OF the usual duration mex
week AZ the National Theatre.