Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-05
lutte freedom from rulgarity of any de-
scription.

| LAFAYETTE SQUARE OPERA HOUSE
! "A chinese Romance" an oriental colni
opera in three acts, by San Toy Fong, mu
sic by Joseph Tressi, was presented at th'
| Lafayette Square Thester last night to
| large audience. This is musical burleseu,
| of Chinese life, presenting some odd fea
| lures. out of the ordinary run The coined,
| Is rather tame, however, and the music no
| particularly striking. The burlesque is no
| to be mentioned in the same breath will
| the charming "Geisha' of the dear OLE
! Mfkado, although It endeavors to follow
| along the same line. The costumes are rich
and the scenic effects in one of the act,
| very pretty, and there are some Chimes,
attempts at dancing, and one or two pleas
Ing choruses. The story which runs through
the burlesque is too simple to admit OF
much establishment either in music or il
comedy acting, and the eye is pleased
| rather than the sense of hearing The plot
hinges upon the violation of the ancient
custom which foroids a prospective bride
and bridegroom from meeting before the
wedding day. Being discovered by a ieal-
Gus MISUNDERSTANDING widow, the Young PEG.
pie are betrayed to the stern father, who
breaks off the match. 1t takes two acts tc
get this far, and the third is devoted tc
squaring the consequences Of parental
wrath.
The presence of the Emperor of China
before his subjects gives an excuse for a
display of acrobatic feats and Juggling in
the courtyard. This part of the enter
tainment was literally applauded by the
audience. Val Vino, the juggler, and the
Ienton Brothers. acrobats, furnished the
cause. Miss Marie Celeste Ahluta.
daughter of the prime minister, received
several encores in her singing, and Henry
Gunson as Tsai Tien her betrothed. came
in for share of the applause when he sang
duets with her. Frank Wooiey and Claude
Amsden as two amusing Cinnamon sup
piled the comedy. There was a large COM
pany, but the other parts were unimpor-
tant. The audience seemed very much in
terested in two quaint little Chinese girl
4 no rtn Dyof n
guileless actions caused numerous laughs
Before the curtain rose 1t was announced
to the audience that serious accident mad
befallen Miss Katie Davis, who plays a
leading role. Her part was undertaken by
Mr.. Charles j. Campbell, the stage man
ager. Miss Davis had suffered stroke of
paralysis and was found unconscious in
her room at the Raleigh Hotel. She was
sent to Providence Hospital.
GRAND OPERA HOUSE.-The bill pre-
sented by the New Grand this week is full
of features, and the entertainment as
whole Is pleasing. Patrons of the Grand
recognize polite vaudeville. and in the short
time they have been educated have be-
ing a motto of polite vaudeville means an
extra strain upon any management, and 1t
reflects credit upon Messrs. Burke and
Chase that so little that is Objectionable
has crept into their weekly bills.
The bright particular spot in the enter
tainment this week is the one-act play en-
titled Her Friend From Texas" in which
Miss Redding, assisted by Messrs G. J.
Alden ana Louis a. Simon, fill up the cast.
1t is "A clever conceit, eXcellently acted, and
was thoroughly enjoyed. Mr.. Simon as
Willie Wilkins was specially good as the
society bud even though he borrowed some
Of Stuart Robson's business The Cecelan
-Four, lady vocaliSts of exceeding merit won
several encores. These young ladies have
weil-moduiated voices, and render several
very pleasing quartets. John W. Ran
some in a speciality peculiar to himself
furnishes fun in plenty, and his limitations
OF Senator Mark Hanna are very ludicrous
William +. Judge, who does stunts in bal
ancing on an unsupported ladder, demon
strated what patience can do. He mounted
q ladder on stand and by keeping it
moving slightly maintained his equilibrium
The NaWnS, who have been seen in Wash
ington before, presented their ever-popular
sketch, "A Touch of Nature" and there
has never been seen at the Grand a better
piece of character work than they give.
Mr.. Nawn as the Hiberniau laborer was
life-like and he finished the sketch with a
highly entertaining exercise on roller
skates. The American biograph, with new
pictures. completes the program.
ACADEMY OF MUsIC.-rhe Rays. in
"A Hot Old Time made their third an
nuaI visit to Washington last night and the
Academy Of Music was packed to the doors
with an appreciative audience. With the
exception of the third act, which has beer
entirely rewritten. the farce is substantially
the same as first presented, but nOtwith-
the repetition of fOolishncss the
audience apparently enjoyed it to the full
est extent. To the one who turned his at
tentlon t. the audience instead of the stage
an extraordinary state of affairs would
nave been found. 1t seemed as If the on
lockers from the floor to the TOP gallery
We're putting forth their best efforts as to
who could laugh the heartiest and loudpst
ana this variety of merriment continued
the three hours OF entertain
nent Johnny Ray had nothing new to Of
fer. being the same funny little Irishman
as or Eore, but every expression of the
face or movement of the body was greeted
with the most uproarious wells Of Iaugbtnr
and approval. The farce from start to I'm
sh Of the slap-stick, knockabout order.
but IS entirely satisfactory to both the
performers and the audience. The com
pany is capable one, Emma Ray and
Frank Lalor being most prominent In the
support Of the star. while the speciaIties
introduced were pleasing and clever Emma |
fTahclS DID dancing and contortion act
winch went WELL while Querita Vincent,
sang several original coon songs with the |
rlghl spirit and force and in CONSEQUENCE |
was favored with numerous recalls HAYES |
and Healy, the long and short of it. proved !
Ace . clever IN dancing and sing |
ne turn, me comedy work of Shorty be |
hg original The remainder Of the COM |
lttY was entirely satisfactory and con-
lbuted in no small way to the hilarious |
success of the farce
BlJOC THEATER.-Much of the excel |
ency OF the new stock company at the |
8ijou Is shown this week in the burIcsoue |
IN Robin Hood, and the tuneful opera |
While shorn of much that made it poDuIar |
s still recognizable in the choruses, and |
ome of the principal roles. Already the |
are which has been given the stock com |
'any is making itself manifest and the |
horuses show marked Improvement Sam
ADAMS is well cast this week and couples
With his clever acting the use Of his we'll |
nodulated baritone voice. The greatest i'm
'roVement Is shown in the comedy work
u Billy watson. Last season he went I'M
hecked and Wearied every one in his eff
orts to be funny. Naturally a comedian.
7 looked as if he was soon to run his
curse. He has been an apt pupil and
'oth last week and this won mcrited an
'lause. Marguerite Virginia with her
weet voice and pleasing manner, is fast
winning a name, and Miss Allie Danish ia
making her ability shine. In fact all the
Members OF the stock company are doing
veil and contribute much to the success of
he house.
There is a fair olio this week to help out
ne stock company. and the Panzer trio in
heir eccentricites are pleasing Burton and
3rooks have a new and up-to-date sketch
ne Raymond trio make sweet music and
rank Cotton's Donkey Circus is a show in
tselt. A group of well-trained acrobats
one uQC the program