The evening times., 1899-03-04
THINGS THEATRICAL.

proven Tue greatest kluu OF DteSsiuS W
J. ]. Rosenthal, in whose production OF
Browns in Town" is employed a young
woman of great ability in that line. Belle
Davis is the name of the individual in
question, and everywhere she has been
voted the greatest exponent Of rag-time
ditties the stage has seen since syncopat-
ed melody came in fashion, Miss Davis
Is now rendering two selections and both
of them are entirely new to Washington.
The first of these, He Amt No Relation
o Mine, has made an especial hit in the
West, while the second, "Yo' Don't
Handle 'Nough Money Fo' Me-" is said
TO have refrain that is simply irresisti-
bic. In addition to singing these airs the
entertainer has the part of a cook lady"
whose main objects are TO protect her
spotless reputation and TO get her wages
in due season. Altogether Miss Davis
must be a remarkable parsonage and her
advent will be awaited anxiously.
Browns in Town" is to be seen next
week at the Columbia.
Charles Dickson, Henrietta Crosman.
Ethel knight Mollison, Carrie Behr, Adah
Eckert Charles Harbury, Ben Deal, Ed
mund Lawrence, and Franklin Garland
are among the people who will be seen
next week at the Lafayette in Jacob Lifts
production of Grant Stewards farce, Mis-
takes Will Happen" This remarkable or
ganization was seen in the original pre-
sentation and has been carried intact from
San Francisco, where the comedy was first
shown. II is said to be not only individu-
ally competent but to work together har-
moniously and smoothly. From all ac-
counts the play is an admirable one and
affords the people engaged notable oppor-
tunities for the best sort OF work. Unlim-
lted praise has been given il by the press
and altogether matters look most promis-
ing for those who visit Manager Painters
Place of amusement during the local date.
The second appearance in this city OF
William Gillette in his greatest play, "Se-
cret Service" will take place next week at
the National Theatre. MIR. Gillette, who
won such marked popularity as an actor in
and as autaor of such famous works as
The Private Secretary Held by the
Enemy, Too Much Johnson, scores his
greatest triumph in both with Secret Ser
vice. The phenomenal success of this
piece, not only in America but in London,
is matter of recent dramatic history.
The star will be seen here again in the role
Of the hero, Northern spy operating with
in the Confederate lines at Richmond. who
falls IN love with and is loved by a beau
tiful young Virginia girl
Secret Service" is not war play in the
proper acceptation of this term. The war
like atmosphere is said TO be effected who'll
ly by suggestion. One sees the tattered
uniforms, the wounded soldiers the tear
ful leave taking: but the field of battle is
only near enough to permit of one hearing
the roar Of distant artillery, the tramp and
rattle of regiments and of batteries chang
ing their positions or the passing OF
military funeral. The scene of the effort is
laid in Richmond when the capital of the
Confederacy is beset by the Union forces
and the plot hinges upon the daring, quick
witted work of the men in the Secret Ser
vice, whose combats were fought alone with
no commanders to cheer them on in the
enemy's country.
This is Charles Frohman's original pro-
duction and the play will be presenten
the same company which aided Mr.. Gillette
in Washington last season. The cast will
include Walter Thomas. Campbell Gollan.
Joseph Brennan, NJ. l.. Alsop, II. ID. James.
Sara Perry, Hope Ross, Ida Waterman.
Alice Leigh and others.
London Life" is the name of a new
drama to be presented next week at the
Academy of Music A vast problem is set
forth in the piece and its authors have
kept this in view by depicting a great
many of the multi-sided aspects OF mod
ern life. The title is, justified by the sem
timents put into the mouths of the char
acters. The play is said TO abound with
moving and powerful scenes and situa-
tions. Boisterous fun is mixed up with
the most pathetic and touching features
of the plot. The two villains who set the
whole machinery of the story in motion
and keep il going until the terrible Meme
sis overtakes them ct the close, are of the
most hardened type and the hero and he
roine-the latter by her sweetness and her
sufferings and the former by his CHEEKY
disposition. his buoyance in misfortune
and his sterling and manly honesty-are
supposedly we'll calculated to command
the sympathy OF audiences.
Between Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Drew,
whose production of When Two Hearts
Are Won" achieved for them remarkable
success when il was presented in the Lon
don halls, and Maude Courtney, who is
said 10 sing the old songs in a manner
that brings alternate tears and smiles to
the eyes and lips of her auditors, Man
ayers Burke & Chase should have head
liners to please everyone next week at the
Grand. Besides this excellent erio an
nouncement is made of the appearance of
Nalberti, who will perform all sorts Of
feats on the back of a trotting horse;
Mayme Gerhue, a most graceful exponent
Of the Terpsichorean art; the Three Re-
nos acrobats of the first class; Helen
Tueshart a comedienne whose methods
are as unique as her name; T. J. Farron,
monologuist, and Marion and Dean,
military comiques. Matinees will be given
daily.
After an absence of five years. James
Whitcomb Riley, the Indiana poet and an
thor will come TO this city on March 13.
and is scheduled to appear at the Grand
Opera House for a single evening. Mr.
Riley's entertainment will assume the
form OF readings from the best-known OF
his works. and inasmuch as the writer is
said to exhibit the same truth and ten
dernss in his personality that is en-
joyable In these books, the recital will
un cIrrn ron 1IIncc AnMIuo