Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-26

almost to palliate. the atrocities of Robe
splerre $ character, 1t is chiefly memorable
as series Of hideous object lessons in con-
ditfons which have served their awful pur-
pose as demonstration of human possibli-
ties and which the world prays may never
De repeated. Mr.. Irving responded with the
Sraclousness of a gentleman, although with
the reluctance of an artist to the audi
enee's demand for a few words. He thanked
the people present for their manifestations
OF approval. and said it had been his inten-
tion 10 appear before them at the close Of
the play and make these acknowledgements
II the occasion seemed to call for it, His
regret at disturbing the sequence of the
play by appearing in his own person was
del1cately, yet candidly expressed, and it
was a hint in playhouse ethics well worth
considering. But when the lateness of the
hour at which the performance terminated
was noted the audience did not seem
altogether unwise in taking time by the
fCrelock and giving the eminent actor a
unanimous vote of confidence and esteem
before the departure of that prosaic, yet
potent, factor in mundane affairs the last
car. The production is memorable as a
revelation of the resources of the modern
stage. The play calls for comparatively lit
wing himself and Miss Terry. Miss Terry's
share in the responsibilities, onerous as it
is, is all too slight.
COLUMBIA THEATER-Mr. David Be
lasco, who gave to the American stage
The Heart of Maryland .'zaza' and
Mrs. Leslie Carter has temporarily de-
serted the drama to invade through
Naughty Anthony" the well ploughed
fields of farce comedy Mr. Belasco pre-
scented his latest work last night at the
Columbia Theater. standing-room audi
cnce Uttered and laughed through the
three acts and voiced It's approval by add
ing calls for speech to the exceptionally
Vociferous manifestation in plaudits. When
Mr.. Belasco is through with Naughty An
thony'' there is no doubt it will prove the
metropolitan success that has been pre-
dicted for it. Crisp lines. witty dialogue and
sage sayings quantity woven into the fab
RE of fun, are TO be found in plenty. With
out doubt it is the best effort in farce the
modern stage has known. Mr.. Belasco has
gwen all care possible to working up what
is a finished and thoroughly artistic per-
romance, even though the mirth provoke
ing action IS allowed to become boisteroils
at times. In elaborateness of stage setting
In the selection of interesting characters
In fidelity to detail and appropriateness
OF incident, the farce is such a presenta-
ton as the authors record and reputation
would lead the theater-going public to
expect. True to its class. however. "Naugh-
ty Anthony" Is devoid Of anything ap-
preaching stability. and will therefore add
no permanent fame to the name of its pro-
Queer " Mr.. Belasco has intended his
latest eTfort merely as rare treat in the
line of fun that is funny to attract and
an'uSe the people for stated term he
will, without doubt. be admirably reward
ed There is an evident need of slight at
good bit of the third Mr. Beasco has
evidently not reached these spots on his
final trip of bue-pencil inspection Their
proper ARRANGEMENT is a matter of but
few performances. Perhaps that of last
nlght viii suffice. To insure an auSpcous
inaugural of his flyer into the realms of
farce Mr.. Belasco has engaged cast that
simply could not do had work If such
should he the desire of its members The
Item of expense has evidently received not
me slightest consideration in regard to
PLAYERS. costumes and stage fxings. Great
and lust pride is evidently felt in the cast
for the names of players are printed first
on the program. the characters assumed
respectively, being given the secondary 20
S;uon. Frank Worthing and Miss Blanche
Bates, both of whom We're seen here re-
Gently in the first production of Zangwilrs
'Chldren of the .Ghetto:' Mr. W J. lie
Moyne' than whom there is no better or
William Elton, Albert Pruning. e. P VIII
kes. Samuel Edwards. Fanny Young. olive
Redpath, Maud Harrison and Mary Barker
are some OF those who engage in the ac-
ton. Naughty Anthony acquires its name
from the tendency of Anthony Depew pro-
lessor OF moral culture of Chatauuua n
y. to take occasional return trips on the
ladder leading to the exalted and sanity
platform upon which he is believed to
stand by the inhabitants of the quaint lit
tie empire state town. The fun and plot
working come from the professors will
liHgness to have others shoulder the re-
SponSibility for his misdeeds The profess
sor is in the hands of Mr.. Worthing; the
chief shoulderer is Mr.. LIE Moyne, whose
Rosy has been his valentine for twenty
1iVe years" while the assistant prime mover
IN the trouble is Cora. a hosiery model in
the person of Miss Bates. These. with all
OF the others in the long cast fit into their
parts like so many wheels and coes to a
big machine Their work individually Is
well known Collectively they compose a
wonderfully clever whole. Mr. Worthing
mas part different from any he has been
identified W q N Wa-
he proves himself the equal. if not the SUI
perior, of his capabilities In serious roles.
Mr.. lie Moyne has part that allows him a
line of work to which he Is admirably suited
Mr.. LIE Moyne's popularity in Washington
was attested when. at the close of the
first act, he stepped forward and wished
the audience, on behalf of the company. a
merry Christmas and very, very happy
New Year. Mr.. Belasco was called out af-
ter the second act. He declared he was
too nervous to make a speech but sincere
ly thanked the audience for it's manifesto
tons Of approval. With a keen eye to New
York's risque expectancies. Mr.. Beasco has
brought into the farce a deal of talk about
silk stockings and has introduced in the
third act a demonstration by the hosiery
model that might cause some comment out
side the gay metropolis. On the whole,
however, the farce is about as devoid of
gross suggestion as is possible to be the
least compatible with latter day ideas of
playwrights and tastes of the playgoers If
the patronage of the latter be taken as an
lndlcatlon. Naughty Anthony Will amuSa.
1t stands alone in farce production.
LAFAYETTE SQUARE OPERA HOUSE.
Mr.. Robert B. Mantell and his excellent
company presented the romantic drama,
1.-THE Dagger and the Cross" to two au-
diences yesterday. At the evening perfor-
nance ne appeared before the curtain after
each act, save the last. in response to the
liberal applause which followed the closing
scene. of which he was each time the CEN
trail or the only figure. The play, which Is
dramatized from Joseph Hatton's novel of
the same name by w. A. Tremayne, is
laid in 1664-1666. 1t is a story of great
temptations, greater sins and penitence
wrought by love and faith. 1t has a sug-
gestion appropriate to the season, as the
second act shows the hall OF an English
manor house on the eve of Christmas, in
readiness for the homecoming of its mis-
tress. The lines where virtue was upheld
and vice condemned met the same old ap-
prevail from the galleries, and the death OF
the villain, which was quite as smooth and
easy as his natural gaiety would have pre-
ferred, was ioyfuly witnessed. Mr.. Man
tell, as the husband whose home was an
Eden until the serpent entered in the per-
son of the sculptor. is as strong in his
tender scenes with his wife as he is in the