Evening star., 1899-03-25

to spend put It out to see "Cyrano de Ber-
gerac." mads the attendance at the the
aters rather light this week. The I.afay
ette Square has been closed and it will
remain dark next week. Manager Painter
saying that he prefers to close his house
70 playing attractions which he does not
consider up to the standard. Both the Co.
lJmbia and National had offerings that
had been here before. and consequently the
interest in them was not great, especially
as the cast In each case had suffered de-
terioration. The Academy's skit is not
good as that which preceded it. The Grand
presents a good vaudeville program for
ladies and gentlemen. and the Lyceum and
Bijou keep up their average.
Next week there will be but one big at
traction. which will be Sousas Bride
Elect" at the National, and this opera
should do a big business. At the Columbia
Burton Holmes will deliver series of lee
tures that viii be highly interesting TO
those who do not care to indulge in theat-
rical dissipation during Holy Week. The
Grand will offer an exceptionally strong
vaudeville bill, Pauline Hall being the chief
attraction. The Academy will present the
spectacular melOdrama The White Heath
er, and the Lyceum and Bijou will have
the usual vaudeville for men.
NEW NATIONAL THEATER. .-Sousa
has achieved his greatest operate success
with The Bride-Elect, which was one of
the distinct successes in Washington last
season, when people were turned away at
every performance unable to secure even
Standing room during it's engagement. This
season IL returns to Washington, when it
will be seen at the National 1'heater for
one week. beginning Monday night next.
klaw and Erlanger and 3. ID. Stevens, un
der whose skillful management the opera
is now touring the principal cities. have
given The Bride an unusually expensive
production and employ over 100 people in
Its presentation. The cast of principals this
season includes several new faces, con-
spicuous among whom is Miss Hilda Clark,
an established favOr1te in Washington.
Miss Clark not only has n large following
of admirers in this city. but numerous
relatives aS well, and many theater parties
are being formed in her honor. NOtwith
standing the Lenten season the advance
sale of seats has already reached unusual
proportions.
The Bride-Elect'' was written at odd mo-
ments during a long period of time. Mr..
SOusa declares its music to be better than
any he has hitherto given to the public.
The scene of the opera IS laid on the Is
land of Capri, in the Bay of Naples. and
this has given the management an Oppor-
tunity to exhibit the most lavish stage set
tings and accessories that have ever been
given to a comic opera in this country.
Mr. SDuSa has written the book well
the music of The Bride-Elect," and told
an interesting story with great cleverness
and dramatic strength. There are three
march movements-the first at the opening
OF the opera entitled. With Clanking
Sword and Glistening Gun" At the close
Of the first act there is another, The
Watchman's Patrol which is handled with
great originality. The great march of the
piece. however. is "Unchain the Dogs of
War" which closes the second act. This
same ''Bride-Elect" march. by the way.
has recently figured in history having been
lou
1he battles of San Juan. FL Caney. Santiago
and Porto Rico. A military band on the
stage will add considerably To the effective
ness of this scene, which will also be par
ticipated in by augmented orchestra
COLUMBIA THEATER. - Believing that
there are great many people who do not
care to attend a regular dramatic attrac-
ton during Holy week. the management of
the Columbia has. commencing on Tuesday
evening of next week. at the Columbia. ar
ranged a series of Lenten lectures with that
brilliant young lecturer, Mr.. f. Burton
Holmes, who during the winter gave five
afternoon lectures at this theater with
much success, his audiences being made up
of people prominent in both official and So
Cill life. Mr.. Holmes, although much
younger man than his illustriOus prede-
Cessor. Mr.. John l. Stoddard. has already
attained a most enYiable reputation as an
orator. The subjects are all well chosen.
and with the exception of one have never
been touched on by Mr.. Stoddard. The sub
jects and evenings are as follows:
Tuesday. Great Canon OF Arizona. AL
though comparatively unknown. this mar
VelOuS and stupendOuS work of nature is
rapidly coming into prominence as a goal
for tourists and as the subject of many es-
gays and treatises, both at the hands of
travellers and explorers, and also forming
the topic of much discussion between the
geologists of note in this country. Into the
scientific aspect Of the grand canon Mr.
Holmes does not go. but he finds. from the
travellers point of view, an immense fund
Of interesting matter for his lecture. as
well as an Incompatible opportunity for
photography. which in both instances he
has improved to the utmost.
Wednesday. Hawaiian Islands."> One of
our new possessions. in which Mr.. Holmes
gives US an insight into the native life on
the islands, the hospitality of the Hawa-
Nans. their food and habits. He also
sketches in brief many of the historical in
C!dentS of the country and dwells on Pearl
harbor, our future naval station, outlining
its possibilities and value to us.
Thursday, "FeZ, the Metropolis of the
MoOrs." subject that offers splendid op-
pcrtunities to a lecturer. A city replete
with Guaintness and picturesqueness as
well as q broad field for anecdote and ro-
mantle research. for no land city can
beast Of more mystery or romance, nor an
tiquity in habits. architecture, costume and
customs than Morocco, and its capital city,
Fez-
Friday. "Grecian Journeys" A journey
by pony caravan through the picturesque
portions of Peloponnesus. Not dealing with
the ruins Of temples and exhumed products
Of art Of bygone generations, but con-
versational description of what Mr. Holmes
actually saw, both in the picturesqueness
Of scenery and inhabitants.
Saturday matinee, the Grand Canon OF
Arizona" will be repeated
Saturday evening. The Yellowstone Ma
tona Park, the Wonderland of America"
In addition TO the still pictures there will
b. shown at each lecture a large number of
motion pictures.
ACADEMY OF MUSIC-The attraction
at the Academy of Music next week will
be the great melOdrama entitled THE
White Heather" which had a most sue
cessful run in New York. where IL was pro-
duCed with an exceptionally fine cast. 1t Is
noted for its fine scenic effects the chief of
which is a duel. or rather fight for life, be.
tween two divers. who are down 100 faith
ouls deep in the sea. The representation of
the descent OF the two men. both clad in
diving armor down through the water is
wonderfully realistic. AS the first leaves
the boat and enters the water, the sea
rises before you and you perceive the diver
gradually descending to its bottom. Boat
billOws. clouds, sky all disappear upward
and You seem 10 be sailing in the sea with
the diver. At last the bottom IS reached
and through a wall of green water you see
the diver ut work. immense fishes-the real
fnuv ~ the ma