Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-20
AMUsEMEyTs.

owed by the brilliancy of the advance ad-
vertising done for It, but is, nevertheless, a
colossal reminder Of the lavishness of the
modern spectacle. 1t is a Kiralfyesque en-
tertainment. In which every other feature
bows to the ballet. Great troops Of young
women gather and dispense; mighty expos
ures of painted canvas are Haunted and
furled, and after some songs and specialties
the moon sets and the procession of daZ-
Zling incoherencies is ended. The allurfng
title of the piece suggests a train of whm-
steal fancies which are not realized. the
authorship is accredited to Louis Harrison
and Stanslaus STANCE and the music to
Frederick Solomon-and Reginald De Ko-
ven, Mr. De kogen wrote the fine. sehol-
arly music attached to Robin Hood But
that was years ago Mr.. STANCE Is gen.
ueman of a serious literary turn, as shown
by his dramatization of Quo Nadis.' Mr..
Harrison has had some brief, happy mo-
ments in comic composition and Mr.. Fred
eric Solomon, who Is stage manager, mu-
steal composer. singer, comedian, ETC., ETC.,
seems so patiently resigned to his lot, so
Industrious and so very contented. that he
is q delight to the philosopher.
The credit for the first good laugh goes
to Frank Whitman, who. as the violinist
with music to fit all emotions. offered
splendid satire on the musical accompanl-
ment to melodrama- The house was ami
able and receptive and there were many
episodes in the course of the evening which
moved the people to liberal applause. The
orchid ballet was dainty and beautiful
creation; the songs. Sadie Sue and
IN Spite of Puck and Judge were en-
tertaining, Sam Demands monologues
were thoroughly amusing, the dancing of
La Petite Adelaide was graceful as ever
and the alegorical tableauX in the last act
We're brilliant and imposing. Julius Steger
had tenor topical song in which he sang
with great feeling that There is nothing
uh like this in the Moon-uh, dear boy-uh!'
Mr.. Steger would be langufshing and emo
- ~, No IL H. ~ ,,~t$ Il
calist nevertheless, and was another of the
features that Won approval. Louis Wesley
gave an amusing imitation of a tough song
and dance man.
Despite its wealth of talent, the produce
ton is a spectacle first and last. The COM
edy and music are subordnated to the
scenery and the hordes of amazon march
ers, who at times crowd the stage thickly
into the augmented orchestra. The cos
tunes are handsome, and in some instances
open to question on the score of decorum.
There can be no complaint on the score of
quantity in 1.-The Man in the Moon The
lavishness is so pronounced that great
deal of good interpreting talent seems to
be running to waste. While it may be a
little garrulous in its humorous aspect, it
is giittering and bountiful and interchangeable
in the matter of scenic display.
LAFAYETTE SQUARE OPERA HOUSE.
An exceptionally bright and clever mu-
steal comedy is The Three Little Lambs
as presented at the Lafayette Square Opera
House last night. Messrs. Barnet and Cor
lisS, the co-authors of the piece, to be
congratulated upon their work The lines
throughout are bright and humorous while
the music, in addition to being original,
contains much that is far above the ord-
nary. Mr.. Barnet has whipped into shape
clever comedy burlesque, which exploits
the tricks and trials of three ingenious
rogues to secure money without working.
But the feature of the presentation is the
music THE Dresden China Girl" Three
GAYS #ye W ESns Age Down nhe on Pu5 5bs
Farm and The Man Behind the Cum are
of the rollicking. catching sort that carries
everything before them. The scenery and
costumes. without being extravagant or
heavy, were adequate and in good taste.
After exploiting the cleverness OF book and
music, additional words of praise are due
the company 1t would be hard to find a
more clever trio of ladies for a musical
and Marie Cahill. All are pretty and can
sing and act. Miss Ritchie's solo, THE
Man Behind the Cum was given with an
enthusiasm that called forth prolonged ap-
plause and numerous encores. Merry Ma
RE Cahiii. the comedienne of the company,
was coupled up with Raymond Hitchcock
and Edmund Lawrence, The Three Little
Lambs" and through her individual work
on entirely original lines, contributed great
ly toward the evenings success. This. trio's
presentation of a short burlesque sketch on
Becky Sharpe" created unbounded laugh
ter, Miss Cahil's minicry of Minnie Mad
dern Fiske being close enough to the origi-
nal as to create wonder as well merri-
ment. Mr.. Hitchcock is the leading come
dian of the company. and his efforts were
well received, although q little more life in
the part would not be amiss. Mr. Law
renee catches the right idea of musical
comedy and works on the same lines with
Jimmy Powers, being the move con-
stantly and never hesitating to throw in
face was that of w. T. Carleton. Mr. Garlic
ton sang the Song. Long Ago." with Miss
Brageins. and the veteran demonstrated,
both by his voice and looks, that he is as
company deserving mention are Mr.. Philip,
Mr.. Within, Harold Wizard, Tom Hada-
way and Miss Palmer. The chorus was no.
ticeable for its good looks and cleverness
In singing and dancing, every one of the
girls being young and pretty.
ACADEMY OF MUSIC.-Vera de Noie's
production of Devils Island" at the Acad-
envy this week is, according to the program,
founded on the famous Dreyfus case
With the exception of the cardinal features
of the case-that is, the accusation, degra-
dation and conviction of a captain in the
French army and his confinement In exile
on Devils Island-there is little in the play
that developed in the two trials of Drey-
fus. The details of the troubles of that
officer were neither romantic nor harrow
ing enough lot the makers Oh modern melO-
drama. However, what has been sacrificed
in fact has been more than atoned for in
action and thrilling scenes that might have
taken place in reality-but did not. Devils
Island was put out during the Dreyfus
agitation looking to a revision and new
trial. Who will say it was not much more
novelesque that the condemned officer
should be rescued from the island cage by
the beautiful Countess Nina Petrovsky
just as he was about to be blown into
smitbereens by the designing Prince Or
loft than to be taken off in commonplace
fashion on a war vessel of his country and
afterward pardoned? Thus the play was
made to end in the first dramatic manner
long before the result of the second trial
was known and thus 1t remains. Devils
Island" was seen here last year, the pro-
duction this season being practically the
same in cast. A large audience greeted 1t
last night and the applause was most lib
eral. Miss Vera de Mole, who collaborated
with Arthur Hall in writing the play. has
the leading feminine role. and her work,
together with that of Leander Blanden as
the accused officer, is worthy of high
praise. The others, Notwithstanding their
noble cognomens, did not reach. The play
Is mounted handsomely and the scenic eff